In recent years, Unplugged Performance has firmly established itself as the go-to tuner for everything Tesla, and it has just rolled out a series of new upgrades for the refreshed Model 3 Performance codenamed ‘Project Highland’ . These modifications give the car a significantly more aggressive appearance compared to the standard model.

Like other high-performance Tesla models, the Model 3 Performance doesn’t stray far from its lesser variants in terms of design. Sure, it features sportier touches like a revised front bumper and a subtle rear spoiler lip, but it’s still fairly restrained. To address this, Unplugged has introduced a range of carbon fiber parts, beginning with a redesigned aero kit at the front.

Read: 2,200-Mile Tesla Model 3 Performance ‘Highland’ Sells For $12k Under MSRP

Priced at $3,050 when purchased as a complete kit, the overhauled front fascia includes a carbon lip spoiler, canards, aerodynamic deflectors, and a lower diffuser area. Those who don’t want all of these parts can buy them individually.

Matching the aggressive new front end are carbon fiber side skirts priced from $995, carbon fiber accents for the rear bumper ($395), a carbon diffuser ($595), and a fixed carbon fiber rear wing costing a cool $2,695 and offered in satin and gloss finishes. The entire kit, including all of the front, side, and rear parts, is priced at $7,430.

Unlike many other kits on the market, these aero parts aren’t just for good looks, but also claim to produce an additional 426 lbs (193 kg) of downforce.

Unplugged also offers handling upgrades for the Model 3 Performance, as well as all other Model 3 variants. These include carbon ceramic brakes, several different coilover suspension systems, front and rear limited-slip differentials, new sway bars, adjustable front upper control arms, and braided brake lines. Several different wheel options are also on offer.

Owners seeking the ultimate in performance and willing to spend whatever it takes can buy Unplugged’s flagship wheels with carbon fiber barrels and forged aluminum spokes, starting at an eye-watering $19,995.

What do Tesla fanatics and Dodge enthusiasts have in common? At first glance, not much, except now, they both have something to argue about. Meet the Dodge Model S Plaidcat—or is it the Tesla Challenger Helldrive? Call it whatever you like, but this Dodge Challenger Hellcat has swapped its thunderous V8 underpinnings for the quiet, yet disturbingly powerful, electric might of a Tesla Model S Plaid.

The once-unthinkable body swap is the brainchild of BoostedBoiz, a YouTube channel with nearly 1.4 million subscribers, and it’s sure to raise some serious eyebrows in both camps.

The Unholy Union of Tesla and Muscle

This Frankenstein build began when the BoostedBoiz team bought a wrecked Tesla Model S Plaid, initially intending to convert it into the ultimate sleeper by dropping the powertrain into a Honda Odyssey minivan. However, a few geometry-related hurdles, mainly the Odyssey’s proportions and alignment issues, led them to rethink the project. A Tesla Model X Plaid provided a more fitting base for that build, freeing up the Model S Plaid’s drivetrain for another mad experiment.

Kyle Wade, the man behind BoostedBoiz, came up with a new plan when he noticed that the 116.5-inch (2,959 mm) wheelbase of the Tesla Model S Plaid aligns almost perfectly with the Dodge Challenger (116.2 inches / 2,952 mm). If that doesn’t sound like a recipe for controversy, we don’t know what does. Hardcore Hellcat fans, will likely be rolling their eyes at this one, unless, of course, Dodge has already talked them into the idea of an electric Daytona.

The next step was to purchase a Challenger shell, which cost just $700. As expected, plenty of cutting was needed to make the Dodge body fit onto the Tesla chassis. The similar width of both cars meant the team had to trim parts of the structure on each model. Fortunately, everything aligned in the end, athough the height of the Tesla’s rear shock towers came dangerously close to piercing the Dodge’s rear glass.

More: 2024 Dodge Charger Shows Its Wild Side In Widebody And Demon Renders

Once the fitment was sorted, BoostedBoiz sourced the missing body panels from Dodge Challenger Hellcats, while preserving as much of the original Tesla Model S Plaid interior as possible—including the dashboard, yoke steering wheel, and front bucket seats. The transformation was finalized with the addition of lightning units and Hellcat badges, though a widebody kit may be added in the future to further spice things up.

