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The 'AMG of Tesla' unveils SEMA-bound Model S

Take a Tesla Model S, rip out the interior and throw on a new face and you might come up with the electric blue EV you see above. The modified Model S pictured is the new car that Unplugged Performance will bring to SEMA this week as it continues towards its self-declared goal of becoming the "AMG of Tesla." The first thing we noticed was how the updated fascia has a real Tom Selleck vibe, even if it's not quite the can't-look-away mustache of the Fisker Karma. Unplugged Performance says the new carbon fiber oval plastic nosecone is just one of a number of changes. It's easy to spot the new sports headlights and the 21-inch UP-01 wheels from the outside, but the inside is where most of the work was done. Unplugged Performance says it "dispensed with nearly all of the original Tesla innards" and "completely reimagined [the interior] for higher performance and more luxurious grade materials." That means a lot of the company's prototype upgrades are being shown here for the first time, things like sport seats in Italian Alcantara material and "luxury floor mats," that have "plush Rolls Royce carpet and Ferrari leather detailing." Performance has been changed as well, with prototype suspension components and new, prototype sports brake pads that UP says will "improve the car's driving dynamics." We won't be able to test them out when we get to SEMA, but we do look forward to getting a closer look at what's going on here. Unplugged Performance Brings New Developments to SEMA with Extensively Redesigned Tesla The Model S Gets a Face Lift and Slew of New Upgrades Las Vegas, NV – 11/04/2014 – Today, Unplugged Performance, a pioneer in Tesla Model S tuning, debuts their highly anticipated and freshly redesigned Model S at the SEMA trade show. The car features a completely new front end image, a complete overhaul of the interior, revised lighting, revised suspension, revised braking, upgraded wheels and enhanced aerodynamics. The first thing viewers will notice is that the oval plastic nosecone is changed to a wider and more aggressive design in carbon fiber. The bumper itself is an exercise in form following function with a priority on retaining cooling, ground clearance and aerodynamic efficiency. Despite the sharp modern looks, the bumper quietly integrates a ram air ducting system that feeds four factory integrated motorized cooling louvers which assist the car's cooling systems.

Awaiting Chevy Trailblazer, driving Ford Ranger | Autoblog Podcast #580

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski and Green Editor John Beltz Snyder. First, they discuss the news, including the Chevy Trailblazer, Ferrari to stop providing Maserati with engines, an upcoming Ferrari Hybrid, Elon Musk's sex jokes and the reveal of the McLaren GT. They also talk at length about a couple vehicles they've been driving: the Kia Niro EV and the Ford Ranger. Autoblog Podcast #580 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Chevy Trailblazer could be coming to the U.S. Ferrari to stop supplying engines to Maserati Ferrari to reveal a hybrid supercar Sex on Autopilot McLaren GT revealed Cars we're driving: 2019 Kia Niro EV 2019 Ford Ranger Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Green Podcasts Chevrolet Ferrari Ford Kia Maserati McLaren Tesla Truck Coupe Crossover Hatchback Electric Future Vehicles Hybrid Off-Road Vehicles Performance Supercars

CARB scrapping plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates

In April, we heard about a discussion within the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that would have put a $60,000 MSRP limit on plug-in vehicles that would qualify for CARB's $2,500 rebates. A new report in Silicon Beat says that CARB is once again ready to give EV money to everyone, no matter what expensive car they buy. There's no question that the CARB proposal would have had an inordinate effect on Tesla Motors, the only company selling a EV expensive enough to cost more than $60,000, the Tesla Model S. Okay, the Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid would also have been affected, but that only would have applied to a small handful of people. According to Silicon Beat, the updated CARB proposal says clearly that, "at this time staff is not proposing any significant changes to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project as part of this year's Initial Funding Plan." CARB spokesman David Clegern told Silicon Beat that, "It's fair to say [the $60,000 limit] been removed. I never say anything is dead until after the vote, but I'm not aware of any plans to revisit it." In other words, Tesla, you're good to go. We've asked CARB for confirmation of this, but have not yet heard back.