5 Minutes
Tesla is sending the Model S and Model X off in style, and not with a whisper. The brand has unveiled ultra-limited Signature Series Plaid editions for both flagship EVs, turning what may be the final chapter for these models into something more collectible than conventional.
The formula is unmistakably Tesla, but dressed for a farewell tour. Both cars arrive in exclusive Garnet Red, wear gold-colored Tesla and Plaid badges front and rear, and add Signature Series numbering plates alongside a custom key fob. It is the kind of detail-heavy treatment that makes a car feel less like inventory and more like a keepsake.
These are not mass-market specials. Tesla is building just 350 in total, split between 250 Model S Plaid units and 100 Model X Plaid units.
Inside, the mood is equally dramatic. White interiors are trimmed with gold accents, the wheels get black skull caps, and each model receives its own setup: 21-inch Velarium wheels for the Model S and 22-inch Machina wheels for the Model X. Tesla has even created a unique lighting sequence for the cabin, because apparently a farewell should glow as well as move.
Numbers that still sting rivals
Performance has always been the headline act, and Tesla is making sure that survives the curtain call. The Model S Plaid Signature is quoted with a 200 mph top speed, a 1.99-second sprint to 60 mph, and an EPA-estimated range of 309 miles. The larger Model X Plaid Signature is slower by comparison, but still brutally quick: 163 mph, 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and a rated 303 miles of range.
Each Signature Series car also comes with Tesla’s Luxe Package, which bundles free Supercharging, Premium Connectivity, and four years of extended service. For buyers, that softens the sting of the price tag somewhat. And it is a sharp one: Tesla has set the invite-only ask at $159,420, a price that feels very on-brand for a company that enjoys a little mischief with its numbers.
There is one more catch. Buyers must agree not to resell the vehicle for one year, a move that underlines just how limited these editions are and how carefully Tesla wants to control where they end up.
A farewell, and a cleanout
The Signature Series is not just a commemorative gesture. It also looks like a practical way to clear the last of the Model S and Model X stock. Elon Musk said in January that Tesla would end production of both models in the second quarter, freeing up the Fremont, California factory for Optimus robot production. That decision fits into Tesla’s broader pivot toward autonomy, including future self-driving products such as the Cybercab.
In recent weeks, Tesla has stopped taking new orders for the regular Model S and Model X, leaving only remaining inventory. Reports suggest that inventory has fallen to around 600 vehicles, making the Signature Series a tidy solution for moving the final cars while giving loyal customers something exclusive to chase.
There is also a little history in the name. Back in 2012, Tesla launched the first 1,000 Model S sedans as Signature editions, with prices that approached $100,000. That badge once marked the early believers, and this new sendoff seems aimed at the same audience: the customers who want to own a piece of Tesla lore, not just another electric car.
Still, the decision leaves room for debate. Tesla’s autonomy ambitions have not yet delivered the clean break the company seems to want, and the brand has even been reported to be circling back to a more affordable EV. Meanwhile, the Model S and Model X have seen little meaningful change since their 2021 updates, allowing newer rivals such as the Lucid Air and Rivian R1S to push harder into the premium EV space.
For years, the Model 3 and Model Y have carried Tesla’s sales. But the S and X were never just volume plays. They were the cars that built the myth. And now, with these Signature Series Plaid editions, Tesla is giving them a final spotlight before the stage goes dark.
Comments
mechbyte
Is this a farewell or a clearance sale? 350 units, invite only, 159k... feels like theater. Free Supercharging is cool, but 1 yr no-sell? sketchy, someone explain
v8rider
wow, gonna miss the S and X... this Garnet Red + gold badges = chef's kiss! Price tho, yikes. 1 year no resale? curious who buys these
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