Tech Meets Torque: The Numbers Game

Weighing in at 4,330 lbs (1,964 kg) or a solid 600 pounds lighter than the original Model S Plaid (4,932lbs / 2,237 kg), this electrified Challenger packs a tri-motor powertrain with 1,020 hp (760 kW / 1,033 PS) and a staggering 1,050 lb-ft (1,423 Nm) of torque. For context, that’s enough muscle to make the drag strip your personal playground. The big question is whether this electric beast can challenge the 8.91-second quarter-mile record of the stock Challenger SRT Demon 170. We’ll be watching closely.

Setting aside the numbers, there’s no doubt the Tesla-powered Dodge will turn heads on the streets, especially when bystanders experience its silent powertrain and impressive acceleration. And when you think about it, the conversion doesn’t seem all that wild, especially considering the upcoming replacement for the discontinued Challenger is the new fully electric Dodge Charger.

Photos: BoostedBoiz / YouTube and Kyle Wade / Instagram

First-generation Mazda MX-5 owners look for a power boost have always had plenty of options available to them, including throttle bodies, turbochargers, superchargers and engine swaps. But now a UK company has come up with a greener alternative in the form of a plug and play EV conversion.

You might have heard of UK-based Electrogenic’s previous projects. The Oxford company makes drop-in EV packages for the original Land Rover Series and Defender, classic Minis and Porsche 911s, the Jaguar E-type and DeLorean DMC-12. It also hit the headlines when movie star Jason Momoa contracted the firm to perform a bespoke electro-conversion on his 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom II.

Related: Electrogenic’s DeLorean DMC-12 EV Still Needs Roads, But Not Gas

Like the company’s other EV kits, the Miata package is designed to be relatively simple to install, CAD modelling being employed to slot all of the components into the existing engine bay and tunnel space so no cutting or drilling is required. Electrogenic says the swap can be done by a trained mechanic in only a few days, and the kit is also fully reversible should the owner have a change of heart.

But with the single motor cranking out 160 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) instead of the original 1.6-liter combustion engine’s 116 hp (87 kW / 118 hp) and the zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) tumbling by about 3 seconds to 6 seconds, those owners might be having too much fun to want to switch back.

Yes, the 115 mph (185 km/h) top speed sounds less impressive – and it’s very close to stock – but irrelevant in a car that has always been about cornering fun. And Electrogenic says there’s more of that to be had because the weight distribution is the same as on a donor MX-5, but a huge jump in torque from 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) to 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) gives you more opportunities to exploit the chassis.

Naturally there’s a weight penalty, even if the distribution is the same, but it’s not terrible. The EV swap adds 220 lbs (100 kg), though the resulting 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg) curb weight makes it 27 lbs (12kg) lighter than a 2025 Miata RF, and only 84 lbs (38 kg) porkier than the current rag-top.

You even get multiple driving modes with different torque and regeneration characteristics, and though the 150-mile (240 km) range is way off modern EV standards, it’s probably as far as anyone would want to go in an early MX-5 in one hit no matter what kind of powertrain is under the hood. The 42 kWh battery can also be charged in an hour.

As with all of these classic EV conversions, this is a niche proposition. Maybe more than the others because the cost of the kit (still TBC but sure to be north of $20k) is going to be harder to justify on a car that even in mint condition is only worth $15-20k than it is on a classic 911 worth $120k. Some potential buyers might also be put off by the loss of the MX-5’s manual shift action, always one of the joys of driving a Miata, although Electrogenic has done custom manual conversions for customers in the past, so we image the team would do it again if offered the right kind of financial encouragement.

With Porsche about to reveal its 718 EVs and Alpine’s boss this week claiming the upcoming electric A110 will weigh less than rival combustion sports cars, machines like Electrogenic’s MX-5 kit are highly topical, and we’re sure we’ll only be seeing more in the years to come. Would you EV swap your classic NA Miata?

We’re now four years past the original scheduled launch date for the Tesla Roadster and there’s no sign of it making a debut until 2025 at the earliest. But rather than wait patiently, one YouTuber built his own, and from what we can see he’s done an awesome job.

