Tesla Model X Sheds 400 Pounds: This Luxury SUV Just Got a Diet Plan!

TL;DR: The 2026 Tesla Model X just went on a serious diet, shedding 400 pounds through clever engineering like new motors, lighter wiring, and thinner interior parts, boosting its range and efficiency. It's proof that sometimes the biggest improvements happen under the hood, or in this case, under the body panels.

Meta: The 2026 Tesla Model X just went on a serious diet, shedding 400 pounds through clever engineering like new motors, lighter wiring, and thinner interior parts, boosting its range and efficiency.

Alright, folks, the Tesla Model X, the one with those fancy Falcon Wing Doors, just hit the gym and came out a whole new car! We're talking about the 2026 iteration shedding a whopping 400 pounds. That's like losing a whole defensive lineman! And while some of y'all were begging for an exterior makeover, Tesla's Vice President of Powertrain, Lars Moravy, spilled the beans to Car and Driver: most of these fixes happened deep inside. Turns out, true beauty is on the inside, or at least, the lighter inside. This weight loss isn't just for looking good; it's for performance and efficiency, baby! Every 200 pounds gone means 7 to 15 percent more range. Now that’s what I call a power diet!

Engineering Gold: Shedding Pounds Like a Pro

So, how'd they do it? It's not just cutting corners; it's smart engineering. The biggest chunk came from the rear motor, switching from an induction-type to a permanent-magnet design and optimizing the half-shafts, which alone dropped 100 pounds. Then they went after the 'interior bits and pieces,' shaving almost 80 pounds by making parts thinner and using different manufacturing processes. Even the standard five-passenger bench seat lost 50 pounds by ditching its pedestal mounting, which, bonus, made it fold flat. Practical and lighter? Now that's a win-win!

They even tackled the high-voltage wiring, saving 44 pounds by optimizing the charge-port DC/DC converter wiring and switching from copper to aluminum. Who knew wires could be so heavy? The cooling system got simplified, reducing the number of radiators and incorporating Nürburgring cooling requirements for the Plaid variant, which saved nearly 30 pounds. And you know those gigacastings everyone talks about? Those big single-piece castings from IDRA presses saved another 20+ pounds while also boosting torsional stiffness. Even the suspension got a 10-pound trim. All these little changes add up to one major improvement. The Model X All-Wheel-Drive range jumped from 329 to 352 miles, and the Plaid went from 314 to 335 miles. That’s what happens when you get lean and mean!

What's Next

This significant weight reduction in the Model X showcases Tesla's commitment to continuous engineering refinement for efficiency and range, even without major exterior redesigns. We can expect this 'under-the-body' innovation to continue across Tesla's lineup, with a focus on materials science and manufacturing processes. This approach could set a new standard for how automakers extend the lifecycle and improve the performance of existing EV platforms, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in mass production.

So, if you've been sleeping on the Model X, it just woke up, lighter, faster, and going further. This ain't no magic trick; it's just good old-fashioned smarts. Now, that's what I'm talking about!