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

[SoCalDude]

Not to derail the thread (that's clearly a black interior!) but something about that photo looks suspect. There's a shadow or at least dark line between where the plastic strip was and the part above.

Normal Tesla panel gap

 

[Cheburashka]

Finally! I would pay for sure to replace the tail lights for sure.

Crossing fingers that these will be backwards compatible with the earlier S!

 

[Destiny1701]

If they are backward compatible, then it would be all the way back to 2012, which I highly doubt they will do.
The current tail lights date all the way back so unlikely they will make a part that allows for every single S on the road today to upgrade to a new look.
That would be counter intuitive to obsolescence doctrine and ensuring past owners upgrade.
Thinking like a massive corporation...not a single consumer...

 

[anthonyj]

If they are backward compatible, then it would be all the way back to 2012, which I highly doubt they will do.
The current tail lights date all the way back so unlikely they will make a part that allows for every single S on the road today to upgrade to a new look.
That would be counter intuitive to obsolescence doctrine and ensuring past owners upgrade.
Thinking like a massive corporation...not a single consumer...

Shape looks to be exactly the same. The only thing stopping it would be the wiring for charge port and lights

 

[Destiny1701]

Shape looks to be exactly the same. The only thing stopping it would be the wiring for charge port and lights

Other than no chrome or black strip at the rear...which juts into the current light housing. If they remove the black/chrome strip and make the new light without the indent, it won't work. Taking off the strip on a current model S is not tenable.
We can always hope but again, doesn't seem likely a company would allow every single S on the road to be upgradable in this manner.
No one would upgrade lol.

 

[anthonyj]

Other than no chrome or black strip at the rear...which juts into the current light housing. If they remove the black/chrome strip and make the new light without the indent, it won't work. Taking off the strip on a current model S is not tenable.
We can always hope but again, doesn't seem likely a company would allow every single S on the road to be upgradable in this manner.
No one would upgrade lol.

It looks like the “new” hatch has the same indent but without punched out square clip holes behind the strip. It also looks like the light sticks out of the hatch indent instead of having an indent in itself. It’s possible to shorten the current strip and sand the ends, then paint. Or someone can make an aftermarket piece.

 

[anthonyj]

It might be possible to gut the new tail lights and rig the internals into the old housings, that way you keep the strip and indent. Size and shape of light looks exactly the same

 

[Greeney]

That appliqué can likely be removed and cut to fit. Don’t see that being a very big deal.

 

[Blueblaster]

Here is another view

View attachment 742892

Completely not happening. At least anytime soon. This image suggests totally new rear/boot along with new integrated spoiler.

 

[Greeney]

Completely not happening. At least anytime soon. This image suggests totally new rear/boot along with new integrated spoiler.

Kind of. My 2022 has the same “spoiler”

 

[planetary]

tl;dr - My money is on no backward compatibility. I'm sure there will be some crazy people out there with frankenlight setups, but they'll be one-offs.

 

[lbowroom]

To think they are updating lights to encourage trade-ins is pretty silly

 

[ninefiveone]

I’m sure backwards compatibility is of zero concern to Tesla, both in terms of making it possible or impossible. There’s zero impact to Tesla either way, given the current state of the universe for them.

Here is what is very likely:
- major hard attachment points (attachment to fenders/body) are probably the same.
- different center appliqué on the hatch is a minor issue that can be resolved easily in the aftermarket
- larger space for charge port for EU CCS combo plug is probably a priority
- since that requires a significant change to the taillight’s physical design, they will take the opportunity to update the overall taillight design to align with current design philosophy (diffused led, etc)
- since Tesla uses a bus to drive all electrical items now, if the old taillights don’t use that bus they will update to the bus in the new taillight.
- even if the current taillights do use the same bus, that won’t mean the new taillights will be plug and play with old cars since the lighting controller will minimally need different code for a different end point module.
- difference in charge port might be a major problem for plug and play into an old S.

Tldr: backwards compatibility odds are less than 50/50.

 

[anthonyj]

Here is what is very likely:
- major hard attachment points (attachment to fenders/body) are probably the same.
- different center appliqué on the hatch is a minor issue that can be resolved easily in the aftermarket
- larger space for charge port for EU CCS combo plug is probably a priority
- since that requires a significant change to the taillight’s physical design, they will take the opportunity to update the overall taillight design to align with current design philosophy (diffused led, etc)
- since Tesla uses a bus to drive all electrical items now, if the old taillights don’t use that bus they will update to the bus in the new taillight.
- even if the current taillights do use the same bus, that won’t mean the new taillights will be plug and play with old cars since the lighting controller will minimally need different code for a different end point module.
- difference in charge port might be a major problem for plug and play into an old S.

Tldr: backwards compatibility odds are less than 50/50.

About the wiring thing. The Model Y got a taillight refresh last year. They separated the turn signal from the brake light. It was 4 wires instead of the old 3. Someone retrofitted it and was able to tap the 4th turn signal wire into the side turn signal wiring. That will likely be required here

 

[planetary]

About the wiring thing. The Model Y got a taillight refresh last year. They separated the turn signal from the brake light. It was 4 wires instead of the old 3. Someone retrofitted it and was able to tap the 4th turn signal wire into the side turn signal wiring. That will likely be required here

Yes, but that was tweaking a 1-2 year old design.

For the MS, we're talking about updating a 10 year-old design and replacing the charge port, and possibly altering the form factor. (Yes, I know you guess otherwise from pixel peeping. You might be right, but I would not rule it out.)

 

[oktane]

I saw a Ford Mach E the other day, and it's tail lights had the animated turn signals... I was like hmm...wish I had nice tail lights too on my Plaid

 

[trayloader]

My guess- retro fit is possible for the `21 models.
Maybe Tesla swaps them for free for the current refresh owners which were f****ed at this point and have a defacto "old" car now.
Everyone else will be left out, though in the future I can see translator adapters and adapter kits popping up to retrofit these to the older cars. This doesn´t solve bridging the missing chrome strip, so at least a new complete hatch or a body shop to fill this out is required.
And for now the "new" headlights look pretty cheap and Japanese aftermarket. Toyota/Mazda 2012 anyone?

 

[Krash]

…Maybe Tesla swaps them for free for the current refresh owners …

You’re kidding right?

 

[SIXF80]

Yea, Tesla won't be swapping them for free. In fact, even to aquire the part, you'll need a VIN that represents a production build with the new tailights.

 

[anthonyj]

Yea, Tesla won't be swapping them for free. In fact, even to aquire the part, you'll need a VIN that represents a production build with the new tailights.

That’s not the case with current tails