Tesla locks horsepower behind paywall: Difference between revisions
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'''[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]''' charges $2,000 to unlock an additional 50–100 horsepower from the existing dual-motor hardware in the Model Y and Model 3, reducing its 0–60 mph acceleration time by 0.4–0.5 seconds through software changes alone. | '''[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]''' charges $2,000 to unlock an additional 50–100 horsepower from the existing dual-motor hardware in the Model Y and Model 3, reducing its 0–60 mph acceleration time by 0.4–0.5 seconds through software changes alone. | ||
== Background == | ==Background== | ||
Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Doug |last2=Lugo |first2=Ryan |date=11 Apr 2025 |title=Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates |url=https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=motortrend.com}}</ref> While having full control of the software and being able to send updates can benefit customers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car. | Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Doug |last2=Lugo |first2=Ryan |date=11 Apr 2025 |title=Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates |url=https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411131734/https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout/ |archive-date=11 Apr 2025 |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=motortrend.com}}</ref> While having full control of the software and being able to send updates can benefit customers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car. | ||
This has been the case for the '''Acceleration Boost''', an over-the-air software upgrade that improves the 0–60 mph acceleration of supported vehicles by 0.4–0.5 seconds, which was officially launched in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=19 Dec 2019 |title=Tesla launches $2,000 ‘Acceleration Boost’ for 3.9s 0-60 mph in Model 3 Dual Motor |url=https://electrek.co/2019/12/19/tesla-acceleration-boost-model-3-dual-motor/ |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=electrek.co}}</ref> Initially exclusive to the Long Range Model 3, it is now also available for the Long Range Model Y.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Simon |date=5 May 2025 |title=Tesla releases paid performance upgrade for new Model Y |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-new-model-y-paid-performance-upgrade/ |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=teslarati.com}}</ref> | This has been the case for the '''Acceleration Boost''', an over-the-air software upgrade that improves the 0–60 mph acceleration of supported vehicles by 0.4–0.5 seconds, which was officially launched in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=19 Dec 2019 |title=Tesla launches $2,000 ‘Acceleration Boost’ for 3.9s 0-60 mph in Model 3 Dual Motor |url=https://electrek.co/2019/12/19/tesla-acceleration-boost-model-3-dual-motor/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220001849/https://electrek.co/2019/12/19/tesla-acceleration-boost-model-3-dual-motor/ |archive-date=20 Dec 2019 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=electrek.co}}</ref> Initially exclusive to the Long Range Model 3, it is now also available for the Long Range Model Y.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Simon |date=5 May 2025 |title=Tesla releases paid performance upgrade for new Model Y |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-new-model-y-paid-performance-upgrade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505141458/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-new-model-y-paid-performance-upgrade/ |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=teslarati.com}}</ref> | ||
== How it works == | ==How it works== | ||
The OTA upgrade is available only as a one-time purchase of $2000 and exclusively for AWD versions, as the RWD variants only have a single motor at the rear.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Jun 2025 |title=Tesla offers acceleration boost upgrade for the new Model Y |url=https://evannex.com/blogs/news/tesla-offers-acceleration-boost-upgrade-for-the-new-model-y |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=evannex.com}}</ref> The AWD Model 3 and Model Y are already equipped with dual motors capable of delivering the additional performance provided by the upgrade, but their full power is software-locked, requiring customers to pay for hardware they already own. | The OTA upgrade is available only as a one-time purchase of $2000 and exclusively for AWD versions, as the RWD variants only have a single motor at the rear.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Jun 2025 |title=Tesla offers acceleration boost upgrade for the new Model Y |url=https://evannex.com/blogs/news/tesla-offers-acceleration-boost-upgrade-for-the-new-model-y |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250718174935/https://evannex.com/blogs/news/tesla-offers-acceleration-boost-upgrade-for-the-new-model-y |archive-date=18 Jul 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=evannex.com}}</ref> The AWD Model 3 and Model Y are already equipped with dual motors capable of delivering the additional performance provided by the upgrade, but their full power is software-locked, requiring customers to pay for hardware they already own. | ||
