Tesla has lightened its Model X by 400 pounds for the 2026 model year through various engineering tweaks. Vice President of Powertrain Lars Moravy detailed the changes in an interview with Car and Driver. These modifications aim to boost range and efficiency without major exterior alterations.
The Tesla Model X, known for its Falcon Wing Doors that adjust to surroundings, has seen limited visible updates in recent years. However, significant changes occurred beneath the surface for the 2026 version, resulting in a 400-pound weight reduction compared to earlier models.
Lars Moravy, Tesla's Vice President of Powertrain, explained the modifications in a Car and Driver interview. The rear motor shifted from an induction-type to a permanent-magnet design, with optimized half-shafts, cutting about 100 pounds. Interior components shed nearly 80 pounds through thinner parts, altered manufacturing processes, and integrating airbag-deployment needs into the headliner fabric.
The standard five-passenger bench seat configuration saved 50 pounds by eliminating pedestal mounting, allowing it to fold flat for better practicality. High-voltage wiring lost 44 pounds via optimizations from the charge-port DC/DC converter and replacing copper with aluminum. The cooling system simplified by fewer radiators and adding Nürburgring requirements for the Plaid variant, saving nearly 30 pounds.
In-house megacastings from IDRA presses contributed over 20 pounds in savings while increasing torsional stiffness by 10 percent. Suspension adjustments trimmed another 10 pounds.
These efforts improved range estimates by 7 percent. The All-Wheel-Drive trim now reaches 352 miles, up from 329, while the Plaid version extends to 335 miles from 314. Although some fans desired more exterior redesigns, the weight reductions enhance efficiency, with estimates suggesting every 200 pounds removed adds 7 to 15 percent to range.