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Refuel, TMC Connect conspire on most electric weekend ever

Refuel is back for 2014 and so is TMC Connect. This year the two events have logistically coordinated to make the July 18th weekend quite possibly the most electric ever. Refuel by Speed Ventures has been introducing owners of electric cars, motorcycles, and even go-karts to the wonders of the iconic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the past six years, giving them the opportunity to explore its wondrous twists and turns at speed. For the more competitive-minded, the SportElectric TT allows participants to turn up the wick and race against the clock for trophies and glory. This year, they've even added an autocross course for your tire-squealing pleasure. This year, they've even added an autocross course for your tire-squealing pleasure. TMC Connect is a symposium for Tesla enthusiasts organized by the popular Tesla Motors Club forum. Having held its inaugural event last year under the Teslive banner just down the road from the Calfornia automaker's Fremont factory, the the conference has opted to motor southward to beautiful Monterey and let attendees take advantage of the coinciding Refuel event. Sunday's fun track time will be preceded by an informative Saturday, with number of speakers including Tesla's VP of Business Development Diarmuid O'Connell and Chelsea Sexton, the world's best known EV advocate and industry adviser. The concurrence of the two events ensures that there will be a large number of participants in on-track events, and so Refuel organizers have set up two different run groups. While there might be a sea of Teslas, we are also certain there will be quite a number of other, unique battery-powered vehicles on hand to check out. You can get more details from the official press release below or by visiting the Refuel website. If you are interested in attending TMC Connect, you can get more information and register via its website. REFUEL Welcomes Electric Vehicles to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Speed Ventures presents the 6th Annual REFUEL Clean Power Motorsports Event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California on Sunday, July 20, 2014. For the sixth year running, Speed Ventures, the leading recreational motorsports club with operations in California and Nevada, welcomes electric cars and motorcycles to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California to showcase cutting-edge clean transportation technology in a motorsports setting.

Tesla spies something that begins with the letter D

Lest there be any doubt to the contrary, Tesla is a company on the move. Following the sensational Tesla Roadster, the Model S is now humming down roads across the country and around the world. And there's more to come: the entry-level Model 3, the upcoming Model X crossover... and something else. Two somethings, to be precise, going by this latest, cryptic tweet from Tesla chief Elon Musk.
The image enclosed appears to show the front of a Model S peering out from under a partially open garage door emblazoned with the letter D. Just what that letter stands for, we don't know. Usually we'd guess it stood for "diesel," but given that Teslas are powered purely by electricity, that'd probably be viewed as a backwards step. Drive? Possibly, if Tesla has an all-wheel-drive sedan in the works (which is does).
Whatever it is, we'll have to wait until October 9 before Tesla reveals the full thing. At that point it will also reveal "something else," though it's given even less indication as to what that might be. The Model 3? Production-ready Model X? A new Roadster? We'll find out in a week's time.

Tesla Model X spotted testing in motion for first time

What we've got here appears to be the first spy video of the Tesla Model X testing in the real world – we think. The vehicle's lines match up with the Model X EV prototypes we've seen before, but the car is wearing camo and the video was shot from a distance on a zoomed-in cell phone. Sadly, no one gets out to show off the falcon-wing doors, but we're 99-percent sure this is the highly-anticipated all-electric crossover that's due later this year (especially since the vehicle can be seen better in this Instagram picture, which also says there was a Model S nearby and that the towing vehicle was marked at belonging to Tesla). So, what do we have in the video? There's (understandably) no engine noise and lots of squealing tires to be heard. The driver seems to be testing acceleration and turning maneuvers on an unoccupied airstrip in Alameda, CA, near some docks, and the CUV appears to handle the tests with aplomb. Granted, that may be wishful thinking and conflated with our experience in the Model S, but watch for yourself and tell us what you think.