In the sprawling expanse of Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin, a local observer, Tobias Lindh, captured what might be a glimpse into the automaker's future. Flying his drone over the site, Lindh spotted something unusual. The mystery car, which appears smaller than any current Tesla and with notable modifications at the rear and more narrow windows, has sparked discussions about Tesla's next innovation. Could it be the next-gen, $25,000, Model 2?
A Spectrum of Reactions
The responses on social media ranged from analytical to amusing, reflecting the diverse and passionate Tesla fan base. Some debated whether perspective might be playing tricks on viewers, and it’s nothing more than a torn-down Model Y. But others argue it looks considerably smaller than a Model Y, aligning with some expectations for a next-gen vehicle. The vehicle's design nuances, such as the curvature of the front and top glass and a distinct windshield rake, caught the eye of others.
Just saw this in my latest video from #GigaBerlin at 19:35
Others believe it could be a teardown of a competitor car, musing if it could be a Ford Mustang Mach-E, a suggestion that added a layer of intrigue to the speculation. That might explain why it is in a muddy back lot. Then another theory is the possibility of it being a refreshed Model Y, pointing to minor updates rather than a completely new offering. Humor also found its way into the discussions by labeling the vehicle the "Batmobile," while some suggest it could be Bigfoot.
Community Vigilance
This flurry of speculation comes amidst heightened anticipation for Tesla's next-gen vehicle, internally referred to as "Redwood." Elon Musk's recent comments about a revolutionary manufacturing system set to redefine automotive production have only fanned the flames of curiosity. With a production timeline towards late 2025, Tesla enthusiasts are piecing together every clue and comment in anticipation of the company's next big reveal.
The range of reactions to the sighting at Giga Berlin showcases the Tesla community's enduring enthusiasm for the company and sets the sights on a new target. Over the last several years the community has followed Cybertruck sighting as well as the new Model 3. Now, all the focus moves to the next-generation platform. Whether the vehicle is a harbinger of the next-gen model, a refreshed version of an existing car, or merely a red herring, it underscores the community's vigilant watch over Tesla's every move.
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Tesla’s logo is iconic – it’s a T, with the text “T E S L A” below it. However, it hasn’t always looked the same, and it does have a deeper meaning than just T representing the first letter.
So, let’s look at Tesla’s logo.
Meaning of the Tesla Logo
We’ll start with what the Tesla logo represents. As Elon Musk put it, the T is like the cross-section of an electric motor, similar to how SpaceX’s logo is like the trajectory of a rocket.
The outer line on top of the T represents the stator of the electric motor – the stationary component that contains the windings and generates a rotating magnetic field when current is applied to it. The lower section of the logo is one of the poles of the rotor, the moving component that is also wound with wire, forming a magnetic pole.
All together, putting the rotor and stator together is how Tesla’s EVs generate their movement and the basics behind how Nikola Tesla put together the first induction motor. The first induction motor was created in 1887, and Tesla the company is named after Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the electric motor.
Tesla’s fairly minimalist logo also aligns with its minimalist approach to things. No part is the best part, and a minimalist interior is the best interior.
Evolution of the Tesla Logo
Tesla's logo has evolved since its 2009 version
Not a Tesla App
Tesla’s logo hasn’t always been the same. The original logo, back when the company was known as Tesla Motors, had the Tesla “T” inside of a shield emblem, representing safety. The word “Tesla” was also part of the logo and displayed within the shield.
In 2017, Tesla Motors simplified its name to just Tesla. At the same time, they redesigned their logo. Like the company’s name, the logo was also simplified. The shield was removed and the word Tesla moved to the bottom of the T. In 2017, Tesla also transitioned to using red in its logo, instead of the previous gray/black color combination.
The current Tesla logo we see today is a revision of the logo unveiled in 2017. The curve at the top of the logo is now more pronounced, the indent on the T is larger and the “T” is a little slimmer.
Tesla's old shield logo and font
Not a Tesla App
Other Great Logos
Although Tesla doesn’t receive a lot of recognition for its creative logo, it’s a simple, creative logo with a deeper meaning that sits right up there with other great logos like those from the Pittsburgh Zoo, Black Cat and Sony VAIO (photo below) and others.
Today, Tesla’s simplistic logo also matches its philosophy of minimalism and simplistic approaches to solving difficult problems, such as solving full self-driving with a vision-only approach.
The creative logos from Pittsburgh Zoo, Sony VAIO and Black Cat.
The refresh, or Highland Model 3 began with engineering test vehicles being spotted near Giga Texas and the Fremont factory in California. Similarly, this covered-up Model Y was spotted near Pasadena, California.
Given the timelines we saw for the new Model 3, this prototype for the Model Y appears to be following a trajectory for an early to mid-2025 launch. Engineering test vehicles for the new Model 3 were first spotted in North America about 6-8 months prior to its introduction to China. After its initial release in Chinese, the vehicle was later released in North America just a few months later.
If timelines for Project Juniper are similar to what we saw for the Model 3, we should expect to see more engineering test vehicles on the road in North America soon.
The vehicle is expected to be released in China first, with a North American and European arrival following sometime after. While the Performance variant of the new Model 3 didn’t launch until April of 2024, several months after the Long Range version was available in North America, it’s not clear whether Tesla will follow a similar strategy and launch the Long Range version of the new Model Y before the Performance model.
Front Bumper Camera
There was a lot of speculation about the refreshed Model 3 coming with a front bumper camera, but so far the Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that includes a bumper camera and a camera washer (video). While updated versions of the Model S and Model X are also expected to add the lower-bumper camera, so also have yet to go on sale as well.
It’s not clear why Tesla didn’t launch the new camera with the new Model 3 since the bumper was already being redesigned and the factories were being retooled. However, according to the spy shot of the updated Model Y, it looks like it could be Tesla’s second vehicle to include the bumper camera. TeslaNewswire shared a photo of the Model Y with the brightness increased which appears to reveal the new front bumper camera. The location is exactly where you’d expect, very similar to the Cybertruck and similar to early shots of the prototype Model 3 that also contained the bumper camera.
It’s not clear whether this additional camera will make it into the production version, but it’s at least a sign that Tesla is considering adding this camera to another model.
Musk Asks People to Stop
Elon Musk replied to Sawyer Merritt on X (Twitter), not only reiterating that the refreshed Model Y will not be released this year. He also asked people to stop hinting that it will be since it damages Tesla’s sales of the current vehicle.
Musk reiterates that the new Model Y will not launch in 2024
kylaschwaberow/X
Potential Upgrades
While the release of the new Model Y may be about a year out in North America – there is a chance that the updated Model Y Juniper could show up with Hardware 5 sensors and computers. Elon Musk estimated that HW5, now dubbed AI5 was about 12-18 months away from production. The new Model Y could be the vehicle that debuts the new FSD package.
Of course, all of the rest of the upgrades that came with the updated Model 3 will all likely come to the Model Y – a new front and rear fascia, new adaptive headlights, increased range, ambient lighting, new colors, new speakers, and better dynamics in general. Package all of that up with what was already the best-selling car in 2023, and we’ve got a hit on our hands.
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