David Andreyev calls his home-built creation the CyberRoadster, though it’s neither a truck nor a convertible. But now dressed in 12 coats of candy red paint, it looks incredible all the same. His starting point was a crash-damaged black Model 3 Performance, though there’s very little left of the external bodywork.

Related: Musk Suggests Tesla Roadster Isn’t A Priority, But Thanks “Long-Suffering Deposit Holders”

The roof has been chopped in traditional hot rod style, and every body panel bar the two front doors appears to have been built from scratch or heavily modified. Compared with the concept version of Tesla’s real Roadster, Andreyev’s creation is far more muscular, with a blockier front end and a Dodge Charger Daytona-style hood complemented by wide sill extensions.

It also has a transverse light bar in a nod to the Cybertruck, something not seen on Tesla’s other vehicles. And there’s a definite Italian supercar feel to the back end thanks to the combination of a wide black panel splitting the bumper from the rear bodywork and a fake “engine” visible through a glass panel in the rear deck.

Andreyev says he still needs to finish the interior, but claims it shouldn’t take long. It certainly won’t be as complicated as building the CyberRoadster’s exterior – the rear quarter panels alone took several months to complete and went through more than 30 iterations.

Sure, there are some elements you might change – sticking with the sedan’s front doors means they look too narrow, for instance, and the visibility must be terrible – but considering this was all achieved by one man in his garage without a million-dollar budget, it’s amazing what he’s accomplished. And it gives us hope that creative people will always want to modify cars, no matter what’s under the hood in the years to come.

Images: David Andreyev/@cyber_hooligan

VW recently launched the GTX performance flagship trim of the ID.Buzz, but what about buyers of the Cargo version who want something sportier? The answer lies in an optional accessory package that dresses the LCV with a cool bodykit while dropping the bland panel-val looks with the help of fake windows.

At first, we thought that the pictured van was the work of an aftermarket company, but it turns out it is an option offered by VW Netherlands. The “glass-look panels” make the ID.Buzz Cargo look like the passenger version of the ID.Buzz with tinted windows. These don’t serve any functional purpose as they are applied on top of the body-colored panels of the LCV.

Review: VW ID.Buzz Is The Coolest Minivan On The Block, But There’s A Catch

Another interesting option is the Styling package, which includes a pronounced front splitter, protective side skirts, and a fancy rear spoiler. The bodykit can be optionally combined with the Red Accent package, adding a bit of color to the front bumper and the mirror caps, alongside a protector for the rear bumper.

VW also offers individual customization options, including different designs of 20-inch alloy wheels, black badges, high-gloss mirrors, and a black finish for the area around the bumper intakes. The latter makes a big difference in the design, looking more aggressive than the ID.Buzz GTX. Finally, the interior can be upgraded with a “hard-wearing and animal-friendly eco-leather” upholstery.

Photos of the customized ID.Buzz Cargo had appeared online a few months ago, but the packages were just made available in the Netherlands. Setting aside the LCV-specific glass-look panels, the accessories are also available for the regular ID.Buzz.

In terms of powertrains, the VW ID.Buzz Cargo is available with three options. The single-motor RWD versions produce 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) respectively, while the dual-motor AWD model is good for a GTX-matching 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS).

If you’re wondering about the cost of the visual upgrades, you’ll need €1,795 ($1,900) for the Styling package, €1,790 ($1,900) for the 20-inch alloy wheels, €695 ($740) for the glass-look panels, €495 ($520) for the Red Accent package, and €305 ($320) for the black badges.

Adding it all up, the sporty treatment will set you back €5,080 ($5,400), on top of the price of the VW ID.Buzz Cargo that starts from €39,990 ($42,500) in the Netherlands.

VW Netherlands

Plenty of Tesla Cybertrucks descended upon Las Vegas last week for SEMA, but the most dramatic of them all was brought to life by a Florida-based shop you’ve likely never heard of: Reds Miami. It has built what appears to be the world’s first Cybertruck dually, and it’s bound to divide opinions.

