Tesla
Founded in July of 2003, Tesla is a fairly recent addition to the motor vehicle game, especially when compared to some of the brands it competes with in the markets. The CEO, Elon Musk, states that the purpose of Tesla as a brand is to help expedite the move to sustainable energy and transportation using solar panels and electric vehicles. With 4 models in production now, the X and Y SUVs and the 3 and S sedans, Tesla continues to push the boundaries on how much fun you can have in an electric car. Once a boring and plebian concept, the electric vehicle has now been turned into the status quo of the electric car industry and leads the way in safety and entertainment.
The Model S Plaid
The Tesla Model S was Tesla’s second production car model, following on the heels of the Roadster which started production in 2008. Unveiled in June of 2008 as the car manufacturer’s flagship sportback sedan, the Model S is no simple electric car. Remaining largely the same since the first release in 2012, the Model S is equipped with all of the latest technology, and really spares no expense with both fun and function. Founded on the belief that driving an electric car could be fun, Tesla really took that to the next level with the Model S Plaid.
With a platform update in June of 2021, the Model S received some new branding. This rebranding resulted in the “Performance” model being renamed “Plaid,” after the only speed faster than Ludicrous in the movie Spaceballs, an homage to the Ludicrous mode of previous Model S sedans. The whole goal of the Model S Plaid is a word that starts with S: Speed.
Equipped with one motor for the front wheels and one for each of the rear wheels, the Model S Plaid can make a peak power output of 1,020 horsepower and reach a top speed of 200mph with hardware upgrades. Featuring carbon-sleeved rotors that help to maintain power output through to top speed, the lowest drag coefficient for a production car on Earth, and staggered wheel setup, the Model S Plaid is designed with speed and agility in mind.
The interior design is probably the most striking part of this fairly unassuming-looking electric powerhouse. Featuring a large center-mounted touchscreen display as the prominent part of the dash, the car is otherwise extremely minimalist. The sleek perforated leather seats look modern and comfortable. The strangest thing about it is the steering wheel, or rather steering yoke. A highly controversial design, it again reiterates that this Tesla is designed to go fast and in a straight line. The game controller-esque design features haptic buttons for the wipers, directional signals, and even the horn, removing some of the fun of slamming your palm over the center of the wheel when you need to get out some frustration.
Besides the time taken to charge the car and the strange steering wheel- uh- yoke design, the Model S Plaid took the Model S redesign to a whole new level. With updates to the HVAC system on board, the Model S now makes 30% longer range than the previous models, and requires 50% less energy in cold weather conditions, saving you time and money on charging. With a back seat video screen, increased head and legroom, and lower interior noise with acoustic glass, Tesla has made the Model S Plaid a far more luxurious vehicle, while still maintaining the thrill of instant acceleration.
The AE Process: Platinum Plus
Our process really starts with our Sales team, who work one-on-one with the customer to provide any necessary information on our product and our process, helping them choose what’s right for their budget and their vehicle. Upon arrival, our Sales team greets the customer and does a full walk-around of the vehicle, noting any potential damage to the paint and alerting the client. In this process, close-up photos may be taken of the vehicle just to note any damaged spots for later.
Once the customer has either settled down in the waiting room or left in another vehicle, the detail team can take over. Bringing the vehicle inside, the detailers can begin the wash and decontamination process. Each wash starts with a rinse and cleaning of the tires and wheels, and then is twice soaped and rinsed again. The first soaping with the foam cannon is allowed to sit and soak into any dirt and grime on the surface of the vehicle, allowing for easier removal with the next rinse and subsequent foam cannon treatment.
The next soaping of the car is followed with a thorough wipe with a microfiber mitt. The microfiber fabric is gentle on the surface of the car, while also wiping away any remaining dirt particles. Every part of the car is gone over at least once, making sure no spot is left dirty and ensuring a clean and clear canvas for the installers in the subsequent steps. Before the exterior detail is complete, the wheels and tires are cleaned, the vehicle is decontaminated further with the use of a clay bar, it’s given a final rinse, and then dried gently with ultra-absorbent microfiber towels.
After being moved to the appropriate bay inside the shop, the installation of the PPF can begin. The design center team measures and cuts all of the pieces of the template as requested by the sales team and places them in neatly rolled bundles inside the passenger seat of the vehicle. The pieces of PPF are left on their backing paper as to reduce contamination and make the job easier for the installers. The installer will know where to find the film for their project and can begin working as soon as they arrive.
Using their spray bottles, the installer will clean each panel again to make sure no dust or fingerprints will be underneath the film. They will unroll the pieces of PPF on the backing paper and lay them out on a table, reorganizing as needed to put the pieces in the order they prefer to work on the car. After wiping down the panel, they’re ready to begin.
Spraying the surface of the car and the PPF panel with a soapy water solution, they begin installing. The panel is carefully peeled off of the backing paper and saturated with the solution. Being careful not to drop the panel, it’s transferred over to the vehicle and positioned roughly in the spot it will finish in. Each panel will go through a process of being stretched, pulled, and moved to exactly the right spot to fit the vehicle. This is even more crucial for pieces that work around badges or other features on the vehicle, like cameras, door handles, or vents.
Using their squeegee, an iPhone-sized piece of stiff rubberized material, the installer will tack down parts of the panel. This ensures that the panel doesn’t move around too much during the remainder of the work. Moving around the piece to get every contour and edge covered, they will then use the squeegee to press the PPF onto the vehicle, removing any solution or air trapped underneath in the process. After this, they will work on the edges of the PPF, tucking them around the very edges of the body panels and carefully trimming any excess if necessary.
The panels are then put onto the remainder of the car one-by-one, until the hood, front fenders, front bumper, headlights, side mirrors, and rocker panels are covered. After this, the detail team takes over to finish the car up with a final detail. The floors are vacuumed, tires are shined, and any possible streaks on the vehicle paint or windows are wiped away in preparation to be delivered back to the customer by the sales team.
Call us! Here at Automotive Elegance, we specialize in Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coatings, and Window Tints using products from XPEL. Recipients of the XPEL US Dealer of the Year Award in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we’ve protected it all! Visit us a https://www.automotiveelegancellc.com/ to schedule a booking.