Tesla’s ‘Palladium’ project to upgrade Model S & X
Tesla is reportedly working on a new project called Palladium, which is currently being implemented at the vehicle plant in Fremont, California and Gigafactory 1 in Nevada. This will probably involve updates for the Model S and X, although the exact scope is unclear.
According to the electric mobility news site Electrek, insiders are saying that the project includes the construction of new production lines for updated versions of the Model S and Model X. This involves new battery modules and drive units, which are to serve as the basis for the coming three-engine and more efficient plaid versions of the Model S and Model X. At least the timetable would fit, since the plaid versions were planned for autumn 2020.
It is possible that the two models will also get a new or revised body. The prototypes of the Model S with plaid drive that were tested last year at the Nürburgring, were modified in some places, for example, the wider wheel arches and the rear wing. However, these were probably performance-enhancing attachments for the record attempt. However, the lower air intake at the front was also shaped differently, which was possibly only for the record attempt or as a feature of the plaid models.
The Palladium project is also said to be linked to the Roadrunner project, which could mean that Tesla’s own battery cells planned by Tesla will first be used in the revised Model S and Model X. According to the report for the Palladium project, facilities at Gigafactory 1 in Nevada will also be converted. This could have something to do with the battery cells, but Tesla also manufactures drive units there.
Whether these are new cells, electric motors or both is still speculative but it could make sense as a test run because of the smaller quantities of the Model S and X. Official information about the plans will hopefully be available at Tesla’s Battery Day on 22 September this year.
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