More often than not, dually setups are limited to hefty Heavy Duty pickups, but given all the buzz around the Cybertruck, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to bolt on two extra wheels at the rear. Tesla’s polarizing pickup truck was converted into a dually just a few days before SEMA.

Read: You Can Lease A Tesla Cybertruck For $1,249 A Month, But Would You?

The new wheels chosen for the Tesla were produced by Diesel Wheels and measure a huge 26-inch at the rear while wrapped in 35-inch tires. A set of bespoke fender flares then had to be crafted for the EV and much to our surprise, they actually suit the design of the Tesla quite well.

This project wasn’t simply a matter of bolting on the extra wheels and the new arches, however. As standard, the Cybertruck’s charging port is located on the driver’s side rear wheel arch, so new cabling had to be run to accommodate the flared fenders. The Tesla is also equipped with rear-wheel steering. Apparently, this functionality has been retained, although we suspect the extra weight of the two additional 26-inch wheels may put a little bit of extra strain on the system.

Then there’s the range. Fitting huge wheels on an EV can have a noticeable impact on the driving range, as can all-terrain tires. There’s no word on how much this Cybertruck’s range has been cut by, but for some, any reduction in range will be more than worth it for the wild looks.

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Imagine you’re a criminal who’s running from the police. After perhaps playing a little too much Grand Theft Auto, you get into a police chase, but rather than pulling over, you floor it, trying to outrun the authorities. But you’re not being chased by any old patrol car; instead, a Tesla Model S Plaid is pursuing you. Yes, a Plaid. The EV equivalent of a ballistic missile on wheels, armed with 1,020 horsepower and a 0–60 time that’s under two seconds. Still feeling lucky?

While this scenario is unlikely to unfold (right,guys?), given how pricey the Model S Plaid is, that hasn’t stopped Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division from using the flagship EV as the base for its latest pursuit vehicle, unveiled at SEMA. It’s worth pointing out that this is a vehicle designed to showcase the brand’s police-focused upgrades, but Unplugged is accepting orders for its Model S Plaid, should any authorities in the US be interested in getting the ultimate pursuit vehicle.

Read: Unplugged Performance Brings An Army Of Cybertrucks To Take Over SEMA

The modifications are a little more extensive than slapping on some flashing lights and calling it a day. To maximize the EV’s aerodynamics, UP.FIT has decided against using bulky lights on the roof and instead, incorporated these lights behind the windshield and the rear window.

The Model S Plaid’s front end has also been altered with a black push bar incorporating small red and blue lights. UP.FIT has then added high- and low-frequency emergency sirens and installed police lights to the skirts, the tailgate, and the rear diffuser. A black and white livery for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department completes the look.

As standard, the flagship Model S leaves the factory with 1,020 hp and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 1.99 seconds. That’s more than quick enough to chase down any suspect, so UP.FIT hasn’t messed with the car’s two electric motors. However, it has upgraded the brakes and fitted new forged lightweight wheels.

Now, whether any law enforcement agency can actually justify splurging on a Model S Plaid is another question. But considering the increasingly exotic fleet of police cars out there—some departments already have Cybertrucks, after all—it’s not entirely out of the question.

SEMA never fails to attract a wide array of vehicles, and at this year’s event, modified Tesla Cybertrucks are expected to gather en masse. Unplugged Performance has become a leader in Tesla upgrades and has just previewed most of the 12 modified Cybertrucks it’s bringing to Las Vegas.

Each one stands out with a special exterior finish, and many of them have been fitted with an array of accessories, turning what is already an eye-catching pickup into one that looks absolutely bonkers.

Read: Cybertruck Unleashed – Unplugged Performance Injects Steroids Into Tesla’s Truck

The most dramatic of them will be showcased at the Mothers Polish booth and comes equipped with Unplugged’s full line-up of ‘Invincible’ parts. These upgrades and accessories were previewed in December last year and include new heavy-duty steel front and rear bumpers that’ll set back buyers $2,995 and $3,995. That’s a lot of money for some new bumpers, but as we’ve learned over the last year, most Cybertruck owners aren’t short on cash.

