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2022 Tesla Model S and Model X price and specs: Facelift unveiled with aircraft-like steering wheel, Plaid+ flagship

The 2022 Tesla Model S and 2022 Tesla Model X facelifts have been officially unveiled, featuring a new interior with an aircraft-inspired steering wheel.


  • 2022 Tesla Model S and Model X revealed with price and specs
  • All-new interior with airplane 'yoke' steering wheel, tablet infotainment screen
  • Overhauled powertrains including Plaid+ flagship
  • Model S prices up $10,000 to $15,000
  • Model X prices up by around $11,000

Updates to Tesla's global configurators reveal the long-rumoured Model S and Model X revisions, with the pair scoring an all-new interior design, headlined by a new, slim rectangular steering wheel drawing parallels with the 'yoke' control sticks used by pilots of commercial aircraft.

The brand claims the new wheel is "the ultimate focus on driving: no stalks, no shifting. With a stalkless steering yoke, you can enjoy both the best car to drive, and the best car to be driven in".

Sitting in the centre of the dashboard of both cars is a new 17-inch infotainment touchscreen inspired by that of the Model 3, featuring satellite navigation, Internet functionality and the American brand's signature array of video streaming, games, 'easter eggs' and miscellaneous novelty applications.

Unlike its smaller counterparts, in moving to a horizontal central screen, the Model S and Model X haven't lost a dedicated digital instrument cluster, with the facelifted models' units measuring in at 12.3 inches.

An 8.0-inch screen features in the rear of the centre console for second-row passengers, while a 22-speaker, 960-watt premium sound system with active noise cancellation is also on offer.

Other standard features include heated seats for all passengers, ventilated front seats, tri-zone climate control, HEPA air filtration, ambient cabin lighting, a tinted glass roof (with UV protection).

Wireless charging pads and USB-C ports are on offer for every passenger, complemented by sliding cupholders and storage for front passengers. Power-operated rear tailgates and side mirrors are standard on both cars, the latter feature including auto-dimming and heating functionality.

Boot space is rated at 792 litres for the Model S and 2577 litres for the Model X, both figures likely measured to the roof, with all seats folded down.

The exterior changes are noticeably more subtle than those found inside, with changes largely limited to Model 3 and Model Y-inspired front fascias and black exterior trim (replacing chrome).

There's also a set of new wheel designs, namely 19-inch Tempest and 21-inch Arachnid styles for the Model S, and 20-inch Cyberstream and 22-inch Turbine options for the Model X.

Under the skin, Tesla has overhauled its largest passenger models' powertrain line-up, deleting the flagship Performance and introducing two new Plaid variants. Pricing for all models can be found at the bottom of the story.

Opening the range is the Long Range, which combines two electric motors (producing 500kW combined) for an estimated range of 663 kilometres in the Model S, and 580km in the Model X.

Tesla claims 0-100km/h sprint times in the Model S and X of 3.2 and 3.9 seconds respectively, with both cars capped at 250km/h.

Replacing the outgoing flagship Performance is not one, but two Plaid-badged variants: Plaid and Plaid+.

The 'entry-level' Plaid features three "high-performance" electric motors developing a total of 761kW, sent to all four wheels for a 0-100km/h sprint time as low as 2.1 seconds in the Model S (2.6 seconds in the X).

Range takes a hit, however, rated at an estimated 628km and 547km in the sedan and SUV respectively. Carbon-sleeved motor rotors and torque vectoring also feature.

Sitting atop the range is the Plaid+, available only in Model S sedan guise.

The Plaid+ variant draws closest to the initial specifications for the Plaid announced in September 2020: 820kW of power, three electric motors, a sub-2.1-second 0-100km/h sprint time, sub-nine second quarter mile (402m) time, an 840km-plus range and a 320km/h top speed.

Production of the 2022 Tesla Model S and X will commence in the first quarter of 2021, though the Tesla Australia configurator indicates first deliveries won't commence until 2022.

 

2022 Tesla Model S Australian pricing

Long Range – $146,175

Plaid – $204,675

Plaid+ – $224,580

 

2022 Tesla Model X Australian pricing

Long Range – $172,175

Plaid – $204,675

 

Note: All prices listed above include luxury car tax, but exclude on-road costs e.g. dealer delivery charges and stamp duty.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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