When Tesla updated the front end styling of its Model S earlier this year, existing owners must have groaned, knowing that their ecologically sensitive status symbol would now look dated.
Well, an aftermarket parts company that specializes solely in Tesla add-ons has a solution. Unplugged Performance is offering an updated front fascia that can be mated to any 2012–2016 Model S, allowing older models to adopt the Model 3-esque looks of the current offering.
It’s literally plastic surgery for your car.
The new face comes with a front spoiler, meaning there will be a slight visual difference between an Unplugged Performance refresh and a new Model S. Having any “85” badging on the rear of the car will also give away your secret, but is that really a big concern? The Secret Service updated the appearance of presidential limousines for decades.
The California company posted a question and answer session on its website, hoping to sway potential buyers worried about crewing up something important on their vehicle. For starters, they say the new fascia won’t mess with Autopilot sensors or the Park Assist system. Cooling shouldn’t be affected, either.
Installing the fascia takes about three hours, the company says, and the unit doesn’t come pre-painted. You’ll also have to transfer the Tesla logo from your bound-for-eBay front to the new one. The company recommends choosing a professional body shop for painting and installation, which will add some extra cost on top of the fascia’s $2,995 price. According to their website, buyers will get a $500 discount if they order before July 1.
With the Model 3 on the way (eventually), Unplugged Performance claims it’s busy planning upgrades for owners of the $35,000 wondercar. Production isn’t expected to kick off until late 2017, so they’ll have a fair bit of time to work on those.
[Image: Tesla Motors]
make sure the body shop uses the correct plastic primer before the primer coat to promote flexible adhesion, or that paint is going to shed off like it was a 1990s caravan.
Didn’t they used to use elasticizer in the paint?
I used PPG’s “One Choice” plastic prep system to paint ATV fenders with GREAT results. Final product is flexible and tough… Unlike all those supposed plastic paints and primers at auto parts and home depo stores.
Only exception [for me] that older one looks better
@ slavuta – This. As with 90 percent-plus of facelifts, this worsens rather than improves the appearance of the vehicle (see ’15 Chevy Cruze, ’12 Lexus RX 350, ’68 Toronado, and so on).
“I want mine to look dorky, like the new ones.”
I liked how my Audi looked pretty much like the newer models. I’m also glad I didn’t have to pay to have it keep looking new.
I’d rather not have a mule.
The new corporate grill looks boring.
The missing grille isn’t doing it for me.
I don’t like it either. It’s like in The Matrix when Neo’s lips melted together after the Agent drugged him.
The combination of that flat slab and the small crease that runs through it should make a nice graveyard for bugs.
But then Elon is smart; I’m sure he mated that nose to a Camry and ran it through real world tests (since most Tesla owners drive their cars like Camcords).
How do ‘camcord’ drivers drive? There are plenty of Tesla around where I live, and they’re driven like any other cars. With the exception that you don’t see their drivers driving like jerks or bullies.
Hey Model S owners, are you beset by the urge to kill your luxury car’s considerable road presence by making its face look more like the kind-of-creepy Tesla 3? I don’t understand your pathology, but have I got good news for you…
I might put one of these on my Model 3:
https://tesla3grilles.com/products/tesla-3-hex-mesh
$3K for just the part? Wow! Paint and labor will bring it up at least another grand or two. That’s a high price to pay for vanity. I’m assuming that the OEM piece is not a direct bolt-on to the older cars?
For that kind of money, the aftermarket piece better fit perfectly, which would be a first for the notoriously put fitment of aftermarket body parts.
You should be able the sell the original parts for a tidy sum.
Didn’t we used to do this in the 1970s and 80s with old Fords and GM products back in the days when you could simply bolt later model grilles and tail lights onto their older model counterparts??
This story reminded me those GMT 800 Chevrolet Avalanches with the Cadillac Escalade front grille bolted on. I see those every now and then in the Chicago area.
I don’t see any point to this. Aftermarket conversions like this generally lower the resale value. Beside, in Tesla world, wouldn’t being an early adopter be a ‘thing’?
Might come in handy for when the autopilot fails.
I am not sure why anyone would really do this… Vehicles go through refreshes all the time, and there has always been after market vendors to ‘pimp’ your ride. $3000 is a tad steep to make your car look like the new breed.
I personally like the new prow better than the nosecone.
But, then again, I’m a Model 3 reservation holder, so you’d expect me to like the design on the Model 3, even when it’s expanded for the S.
I will admit that the prow took a bit to get used to the prow. It is different. But so is the rest of the car.
But, its important to remember that:
a) The prow is at knee height
b) The prow is going to have a license plate on the front in most places.
Once I realized I’d have to put a license plate holder on it, it made all kinds of sense.
hmmm Looks like a Kaiser Darrin after it sucked on a lemon wedge.
Are you friggin’ kidding me?
They took a front facia that evoked the look of a Jag and gave it an Apple/Google dork face?
Ground control to Elon – get a grip!
The same company will offer a kit to make a Model 3 look like the “old” Model S.
How ’bout like a Karmann Ghia instead of Mole Mobile?
Wouldn’t an EV Ghia be the cat’s azz?