Tesla's Project Highland Model 3: New Wheels and Other Changes Revealed

February 25, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

The Kilowatts spots Tesla's Project Highland with new wheels

The Kilowatts/Twitter

Tesla's mysterious caped crusader has once again appeared. Twitter and YouTuber The Kilowatts posted pictures of a black Model 3. For months these cars, sporting covers on the front and back, have been noticed in California, but this is the first time we've seen one without aero covers on the wheels. So the refreshed Model 3, known as project Highland, will apparently have new wheels. But some other changes are also revealed in these images.

New Wheels on the Highland

The rims in the Kilowatts post have 14 points of contact with the outer edges instead of the current 10-spoke rims. The spokes are slightly off-center to give a swirl effect, another difference from the straight lines the current rims offer. There is a large circle in the middle where the center cap will go. That circle will replace the five-star piece on the existing wheels.

These wheels offer more coverage, possibly cutting down on wind resistance and giving you a half mile more in range. As we know, Tesla always looks for more ways to improve capacity.

Body Molding Change and Wires

While the wheels draw attention, there may be another change. Check out the side repeater. It almost looks like the body modeling has ben extended around the repeater camera, but it's not terribly clear in the photo and it could just be the reflection. We know that Hardware 4 comes with new cameras, and other evidence points to the side repeater cameras changing the angle that they point. However, the housing of the cameras appears the same as the previous model.

The bumper also appears to have a slightly different shape than the current Model 3, with the top lip appearing to be reduced or moved further down.

It's all a mystery after that. Check out the duct tape used to cover the headlight thoroughly. Previous pictures of these cars had the headlight exposed, it seems there may be some changes there. It was believed cameras were being added to the headlight housing, but that speculation was put to rest with images of HW4-equipped Model S, and Model X spotted in Fremont.

Finally, some wires come from under the car and run along the inside and partially on the outside of the doors before going back under the car.

Reuters reported that Project Highland would go into production in Shanghai in September. This new Model 3 is expected to cut production costs by focusing on reducing the number of components and some interior changes. In addition, the exterior is expected to see some changes to improve efficiency and reduce cost.

Tesla Begins Gathering Data Near WB Studio for Robotaxi Event

September 2, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has begun extensive data collection in the WB Studio area over the last 4 days, according to Tesla hardware hacker @greentheonly. This comes just a day after news broke that Tesla intends to host their upcoming Robotaxi event at WB Studios, a city-like area with more than 110 acres of land, roads, and buildings.

Data Gathering

Tesla is gathering additional data in this area as vehicles drive around since most of the area is open to the public. Tesla could be gathering or confirming data to build composite maps, including everything from stop signs, intersections, and construction to bumps in the road to change suspension heights on the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck for additional comfort. While pre-mapped data may be frowned upon by some, it could be the equivalent of someone driving on a familiar road instead of one they’ve never driven on. Confidence and safety levels are usually increased the more familiar you are with the area. The same holds for autonomous vehicles, the more information they have on upcoming intersections and road types, the better they can perform.

This new data-gathering initiative in the WB Studio area is likely to facilitate the “learned experience” that Tesla’s FSD model builds over time in normal locations. The WB Studio area, including set pieces, filming areas, and residential areas likely aren’t highly frequented by Tesla vehicles, this is something that Tesla is doing with the intent of hosting the Robotaxi demos next month.

Previously, Tesla said that areas don’t need to be mapped by its vehicles, but once they are mapped, decision-making and route pre-processing improve. This is likely all being done to provide the safest, simplest, and cleanest experience to the attendees of the event.

Other Locations

Tesla is also gathering information throughout parts of San Francisco, the Bay Area, and areas like the Tesla Diner in Hollywood (updated photos). It seems that Tesla intends to introduce its future Robotaxi service in California first, before expanding outwards. Deep data collection like this isn’t unusual, but, interestingly, Tesla is doing it very intentionally.

For now, it may be that the initial Robotaxi rollout, whenever it does happen – will be geofenced to specific areas as Tesla works on the Robotaxi-specific pieces of FSD.

Event Sign-up

So far, we haven’t heard any news of how Tesla will distribute tickets for their Robotaxi event. They could use their referral system like they have in the past, or they may pick shareholders randomly. We should find out more soon as the event approaches.

Warner Bros. City-like Movie Studio to Host Tesla Robotaxi Event

August 31, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

According to an inside source who spoke to Bloomberg, Tesla will be hosting the Robotaxi reveal on October 10th at Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.’s movie studio in Los Angeles, rather than at Giga Texas, where they’ve normally held reveal events.

Hollywood Reveal

The Warner Bros. studio is a massive space, covering over 110 acres. The area has an array of different simulated city street scenarios generally used to record movies, rather than a large stage like at Giga Texas.

It seems that Tesla wants to demonstrate Robotaxi’s capabilities at Warner Bros. studio to attendees, where it will serve as a real-life simulacrum of what it will actually be like to request a Tesla Cybercab from the Tesla app, and then experience the actual ride from point A to point B.

Rather than testing on real city streets and closing off a huge portion of a town, or even setting up a local simulation outside of Giga Texas, Tesla has instead opted to use the pre-built facilities at the studio, which will provide a whole host of fairly realistic scenarios. The 110 acres provide ample space for several Robotaxi vehicles to roam around on the grounds, without intruding on real traffic or impeding pedestrians for a system that currently is unapproved.

Tesla has been working diligently with municipal, state, and federal agencies to have Robotaxi in an approved state for its future launch, but this process will likely take some time. This is a pretty good alternative for getting people into real vehicles and taking them on real trips for a reveal event.

A part of Warner Bros.' Discovery Inc.

Not a Tesla App

Tickets and Attendance

So far, nothing has shown up through the usual sources for how to acquire tickets or when they will become available. Tesla may use the newly re-launched Referral Program, which also recently launched in Canada, to let attendees get tickets.

We’re hoping to find out more details on the exact cost, but if they use the referral system, it may cost three referrals ($1,500 USD). Tesla’s Cybertruck event was 30,000 credits, which was three referrals. Tesla will still require attendees to travel to the location themselves and work out all travel costs on their own.

Rivian recently launched its own referral system and is going to hold an all-expenses paid trip for its top 100 referrers, which includes flight, meals, and accommodations (visit our new Rivian site, Rivian Wave for details).

We’ve previously looked at awesome Robotaxi concepts, so take a look at them and let us know what you’re looking forward to in the forums. Perhaps we might even get more than a Robotaxi announcement… wireless charging would definitely be a fitting announcement.