Author: Gary Zhou

As a seasoned EV enthusiast and Tesla owner with over 50,000 miles behind the wheel of multiple Model Y variants, I’ve been eagerly awaiting real-world insights into the 2026 refresh. When Teslarati snagged a brand-new Model Y Performance for a full seven-day test drive—courtesy of Tesla itself—it sparked my interest. The reviewer, already a Premium All-Wheel-Drive (likely Long Range AWD) owner, put the $11,000 price premium under the microscope. Spoiler: The results are nuanced, blending thrilling upgrades with some underwhelming realities. In this post, I’ll break it down with fresh data from 2026 specs, owner reviews, and performance benchmarks to help you decide if this sporty beast deserves your hard-earned cash.

As a seasoned EV enthusiast and tech blogger who’s been tracking Tesla’s battery innovations since the early days of the Model S, I can confidently say this is one of the biggest stories in electric vehicles right now. On February 2, 2026, Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate a hard-fought victory: Tesla has finally scaled the dry electrode process for its revolutionary 4680 battery cells. This isn’t just incremental progress—it’s a paradigm shift that promises cheaper, more efficient batteries at massive scale. In Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 shareholder update, the company confirmed it’s producing 4680 cells in Austin with both anode and cathode made via this dry process. And to top it off, Model Y vehicles are now rolling out with these packs. Let’s dive deep into what this means, why it took so long, and how it positions Tesla to dominate the EV wars.

As a longtime Tesla watcher and robotics enthusiast with over a decade covering the intersection of AI, electric vehicles, and automation, I’ve seen bold promises come and go. But Tesla’s latest move—Tesla China teasing the imminent unveiling of Optimus V3 on Weibo—feels like the spark that’s igniting a full-blown humanoid revolution. This isn’t just hype; it’s backed by concrete production shifts, Elon Musk’s Q4 2025 earnings call revelations, and a redesign philosophy that’s pure Tesla: first principles. In this deep dive, we’ll unpack the buzz, dissect V3’s game-changing features, explore the global production playbook (with a spotlight on Giga Shanghai), and analyze what this means for investors, workers, and the future economy. Buckle up—this could be Tesla’s biggest pivot since the Roadster.

As Elon Musk’s empire continues to blur the lines between rockets, electric vehicles, social media, and artificial intelligence, the latest bombshell from Reuters has the tech world buzzing: SpaceX is in active discussions to merge with xAI ahead of a blockbuster IPO expected later this year. Musk himself appears to have given it a nod of approval on X, replying a casual “Yeah” to a post envisioning SpaceX as the ultimate “Dyson Swarm company.” This isn’t just corporate housekeeping—it’s a bold step toward Musk’s dream of AI data centers orbiting Earth, powered by endless solar energy. In this deep dive, we’ll unpack the reports, strategic synergies, investor implications, and what this could mean for the future of humanity’s multi-planetary ambitions.

As a seasoned EV industry analyst and blogger who’s followed Tesla’s wild ride since the Roadster days, I’ve seen my share of bold moves, hype cycles, and outright blunders. But nothing quite captures the frenetic energy of Elon Musk’s Tesla like their latest trademark saga. On January 28, 2026, during the Q4 2025 earnings call, Musk casually floated “Cybervehicle” and “Cybercar” as alternatives to the beleaguered “Cybercab.” Within minutes—37 seconds apart, to be exact—Tesla’s legal team panic-filed trademarks for both names with the USPTO. This isn’t strategy; it’s survival mode, a direct response to past humiliations like losing “Cybercab” to a French seltzer maker.