

Lifestyle
Which Tesla Model 3 customizations will be available to initial buyers?
After Tesla officially published its specification sheet comparing Model S vs. Model 3, I couldn’t help but wonder how Model S is able to have 1500+ configurations while Model 3 has fewer than 100. After a moment of head scratching, I decided to do some math.
The current Model S can be had in 5 main configurations: 75, 75D, 90D, 100D and P100D. There are 7 colors, 6 interior combinations, 2 roofs, 4 sets of wheels and 3 possible Autopilot options (no software, enhanced and FSD.) There are also 7 unique options that can either be had or not, which equates to over 160,000 total possible combinations when not considering smart air suspension, since that is not available on all 5 configurations. That math is illustrated below.
Now wait just a moment. I’m no mathematician but even I know that 161,280 is nowhere near 1,500. So that made me wonder, what exactly does Tesla mean by “customization?”
Perhaps the car itself, what I refer to above as configuration, is not a customization. Once you pick a vehicle, such as a Model S 90D, then you can customize it. When you remove that, the number shrinks by a lot. Only, it’s still nowhere near 1,500.
So what then, can I remove to get to a number that can reasonably be called 1500+? If I consider some of the choices “options” rather than “customizations,” and leave everything else (in yellow below) as a customization, then the number starts making a whole lot more sense. 1,680 can, in my opinion, reasonably be referred to as 1500+.
Assuming the above is the key, how many of those 5 customizations would equate to near 100? See for yourself:
I got it, I got it! 2 configurations, 4 colors, 2 roofs, 2 sets of wheels and 3 interiors. Do I think this is likely? Not necessarily, but it’s fun to speculate. So while I’m at it, here are my speculations that would go along with the above number of choices, if it were true:
- Colors: Black, White, Silver/Gray, Blue
- Configurations: 60, 75 (initially)
- Roofs: Solid or optional glass
- Wheels: 18″ or 19″ silver
- Interiors: black, tan, white
But Electric Jen, Tesla has been showing red cars since the first Model 3 unveiling on March 31, 2016! Yes, I certainly think red will be available but for the sake of fudging to make the math work, let’s pretend only the P75D can come in red, and thus will have to wait until some time after the “initial” production run to be had.
Do I really believe all of the above options are the only things that will be offered? No, but may be true initially. If Tesla is only referring to the initial production run, which we already know does not include dual motor all wheel drive, the 5 configurations that I ultimately think will be available eventually becomes a 2. I also think that Model 3 will be available in at least 5 paint colors, if not the full 7. Just not initially.
It’s been fun to speculate, if for no other reason than to kill a few minutes of the agonizing wait time until Tesla launches the Model 3 Design Studio.

Lifestyle
Elon Musk seemingly confirms Cybertruck gift to 13-year-old cancer fighter
Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, the teen has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12.

Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed that he will be sending a Tesla Cybertruck to 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston boy fighting brain cancer. The teen was recognized as an honorary Secret Service member by U.S. President Donald Trump during his address to Congress on Tuesday.
A Chance Meeting
The Tesla CEO’s Cybertruck pledge was mentioned during DJ’s short interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. When Collins asked the 13-year-old what he told the Tesla CEO, DJ answered that he asked for a Cybertruck.
“I said, ‘can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there?’” the cancer fighter stated.
Daniel noted that Musk responded positively to his request, which was highlighted by Collins in a post on X. Musk responded to the post with a heart emoji, suggesting that he really will be sending a Cybertruck to the 13-year-old cancer fighter.
Teen’s Cancer Battle Inspires
Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, Daniel has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12. During his speech, Trump highlighted the 13-year-old’s long battle with his disease.
“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true,” Trump stated.
Daniels officially received an honorary badge from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, to much applause during the event.
Surprisingly Partisan
While Daniels’ story has been inspiring, Trump’s focus on the 13-year-old cancer fighter has received its own fair share of criticism. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, while referencing Daniels’ love for law enforcement, noted that she is hoping the 13-year-old never has to defend the U.S. capitol against Trump supporters. “If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace stated.
Anti-Musk and Trump accounts on X have also thrown jokes at the cancer fighter’s honorary badge, with some dubbing the 13-year-old as a “DEI hire” that should be looked into by DOGE.
Lifestyle
Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.
FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:
- But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
- This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
- As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
- For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States.
This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
FSD user’s tale:
- As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
- During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
- In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous.
- “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
- “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.


Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Lifestyle
Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products.
The video:
- Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver.
- The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
- While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
- Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.
Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus
— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025
full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7
Cool inside jokes:
- The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it.
- From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
- The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
- The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.
Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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