Several other upgrades are available through the Invincible line-up. These include a $9,995 lift kit that boosts the ride height by 2.5 inches (63.5 mm), uprated bushings and joints, a slew of new LED light bars, custom wheels, a rear tire carrier, and even a carbon fiber hood.

Other Cybertrucks built by Unplugged Performance showcase other accessories, including steel panels sitting over the rear haunches of the truck that can be used to carry things like shovels and off-road tracks. Several brightly-colored wraps are also on display, alongside carbon fiber fender flares and different roof racks.

Unplugged UP.FIT division is also bringing along a fully-equipped Cybertruck police cruiser to SEMA. The patrol-ready Tesla was previewed back in June and sits on 18-inch wheels with pursuit-rated tires and features flashing red and blue lights. It’ll be showcased at the SEMA FutureTech Studio.

It’s been roughly a year since Tesla Cybertrucks began rolling off the line and arriving in customer hands, and the electric truck remains, by a mile, the most radical-looking vehicle on the market. But if you thought it couldn’t get any more outlandish, think again—because now there’s a widebody kit, courtesy of a company called Waido.

This is thought to be the first complete widebody kit on offer for the Cybertruck, and the LA-based custom shop Stars In The Ceiling claims to be the first to install it on a privately owned truck. The price tag? A hefty $9,990, and it’s a limited-edition affair with only 100 kits available.

Read: Tesla Delays Cybertruck Range Extender Battery To “Mid-2025”

The kit is made from ABS plastic and does not require any trimming or cutting of the original Cybertruck body panels. The flared front and rear fenders make the most obvious statement, widening the Tesla by an impressive six inches. Importantly, the front fenders include the same rear-facing cameras as the original fenders and have been equally as well hidden.

Retaining these cameras was vital to keep the truck’s Autopilot system in working order, although some modifications were necessary, including new housings for the cameras and extended cables to handle the wider stance. Notably, the factory charge port is also untouched, allowing owners to maintain all original charging capabilities.

Waido’s kit doesn’t stop at just the fenders. It includes an overhauled front bumper that looks a little more aggressive. New skirts have also been designed for the EV as has a large lip spoiler on the decklid and a dramatic rear diffuser.

This particular Cybertruck’s stainless steel bodywork has also been adorned in a special military green wrap, while the bodykit parts are paint-matched in the same shade. It’s also sitting on a set of gargantuan 26-inch black wheels from Forgiato wrapped in off-road tires.

As far as we know, this is the first widebody kit available for the Cybertruck, but we suspect there are others in the works. With demand for customization only growing, expect more outlandish options to emerge soon.

There’s no shortage of aftermarket accessories available for the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, and Model S, thanks partly to US-based firms like Unplugged Performance. A Taiwanese firm by the name of Custuning is now throwing its hat into the race and has previewed three Tesla bodykits it will unveil at next week’s SEMA Show.

The lineup kicks off with an upgrade package for the Tesla Model Y, dubbed Notos. If your Greek mythology is sharp, you’ll know Notos as the ancient god of the south wind—a fitting symbol of speed and power, according to Custuning.

Read: Tesla Wants Automakers To Adopt Its New 48V Charge Connector The Way They Did With NACS

Upgrades start up-front, where the tuner has crafted a new bumper for the Model Y, complete with a pronounced splitter. A more aggressive hood has also been designed and new side skirts are included. Found at the rear is a bold diffuser and a larger lip spoiler. The car heading to SEMA is equipped with a slew of other performance parts from the firm, including lightweight forged wheels, eight-piston front brake calipers, and adjustable air suspension.

For the Model S, Custuning has previewed a package called Boreas, after Greek god of the cold north wind, storms, and winter. This one cranks up the aggression several notches, with carbon fiber construction. It’s far less subtle than the Model Y kit and rocks a custom splitter, aerodynamic skirts, and new fins at the rear. According to Custuning, it boosts downforce, although no specific details have been provided. A widebody kit is also under development.

Rounding out Custuning’s Greek-inspired lineup is the Eurus kit for the Model 3, named for the god of the east wind. Like Boreas, the Eurus kit brings a similar design language to the Model 3, with an array of carbon fiber elements for a more sharper and aggressive look.