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Tesla’s Model S is getting its first major facelift in 4 years

Miles Branman
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It may come as a surprise, but the Tesla Model S has been on the market almost four years now, and in that time, though there have been many software and hardware updates, there hasn’t been a single styling change, until now. Starting today, all Model S vehicles that come from the company’s Fremont, CA plant will sport a new grille-less front fascia and some other tweaks, bringing its design in line with Tesla’s newer Model X and Model 3 cars.

The updates aren’t just surface-level either. Tesla has also added the HEPA air-filtrations system from the Model X as an option on the 2016 Model S. The filter removes “99.97 percent of particulate exhaust pollution and effectively all allergens, bacteria, and other contaminants from cabin air.”

Additionally, Tesla has increased the capacity of its onboard charger from 40 amps to 48 amps. This means 2016 Model S sedans will be able to recharge their batteries more quickly when plugged into higher-amp charging stations.

Tesla-Model-S-update_006
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Inside, customers can option their Model S with Dark Ash Wood Décor or Figured Ash Wood Décor. Last week, there were rumors that the Model S would also get a price bump, but Tesla has yet to announce starting figures for its re-faced sedan. The EV maker could nudge the Model S up a bit to put more ground between it and the new Model 3.

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Oh and if you’re wondering why Tesla would wait so long into the new year to reveal a “2016” model, where other automakers will reveal the next model year during the previous one, there’s no real rhyme or reason to it – Tesla has always just done things when it wanted to – so the “2016 Model S” may look exactly like the 2015 model year, or it may look like this new style.

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Miles Branman
Miles Branman
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