Tesla Model S Variant Spotted in Palo Alto

A new, previously unseen Tesla Model S has been spotted driving around the vicinity of the company's headquarters in Palo Alto. The vehicle was captured on camera by a YouTube channel called The Kilowatts over the weekend.

The footage shows a car with a wider body shape than the current Model S, as well as slightly different headlights and a rear diffuser that appears to be distinct from the standard model.

A manufacturing license plate is visible in some shots, suggesting that this vehicle may not be just a concept or prototype. However, the quality of the footage can vary due to its origin from a dash cam.

The new Model S variant lacks a rear spoiler, which could indicate that it's not the previously announced 'Plaid' model set for release later this year. The Plaid version is expected to have a distinctive rear spoiler and will start at around $140,000 when deliveries begin in late 2021.

If this vehicle isn't the Plaid model, it could be a refreshed regular Model S or even an entirely new variant. Tesla's production lines are currently idle for several weeks between December 2020 and January 2021, which may suggest that they're being revamped to accommodate a new product line.

The timing of this sighting is intriguing given that Tesla fell short of its shipment expectations last year. Revamping the production lines could be seen as an effort to improve efficiency or introduce a new model to meet demand.