Tesla Design Chief Preserves Model S Plaid #001
Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's influential design chief, has chosen a unique path for his personal Model S Plaid Signature Edition, chassis 001. Instead of pursuing performance enhancements, he entrusted the vehicle to Unplugged Performance for comprehensive preservation. This decision underscores the car's status as a collector's item and a symbolic conclusion to a significant production phase for the Model S line. The focus on safeguarding its original condition, both aesthetically and structurally, rather than boosting its already impressive power, sends a clear message about the value of originality in high-performance electric vehicles.
For 18 years, Franz von Holzhausen has been instrumental in shaping Tesla's automotive designs. His latest endeavor centers on the first Model S Plaid Signature Edition, a rarity with only 250 units ever built. This exclusive model, initially offered through invitation-only emails to a select clientele at a price point starting from $159,420, signifies a pivotal moment for Tesla, effectively concluding the Model S production as it was known. Rather than pushing its performance boundaries, von Holzhausen prioritized its long-term integrity, dispatching it to Unplugged Performance's facility in Hawthorne, California, for a meticulous preservation treatment.
Unplugged Performance, renowned for its Tesla tuning expertise, undertook a different kind of project for this particular Model S Plaid. The preservation regimen involved an exhaustive decontamination of every surface, ensuring a pristine base. Following this, the vehicle received a full-body paint protection film application, subsequently layered with a ceramic coating that extended to various painted components and wheel surfaces. Additionally, the interior windows were treated with a film designed to block ultraviolet rays and reduce heat, further protecting the cabin. This extensive process was about safeguarding the car's original splendor, emphasizing durability and aesthetic longevity over outright speed enhancements.
The Signature Edition distinguishes itself from standard Tesla models through its exclusivity and unique aesthetic details. Von Holzhausen's specific vehicle features a Garnet Red finish, a bespoke color that pays homage to the original Signature Red introduced with the Model S launch in June 2012. Complementing the exterior are gold badges and matching gold brake calipers, while the interior boasts an all-white leather upholstery and the distinctive yoke steering wheel. Mechanically, the vehicle retains its formidable tri-motor configuration, delivering 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque, enabling an astounding 0-60 mph acceleration in 1.99 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 9.23 seconds. When equipped with the Track Package, its top speed can reach 200 mph.
The introduction of the 250-unit Model S Plaid Signature series, alongside 100 Model X Plaid Signature units, culminated in a special event at the Fremont factory in May 2026. This gathering marked the end of production for both flagship nameplates, with Tesla framing it as a definitive end-of-line occasion, catering exclusively to pre-selected buyers rather than general orders. Von Holzhausen's decision to preserve his unit rather than modify it serves as a powerful statement that this generation of the Model S has reached its peak evolution, warranting its retention in its as-built state. This stance is expected to encourage collectors and owners to prioritize the preservation of these unique vehicles over performance modifications, underscoring the intrinsic value of their originality.