Unplugged Performance Preserves Tesla Model S Plaid Signature Edition #001 for Legendary Designer Fr

The first of just 250 final-production Model S Signature Editions receives comprehensive paint protection film, ceramic coating and window film from the Unplugged Performance Auto Spa team.

Sometimes that philosophy means transforming how a Tesla performs. At other times, it means knowing when the most important work is simply to preserve what is already there. That distinction came into focus with the arrival of an especially significant vehicle at Unplugged Performance’s Hawthorne headquarters: Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen’s personal Model S Plaid Signature Edition #001, the first of just 250 produced as part of the final production run of Model S.

The significance of the car extends far beyond its production number.

Franz von Holzhausen is the designer whose vision helped shape Model S from its earliest development into the vehicle that would establish much of Tesla’s modern design language. More than a decade after the Model S first entered production, Signature Edition #001 represents the beginning of its final chapter and a deep personal connection with its designer.

A Relationship Built Around Our Passions The project continues a long time relationship between Franz von Holzhausen and Unplugged Performance.

Many years earlier, von Holzhausen brought his personal red Model 3 to Unplugged Performance, where it received a carefully considered collection of performance enhancements coilover suspension, sway bars, adjustable suspension components and carbon ceramic brakes. As the designer responsible for the Model 3, von Holzhausen had already defined the visual character of the automobile. Unplugged Performance therefore concentrated much of its work customizing the way the car handled, responded and performed while leaving the integrity of the original design intact.

Years later, the arrival of his Model S Plaid Signature Edition #001 represented a continuation of that philosophy from a different perspective. Where the Model 3 project centered on performance alterations, the Model S called for preservation of a collector’s car.

Protection Begins Beneath the Surface
Before a single piece of paint protection film was installed, the Model S underwent an extensive preparation and decontamination process.

A vehicle can be new and still require considerable preparation. Transportation, storage and delivery can leave behind bonded contaminants, iron particles and surface residue that conventional washing alone may not completely remove.

For the Unplugged Performance Auto Spa team, those details matter because the quality of any protective installation ultimately depends on the condition of the surface beneath it.

Each panel of Signature Edition #001 was carefully cleaned, chemically decontaminated and inspected before installation began, creating the foundation upon which every subsequent layer of protection would depend.

It is a process largely invisible once the vehicle is complete, but one that reflects a broader philosophy within the Auto Spa: the quality of the finished result is determined as much by the preparation that cannot be seen as by the final surface that can.

Protecting the Original Design
At the heart of the protection program was XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS paint protection film, applied to create a physical barrier between the original finish and the minor impacts, road debris, scratches and everyday wear associated with driving. On a vehicle such as Signature Edition #001, the purpose of the film extends beyond maintaining appearance. It creates a replaceable protective layer over the original factory finish, allowing the car to continue being used while helping preserve the paint beneath it.

‘Franz designed the Model S, led its continued evolution for more than a decade, and now owns the first example from its final production run. The Model S changed the industry and changed our lives. For me personally, it reignited my sense of purpose and energized us to go all-in on EVs with the creation of Unplugged Performance in 2013. The Model S has had a profound impact on millions of people in deeply personal ways. This final Model S is an extremely special closure of an incredible chapter of car culture. We’ve taken every effort to ensure the protection of this treasured example for the lifetime of the vehicle.’ said Ben Schaffer, founder and CEO of Unplugged Performance.

Layers of Protection, Working Together
Following the completion and inspection of the paint protection film installation, the vehicle received a comprehensive ceramic coating treatment. The two forms of protection perform complementary roles.

While paint protection film provides a physical barrier between the road and the original finish, ceramic coating creates a hydrophobic exterior surface designed to improve ease of maintenance while enhancing the depth and gloss of the protected panels.

For Signature Edition #001, that treatment extended across the bodywork, painted exterior trim and wheel faces, creating a consistent protected surface around the vehicle.

The final stage turned attention to the glass.

XPEL PRIME XR PLUS window film was installed throughout the Model S, providing ultraviolet protection and reducing the amount of infrared heat entering the cabin. The window film was selected as a functional component of the overall preservation program, helping protect the cabin and its materials while maintaining the restrained character of the original vehicle.

Together, paint protection film, ceramic coating and window film form a layered approach to protection.

The Complete Story
Unplugged Performance documented the complete preservation process of Franz von Holzhausen’s Model S Plaid Signature Edition #001, from initial decontamination and preparation through paint protection film, ceramic coating, window film and final inspection.

The complete film offers a closer look at both the vehicle and the craftsmanship required to protect one of the most significant examples of Model S produced.
Photo credit: Unplugged Performance
Posted on Autotech-plus.com

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