Tesla launches new Model S and Model X with shorter range and cheaper prices | Electrek

Tesla has launched two new vehicles of the Model S and Model X. The automaker is bringing back “Standard Range” versions with shorter ranges and cheaper prices.

Over the years, Tesla has launched a myriad of versions of the Model S and Model X – most often based around different battery packs from 40 kWh to 100 kWh of capacity.

Sometimes it even offered new trims by simply software-locking capacity in the battery pack.

Since the Model S and Model X refresh in 2021, Tesla has only offered “Long Range” and “Plaid” versions of its flagship sedan and SUV.

Now Tesla has decided to bring back the “Standard Range” version for each:

For the Model S, it drops the price by $10,000 to $78,490, but you also lose 85 miles since the new Standard Range is 320 miles on a single charge compared to 405 miles for the Long Range version.

With the Model X, it also now starts $10,000 cheaper with the new version:

The new Standard Range Model X gets 269 miles of range – 79 fewer than the Long Range version.

Top comment by MarcG

Unless it's a copy/paste error or laziness, specs on Tesla's website show that the weights of the standard range models are exactly the same for non-Plaid models. So it would make sense that it's a software-limited lower range version of the same exact hardware as the non-Plaid long range models.

It’s unclear if Tesla is software-locking capacity in the Long Range battery pack to create these trims or if it is actually producing a new battery pack for them.

We will know when the automaker starts deliveries, which are starting next month in the US, according to Tesla’s online configurator.

If it is software-locked, Tesla has previously allowed owners to unlock the capacity in the future through a software update with a premium. It would be interesting if Tesla brings that back again.

Update: Tesla has confirmed that its new “Standard Range” Model S and Model X have the same battery pack as the Long Range version, but with its capacity being software-locked.