The S in Tesla Model S Plaid Stands for Retractable Spoiler

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla has been hard at work behind the scenes with the new Model S Plaid and Plaid+. The S doesn’t actually stand for Spoiler, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore this new feature. It isn’t clear if this is the Plaid model or the Plaid+ model, but it certainly is a new addition to the Model S.

An updated look for the Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S was spotted on the track with a new spoiler | Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Electrek reported (as spotted by The Kilowatts on Twitter) that the new Model S redesign shows a pop-up or adjustable wing. Tesla says the new Model S Plaid model has an EPA-estimated 390-mile range and a top speed of 200 miles per hour.

The quick car was spotted at a Laguna Seca race track, apparently trying to beat some record. The Kilowatts claimed it got a 1:30 lap time.

The 0-60 time is 1.99 seconds, and it supposedly gets 1,020 at peak power. There is also a Long-Range model that supposedly gets an EPA-estimated 412-mile range. The Model S Long Range has 670 horsepower.

Electrek says the Plaid+ version will have an EPA-estimated 520 miles of range and the same 1.99-second acceleration. The Plaid+ will use the new 4680 battery cell and a tri-motor drivetrain at some point.

It isn’t clear if the Tesla vehicle on the track is the Plaid or even the Plaid+ model, but the design is an interesting development. Since some new Model S editions are getting delivered soon, this might be reserved for the down-the-line Plaid+.

The Model S retractable spoiler

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The current delivery dates for the newest Tesla electric vehicle are as follows. The Long Range is delivering between September and October if you order right now. The Plaid is delivering between August and September. The Plaid+ says that it will possibly get delivered in mid-2022.

There was supposed to be a conference call about the new Model S back when announced, but that did not happen. In conclusion, if more surprises are coming with the car, that is still to be seen.

The spoiler in question appears to be retractable or adjustable. It isn’t so much the spoiler itself that makes it interesting. Retracting spoilers have been around for years on high-speed cars. Is this new Plaid or Plaid+ so fast that it actually benefits from this addition?

If the preliminary numbers are anything to go by, it might be.

How Did Tesla Avoid the Chip Shortage?

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Tesla has an interesting advantage over other brands that the company discussed in the Q1 Earnings Report. The company can perform software updates over the air should issues arise.

That means that while some automakers are struggling to meet customer demands, Tesla could send out helpful updates without physically seeing the cars.

“We were able to navigate through global chip supply shortage issues in part by pivoting extremely quickly to new microcontrollers, while simultaneously developing firmware for new chips made by new suppliers.”

Tesla | Q1 Earnings Report

Tesla took one look at the chip shortage situation and pivoted. Is this something we expect from an innovative brand like Tesla? Perhaps. But it explains why Tesla has been able to avoid the same fate many other automakers are taking.

Tesla decided to develop new technology so that the chip that everyone else needed was no longer necessary. By being able to update software over the air, Tesla did not impact drivers as heavily. This likely saved the company a lot of money in the long run.

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You Should Attend the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance at Least Once

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you are a fan of cars, consider yourself a car enthusiast, or just love to attend car shows, then the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance should absolutely be on your bucket list. This weekend-long car show encourages collectors, builders, and manufacturers to bring out and display some of the coolest, rarest cars you may never get another chance to see in person, making it onto the list of car shows every enthusiast should attend at least once in their lives.

1969 Porsche AG 917k at the 2017 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images

What is the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is one of the most highly anticipated car events of the year for many automotive collectors and enthusiasts. It is held at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island, located just east of Jacksonville, Florida. In previous years, the event has been attended by major names in the automotive world, including some that newer enthusiasts may know, like YouTubers Ed Bolian and Freddy “Tavarish” Hernandez.

Two Porsche AG Brumos race vehicles during the 2017 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Two Porsche AG Brumos race vehicles during the 2017 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images

Who is invited to attend?

For a show as prestigious as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, you may be surprised to hear that the event is open to anyone who wants to attend. Some parts of the weekend are exclusive events that are invitation-only, but many are open to the public.

The weekend is packed with car shows that seem to make Amelia Island vibrate with the thrilling sound of engines new and old and offers visitors the chance to see some of the most spectacular cars in the world.

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Being open to the public is something that sets this prestigious event apart from other must-see car shows and events, such as SEMA, and while some parts of the weekend are invitation-only, there are many major and exciting parts of the show that are open to the public and can be attended with a ticket.

An event worth attending at least once

The vehicles presented at the Amelia Island vary in age and prestige, features some of the most iconic cars in history along with some of the newest cars awaiting public debut. Because of this, it attracts the attention of automotive collectors of enthusiasts of all interests and experiences, making for a weekend that is akin to what many believe car show Heaven could look like.

  • Various generations of General Motors Co. (GM) Chevrolet Camaro | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images
  • An attendee drives in a 1956 Jaguar D-Type XKD | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images
  • A worker wipes a 1932 Bugatti Automobiles SAS Type 55 Roadster | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images
  • Attendees drive three Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images
  • Attendees drive in a 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III | Mark Elias, Bloomberg, Getty Images

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As usual, the event is held outdoors and staff at the Ritz Carlton, and event staff are working to ensure that the event is COVID-19 safe, requiring attendees to wear masks and encouraging social distance as much as possible.

