Tesla is testing new tail lights for the Model S refresh.

[anthonyj]

Current hatch has square holes behind the appliqué. This “new” hatch looks like the old one, just without the plastic strip and squared holes. The shape of the lights look exactly the same. Charge flap is bigger but the housing is the same size and shape.

There’s a good chance that the tail lights will fit, will it look flush with a modified rear appliqué strip? That’s a mystery. If you look at the left tail light in the spy pic, it looks like the tail light protrudes slightly at the appliqué area, but I’m not 100% sure. Then there will be the wiring problem. I wonder if Tesla planned ahead and the current taillight wiring will allow the retrofit

If this can’t be retrofitted, I guess I’ll buy a new Plaid. I’d rather not, I like my white/wood interior. FML

 

[WilliamG]

Current hatch has square holes behind the appliqué. This “new” hatch looks like the old one, just without the plastic strip and squared holes. The shape of the lights look exactly the same. Charge flap is bigger but the housing is the same size and shape.

There’s a good chance that the tail lights will fit, will it look flush with a modified rear appliqué strip? That’s a mystery. If you look at the left tail light in the spy pic, it looks like the tail light protrudes slightly at the appliqué area, but I’m not 100% sure. Then there will be the wiring problem. I wonder if Tesla planned ahead and the current taillight wiring will allow the retrofit

If this can’t be retrofitted, I guess I’ll buy a new Plaid. I’d rather not, I like my white/wood interior. FML

As much as new lights are welcome, I can't imagine buying a new Plaid just for them. I'll wait a few years and probably upgrade when there's more meaningful changes.

 

[anthonyj]

As much as new lights are welcome, I can't imagine buying a new Plaid just for them. I'll wait a few years and probably upgrade when there's more meaningful changes.

I get it. It’s extreme. This taillight thing has been bothering me for years. I promised to myself not to buy an S until they update the rear end, then I saw the Plaid’s new interior and capitulated.

I even bought a set of S taillights to tinker with and mod to hopefully give it that smooth diffused look. Guess I’m giving up on that project lol

 

[Sigma4Life]

Are we sure this isn’t just a pre-production test mule? The roof looks like it might be solid metal instead of glass. Might just be the lighting though.

 

[Destiny1701]

I have an order for April Delivery. If this starts gaining traction and legitimizes, I’ll wait. I think it’s not an IF but more a WHEN. I’m sure Tesla planned to keep some improvements for 2022 and again 2023…keep refreshing. It’s how they maintain the ‘newness’ year after year.

 

[scrapps]

Wonder if they are also updating the fronts. After coming from a 3 the S low beams are suprisingly *sugar*

 

[mikemi]

Coming from a 3 and Y, I was wondering why the refreshed S tail light look dated and was curious how soon Tesla would update them. Sort of like when Y came out without heated steering and old center console, then 6-7 months later, bam

At this point, I am willing to wait than taking my January delivery if it is not updated by then.

 

[planetary]

Wouldn't the light assembly need to be larger to house an EU-required CCS2 port? If so, then the new rear light assembly itself would not be a drop-in replacement for existing owners.

 

[planetary]

As much as new lights are welcome, I can't imagine buying a new Plaid just for them. I'll wait a few years and probably upgrade when there's more meaningful changes.

Agree. What we really need is for Texas to come online and for Fremont to retool it's S line(s). Fighting chance for quality to take a serious move forward.

But even then, all the "refresh refresh" threads will be full of people waiting for the 4680s. It will never end.

 

[Destiny1701]

Don’t care about 4680 for an S with 400 miles. Just went the lights updated to 2022 from 2012…is that too much to ask in a 100k+ car?!

 

[jebinc]

Don’t care about 4680 for an S with 400 miles. Just went the lights updated to 2022 from 2012…is that too much to ask in a 100k+ car?!

@Destiny1701 Apparently so... My MYP has matrix LEDs; my MSP has, well, has shite for headlights. It also has the $80,000 vibration feature that my MYP and M3+ don't/didn't have.

 

[Destiny1701]

@Destiny1701 Apparently so... My MYP has matrix LEDs; my MSP has, well, has shite for headlights. It also has the $80,000 vibration feature that my MYP and M3+ don't/didn't have.

Makes me wonder about my April S LR order. I’ve had 3 S’s since 2015…90D, 100D and P100D. 90 and P100 both had vibration issues that drove me nuts. Never just had the new smooth highway feel from day 1. The 100D a bit luckier.

If this is what it is now, I’m uncertain. Add in 2012 rears and 2016 front lights and I have to wonder. New interior sold me but looking at the same rear end since 2012 is teeth clenching.

 

[jebinc]

Makes me wonder about my April S LR order. I’ve had 3 S’s since 2015…90D, 100D and P100D. 90 and P100 both had vibration issues that drove me nuts. Never just had the new smooth highway feel from day 1. The 100D a bit luckier.

If this is what it is now, I’m uncertain. Add in 2012 rears and 2016 front lights and I have to wonder. New interior sold me but looking at the same rear end since 2012 is teeth clenching.

@Destiny1701 I hear you. I have had zero SC calls on the M3+ (owned for three years) and this new MYP. Over 10 on this Plaid. Aside from the acceleration, it's not worth it, IMHO. YMMV.

 

[roblab]

From where I sit while I'm driving, I can't see the tail lights. The law says they must function a certain way and have a certain number of square inches of red light when in use, so I don't get the excitement. Seems like a ploy to sell new Model Ss to the public, especially to those who "MUST HAVE" everything that looks new.

My car's a year old. I am NOT going to go buy a new one because of how a tail light looks.

 

[planetary]

I hear you. I have had zero SC calls on the M3+ (owned for three years) and this new MYP. Over 10 on this Plaid. Aside from the acceleration, it's not worth it, IMHO. YMMV.

The acceleration. And the suspension. The lower noise floor. More and larger screens. The ventilated seats. The range, and charging speed. Yoke is debatable, but kinda cool to some.

But the MYP is pretty good, too.

 

[scrapps]

It's worth noting for those still waiting, old tail lights aside (I smoked mine), I'm getting a ton of comments from people asking me if this is the new Model S and they always say how beautiful it looks.

 

[scrapps]

Of course your mileage may vary if you have an inferior colour

 

[jebinc]

The acceleration. And the suspension. The lower noise floor. More and larger screens. The ventilated seats. The range, and charging speed. Yoke is debatable, but kinda cool to some.

But the MYP is pretty good, too.

And less than half the price!

 

[anthonyj]

Wouldn't the light assembly need to be larger to house an EU-required CCS2 port? If so, then the new rear light assembly itself would not be a drop-in replacement for existing owners.

After studying the pics, comparing size and shape to scale with the current S tails, I can say for sure that the size and shape are exactly the same. They are simply making the side charge port door a bigger part of the assembly

 

[VT_EE]

I wonder how long it will take for these changes to make it into delivered vehicles? Six months? I’m sure they want to use up all the old “crap,” before rolling this change in.

Wonder what other manufacturing or component improvements may be getting rolled in as well? Thoughts? Discussion.

Larger charge port area to accommodate a CCS connector perhaps.