Elon Musk in the Spotlight: Pre-orders Begin for Walter Isaacson's Intimate Biography

By Kevin Armstrong
Elon Musk's biography by Walter Isaacson is now available for pre-order
Elon Musk's biography by Walter Isaacson is now available for pre-order
Not a Tesla App

Award-winning author Walter Isaacson is set to give us an intimate look into the life of one of the era's most defining innovators, Elon Musk with his latest biography now available for pre-order on Amazon.

Elon Musk, a figure synonymous with audacious innovation and the technological revolution of our time, will be featured in Isaacson's in-depth biography, exploring the aspects of his life that shaped him into the revolutionary figure he is today. Isaacson, renowned for his bestselling biographies, including the iconic Steve Jobs, promises an "astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era."

The book is available in a hard cover for $35 or Kindle format for $16.99.

Musk took to Twitter to react to the upcoming release, stating, "There’s probably some really embarrassing stuff in the book." However, he added a note of endorsement, praising Isaacson's thoroughness and recommending his other works.

From Childhood Struggles to Global Influence: Musk’s Story Unveiled

The pre-order page gives a revealing glimpse into the depth of Isaacson's exploration. It details Musk's early struggles, from facing bullies as a child in South Africa, to the lingering psychological scars from his father to his tumultuous journey as an entrepreneur. The narrative promises to examine Musk's unique character traits, his "high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity."

The biography will not only recount Musk's noteworthy accomplishments, such as launching thirty-one rockets into orbit with SpaceX, selling a million cars with Tesla, and becoming the richest man on Earth, but also delve into his personal struggles and the mental toll of a perpetually crisis-driven mindset.

Two Years with Musk: Isaacson’s In-Depth Exploration

Isaacson's meticulous research entailed shadowing Musk for two years, attending his meetings, and interviewing family, friends, co-workers, and even adversaries to create an all-encompassing portrayal of this contemporary figure. The narrative will explore the paradoxical question: Are the very demons that drive Musk integral to his unique capacity to drive innovation and progress?

As readers, we will be given a seat in the front row of Musk's life, observing as he evolves from the bullied kid on the playground to the owner of the world's ultimate playground, Twitter. It will examine the intricate layers of Musk's persona, offering insights into the man who has helped lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence.

With the same lucidity and empathetic storytelling that marked his previous works, Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk is shaping up to be an unmissable read for those curious about the man behind the headlines and the inner machinations of one of today's most influential innovators.

To hold you over until September, I recommend Ashlee Vance's "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future." It provides a compelling examination of the entrepreneur's life and his audacious vision to change the world with his revolutionary ideas. It's available for free with Kindle Unlimited.

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A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
crospotter13

If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
AutoTopNL

The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla

Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
eivissacopter / X

Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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