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance for the 2021 show weekend is coming up soon, beginning May 20th and running just a few short days until the end of the weekend, and if you don’t catch it this year, it should definitely be on your bucket list next year.

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Leaked: 2022 Chevy Silverado Pickup Front End and More

by Gabrielle DeSantis

In spite of the happy talk from Chevy about the Silverado front-end design, nobody is getting fooled. It has met with derision since its debut. We expected a different front end before this mid-cycle redesign, but Chevy has stood firm. Now, however, we finally have our first look at the new front end that is coming for 2022. 

The side curtains or “sideburns” are eliminated on the 2022 Silverado

2022 Silverado front end | GM Authority

For whatever reason, the Silverado front-end air curtains have become known as “sideburns.” Well, those sideburns will be relegated to the ash heap of bad design for the 2022 iteration. Now those air curtains will be relocated to below the headlights according to GM Authority. But there are still other changes.

The “Chevrolet” lettering emblazoned across the middle of the grille will be moved up higher. Now it will be placed just below the hood. A model designation emblem will be tucked into the driver’s side corner of the grille as well. 

It looks like Chevy won’t need any new sheet metal tooling to accommodate the changes. The leading edge of the hood and front fenders look untouched from previous years. The changes are held to the headlights, grille, bumper, and soft body color area where the side curtains once rode. 

The Silverado sideburns are gone and the grille and bumper are redesigned

Test mule of 2022 Silverado
2022 Chevy Silverado test mule | GM Authority

To clean things up the front bumper has also been redesigned. A thin grille has now been incorporated into the bumper. In general, it is better integrated into the fascia than the previous version. With how the side curtains cut down into the bumper it almost made the bumper look like it came from another truck. 

The rear has some changes too. New wheels and a completely revised interior to better compete with the Ram 1500 are all part of the refresh. A new center stack, larger infotainment screen, new dash, and center console are all part of the changes here. 

The 2022 Silverado also gets the Global B/ Vehicle Intelligent Platform

Pictured is a red 2021 Chevy Silverado outdoors.
2021 Chevy Silverado | Xinhua/Joel Lerner via Getty Images

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A new gauge cluster will also give the option of digital readouts. The column shift has been replaced by a gear selector. And Global B/Vehicle Intelligent Platform architecture will allow GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver-assist system integration. 

The release of the 2022 Silverado has been pushed back partly due to COVID-19 delays. We were hoping it would have been released by next month. Now, it is looking like the end of the summer before we’ll get our eyes on the first production models. And because Chevy has changed up the Silverado’s front end, we can say that when your eyes do get to see it they’ll be happier than with the previous version. 

The post Leaked: 2022 Chevy Silverado Pickup Front End and More appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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What to Do if You Can’t Find a Rental Car During the Shortage

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Traveling can be fun, but it can also be relatively stressful. Getting a rental car gives us some ability to navigate while we travel without having to worry about rideshare services and public transit. But, with recent events in the past year, there has been a striking shortage of rental cars. If you’re looking to travel and worried about the availability of vehicles where you are going, there is no reason to worry quite yet, as there are many tricks and alternatives to finding a reliable rental car.

Get a rental car from a neighborhood location

One major tip that Consumer Reports has to offer is to rent a car from a local neighborhood location rather than the rental car offices attached to the airport. That doesn’t necessarily mean having to go with a local brand that you aren’t familiar with, either, as many national rental car companies have several locations that aren’t attached to an airport or travel center.

Because it requires a bit more effort to get to, not as many people are looking to rent a vehicle from these off-site locations, meaning you might have some better options if you’re willing to take a ride share or taxi from the airport to pick up a rental car.

Car rental AVIS parking lot | Lev Radin, Pacific Press, LightRocket, Getty Images

Rent a car from a small company or individual

If you’re traveling to more remote areas, or sometimes even larger cities, you may have luck with smaller companies or even renting a cool car from an individual. Some locations may have large rental car companies as well as smaller, locally-owned options, and even if they aren’t attached to the airport directly, many of them are usually located nearby for the convenience of travelers.

Interested in renting something a bit more interesting? There are several apps, such as Turo, that allow you to connect with individuals who are willing to rent out their vehicles. Depending on the location you are traveling to, there can be a wide range of exciting cars to pick from, and drop of arrangements can typically be made with each vehicle owner.

An overhead view of a parking lot full of car-sharing vehicles
Carsharing vehicles | Mikhail Japaridze, TASS, Getty Images

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Skip renting a car altogether

Of course, another option is to just skip renting a car altogether, though that isn’t always ideal for every situation or traveler. In some cases, like major cities, using public transportation ends up being a more financially reasonable decision anyways, even if it isn’t always as convenient.

With rideshare services like Uber and Lyft rising in popularity and putting measures in place to protect drivers and passengers, they aren’t a bad option, either.

Avis car rental | Noam Galai, Getty Images

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Only time will tell how the rental car companies will recover from the past year of stagnant travel, but until shortages of rental cars are resolved, many travelers may be looking for alternative options.

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