In the following chart is the 0-60 performance comparison between the Long Range model with and without the upgrade and the Performance model:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguirre |first=Jorge |date=28 Oct 2022 |title=Tesla Acceleration Boost: A Complete Guide |url=https://www.notateslaapp.com/tesla-reference/1040/ |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=notateslaapp.com}}</ref> | In the following chart is the 0-60 performance comparison between the Long Range model with and without the upgrade and the Performance model:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguirre |first=Jorge |date=28 Oct 2022 |title=Tesla Acceleration Boost: A Complete Guide |url=https://www.notateslaapp.com/tesla-reference/1040/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028171156/https://www.notateslaapp.com/tesla-reference/1040/ |archive-date=28 Oct 2022 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=notateslaapp.com}}</ref> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|Model | |Model | ||
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== See also == | ==See also== | ||
* [[Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall]] | *[[Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall]] | ||
* [[Tesla locks battery range behind paywall]] | *[[Tesla locks battery range behind paywall]] | ||
* [[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | *[[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | ||
* [[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | *[[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | ||
* [[BMW's heated seat subscription]] | *[[BMW's heated seat subscription]] | ||
* [[Software locks]] | *[[Software locks]] | ||
* [[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | *[[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | ||
* [[Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | *[[Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | ||
* [[Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | *[[Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | ||
* [[Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription]] | *[[Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
Revision as of 17:18, 14 January 2026
Tesla charges $2,000 to unlock an additional 50–100 horsepower from the existing dual-motor hardware in the Model Y and Model 3, reducing its 0–60 mph acceleration time by 0.4–0.5 seconds through software changes alone.
Background
Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.[1] While having full control of the software and being able to send updates can benefit customers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car.
This has been the case for the Acceleration Boost, an over-the-air software upgrade that improves the 0–60 mph acceleration of supported vehicles by 0.4–0.5 seconds, which was officially launched in 2019.[2] Initially exclusive to the Long Range Model 3, it is now also available for the Long Range Model Y.[3]
How it works
The OTA upgrade is available only as a one-time purchase of $2000 and exclusively for AWD versions, as the RWD variants only have a single motor at the rear.[4] The AWD Model 3 and Model Y are already equipped with dual motors capable of delivering the additional performance provided by the upgrade, but their full power is software-locked, requiring customers to pay for hardware they already own.
In the following chart is the 0-60 performance comparison between the Long Range model with and without the upgrade and the Performance model:[5]
| Model | Long Range | Acceleration Boost | Performance |
| Model 3 | 4.2 seconds | 3.7 seconds | 3.1 seconds |
| Model Y | 4.8 seconds | 4.3 seconds | 3.5 seconds |
See also
- Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall
- Tesla locks battery range behind paywall
- BMW feature lockout scandal
- Mazda remote-start subscription
- BMW's heated seat subscription
- Software locks
- Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled
- Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription
- Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription
- Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription
References
- ↑ Newcomb, Doug; Lugo, Ryan (11 Apr 2025). "Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates". motortrend.com. Archived from the original on 11 Apr 2025. Retrieved 22 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Lambert, Fred (19 Dec 2019). "Tesla launches $2,000 'Acceleration Boost' for 3.9s 0-60 mph in Model 3 Dual Motor". electrek.co. Archived from the original on 20 Dec 2019. Retrieved 23 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Alvarez, Simon (5 May 2025). "Tesla releases paid performance upgrade for new Model Y". teslarati.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 23 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Tesla offers acceleration boost upgrade for the new Model Y". evannex.com. 2 Jun 2025. Archived from the original on 18 Jul 2025. Retrieved 23 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Aguirre, Jorge (28 Oct 2022). "Tesla Acceleration Boost: A Complete Guide". notateslaapp.com. Archived from the original on 28 Oct 2022. Retrieved 23 Aug 2025.