It is reported that Tesla is updating its latest version of its flagship sedan, Model S. Now, someone has spotted an "updated" version of the 2022 Model S Plaid, which was just redesigned in late 2020 and early 2021, bringing a new taillight design and an improved charging door similar to the Model 3 and Model Y.
Last week, Tesla Cyberruck appeared on the test track at the Fremont factory, showing several new changes. In fact, a slightly modified version of the Model S was also found in the video, but because the car ran very fast on the test track, there was not much publicity. Now, Tesla appears to be testing the design of the new Model S on public roads. A Facebook user named Udara G posted several photos of the new Model S in motion, showing several notable changes to the new car.
The current Model S Plaid taillight design has a black bar that spans the width of the trunk, but the new design taillight does not have a black bar. The charging port design on the Model S Plaid has also been redesigned. Previous versions of the vehicle had a small door for the charging port. However, the new design is more in line with the style of the Model 3 and Model Y because it is larger and looks almost like an inverted version of the port gate on the Model 3 and Model Y.
Why would Tesla do this? There is speculation that the Model S Plaid needs a CCS-compatible design to launch vehicles in markets where the charging port is used, including Europe, where electric cars are very popular.
Interestingly, Tesla only updated the model S's design late last year. Tesla announced the newly designed Model S on a fourth-quarter 2020 earnings call in January 2021. Model S Plaid begins deliveries in June 2021.