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Getting ready for the Tesla D tonight means reading some tea leaves

Today is D-day. We will know all of the details about the Tesla D and the mysterious "one other thing" – well, all the details that Tesla is willing to give – later tonight, but for now we're going to try and piece the story together based on whatever rumors and hints we can find. We've already speculated that the D stands for an all-wheel drive version of the Model S, which is an update that CEO Elon Musk has long talked about. But what else could be announced tonight, since the 'one other thing' apparently won't be the reveal of the production Model X? Could it be the first prototype of the Model 3? That's one rumor. Vanity Fair got to ask Musk directly, since the magazine invited him to its New Establishment Summit. While Musk didn't exactly spill the beans, he did give us a little something to chew on. "One of the things is already there, and people just don't realize it," he said (see video below). When pressed for more details, all Musk said was: "The Internet is very good at guessing these things. [They're] directionally connect, but the magnitude is not appreciated yet." Could he be talking about better driver assistance features? Some sources say that's exactly what he's hinting at, with the D standing for Driver or something else that means autopilot. There's also an unconfirmed report out there that the AWD Model S, which might be called the P85D, will be noticeably quicker – with a 0-60 time of under three seconds, compared to 4.2 for the current quickest model – but this sort of thing has been suggested and then denied before. So, any other guesses? This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Tesla having trouble selling all over Australia, too

Australia and Texas have more in common than those super macho hats. Indeed, when it comes to Tesla Motors' attempts to sell its all-electric Model S to the public, the country Down Under and the Lone Star state continue to insist on the old-school approach to car sales. Which has never sat well with California-based Tesla. Tesla, which started sales in Australia early last month, is encountering opposition from the Australian state of Victoria. The issue, as with much of the US, is Victoria's adherence to the traditional auto distribution network where automakers sell only through third-party dealerships. That means folks visiting Tesla's showroom in the Victorian city of Chadstone not only can't buy a sedan there, but they can't even discuss pricing, says Bidness Etc. Regulators in New Jersey, Michigan and, yes, Texas have taken a similarly hard line approach to Tesla and its wishes to own its distribution network outright. All is not lost, however, as Tesla's Sydney dealership is fully operational. The automaker is looking to connect Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney via a Supercharger fast-charging network similar to the one strung across parts of North America and Europe. The Model S in Australia starts at around $82,000 US. Those curious can check out Tesla's Australia page here. Featured Gallery Tesla Model S View 24 Photos News Source: Bidness Etc. Green Tesla Electric victoria

Fiat Chrysler joins open pool with Tesla to avoid paying EU emissions fines

According to a report from the Financial Times, Fiat Chrysler has agreed to pay Tesla "hundreds of millions of euros" in order to pool their fleets together in Europe. This move will reportedly allow FCA to use Tesla's zero-emission vehicle sales to offset fines it would have to pay for failing to meet European Union carbon emissions rules, which fall to 95 grams per kilometer starting next year. According to the report, FCA joined a so-called open pool with Tesla on February 25. The electric car company created the pool and gave other automakers "the chance to join" three days prior. The pool will be valid "for several years," according to Julia Poliscanova, a senior director at the Transport & Environment lobbying group. Toyota and Mazda apparently created a similar pool on the same day, but that agreement doesn't elicit quite the same eyebrow raise since Toyota owns a five-percent stake in Mazda. It's not clear exactly how much money FCA will pay Tesla through this arrangement, but similar deals have been part of Tesla's financial strategy for years. FT reports Tesla earned more than $100 million by selling electric vehicle credits in the United States last year and close to $300 million the prior year.