Tesla Model S and Model X ranges get big upgrades

Tesla is giving its Model S and Model X cars much-needed boosts — just as its older offerings have seen sales languish.

Range and charging capabilities will be upgraded in both, the carmaker announced in a blog post Tuesday. Tesla is also bringing back a cheaper version of the cars that don’t have as much range.

The new Model S can now get 370 miles on a single charge, while the Model X steps up to 325 miles thanks to an all-new drivetrain design. Previously, these cars got 335 miles and 295 miles out of their batteries, respectively. The cars will be slightly less-expensive than what used to be Tesla’s longest-range options: starting at $88,000 for the S and $93,000 for the X. These upgrades come with no changes to the cars’ 100 kWh battery packs. The improvements will start at its Fremont factory this week. 

Charging will also be bumped up to 200 kW on V3 Superchargers and 145 kW on V2 Superchargers, which means cars will charge faster on the network. The company said this change is a 50 percent improvement. 

There were also some smaller enhancements announced, with the Model S and Model X suspension systems improved to include fully-adaptive damping (which allows for a more cushioned ride), plus new wheel bearings and some new tire designs to help improve range, ride, and steering. 

But wait, there’s more: Tesla is also bringing back the cheaper Standard Range variant on its Model S and X.

The Model S Standard Range can now be purchased for $78,000, which offers 285 miles on a single charge, while the Model X version starts at $83,000, with 250 miles of range. 

Tesla’s also offering a free Ludicrous Mode upgrade to current owners of the Model S and X who want to buy the same cars with the better range. Ludicrous Mode usually costs $20,000.

These improvements aren’t coincidental. Tesla’s Q1 earnings will be released Tuesday, and they’re not expected to be stellar. The Model S and X have also seen deliveries drop by more than half in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, with the Model 3 stealing much of the spotlight. 

There was also the halving of the U.S. electric vehicle tax credit on Jan. 1, which perhaps saw a rush of sales in the final months of 2018.

This is good news if you were in the market for a Model S or X anyway — and have the money to spend more.