Tesla Cuts Prices; Model S and X Long Range Are the New Base Models
Tesla's Standard Range cars are no longer available to order, while the Long Range is now the base trim and sees a big discount.
Ludicrous Mode is now standard on Performance trims.
White is the only no-cost paint.
UPDATE 7/17/19: In other Tesla pricing news, the automaker has raised the price of what it labels the "Full Self Driving" option—essentially, unlocking computer hardware Tesla alleges will support future autonomous-driving technologies—by $1000 starting August 16, 2019. What does this mean, exactly? Well, the hardware in the Full Self Driving option is actually included on every new Tesla. Buyers can "activate" the system when they purchase the car, for $6000 (which goes up to $7000 in a month). Only they won't get autonomous functionality until that actually becomes available at an unspecified future date. Or they can choose not to; buyers can get the hardware with their cars, pay nothing extra to "activate" it in the future, and leave open the option to add the Full Self Driving software later on down the road, albeit for what could be an even higher cost.
Tesla is dropping the base models (again), except this time, the prices aren't increasing as they did in January.
Consistent with Tesla's frequently adjusted pricing and product availability, the latest changes that quietly appeared on the Tesla website this week dropped two cheaper models of the Model S and Model X. The Standard Range cars are gone, and the Long Range cars—now the base trim—are each down $8010. That means that, for just a couple grand more than the base models that were still being made last week, the Model S is finally at eye level with gasoline-powered luxury cars, at least in estimated EPA range. The 370-mile Model S (up from the Standard Range's 285) costs $81,190. The 325-mile Model X (up from the Standard Range's 250) is $86,190. Consider that earlier this year, both cars in P100 trim cost near $100,000 for batteries this big.
Ludicrous mode is now standard on the Performance trims—it was $20,000 before. Both Performance trims on the Model S and Model X cost $990 more than last week with the same range (345 miles and 305 miles, respectively). The Model S Performance is $101,190; the Model X Performance can be yours for $106,190.
Also of note is that Tesla's configurator now gives you an explicit choice, without clicking into a popup, to view the actual price of the car you're buying instead of the theoretical and entirely misleading number that factors in fuel savings and incentives. Of course, if you prefer that number, you can still view it. White is now the only no-cost exterior paint among five choices. Tesla’s "full self-driving computer" is included on every car, but activating it is a $6000 option when ordered today and "likely to increase over time" if you buy after delivery. You still can't use it right now. When Elon Musk deems it ready, you can expect him to beam the magic signal over the Tesla information superhighway.
Be sure to check back regularly, as one thing that's certain is that Tesla prices will change again.
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