First Cyberbeast Launch: 2026 Model S & X at ACG Ontario

Launch mode in a Cyberbeast will rearrange your insides. That’s the only way I know how to describe it.

We were out at the ACG car meet in Ontario, and our friends from Upland Tesla pulled up with three cars worth talking about: a Cyberbeast, the new 2026 Model X five-seater, and a 2026 Model S Long Range. Tacos were incoming. I had time. Let’s dig in.

2026 Model X Five-Seater: The One I Hadn’t Seen Yet

I’ve seen the seven-seater plenty of times since the refresh dropped, but this was my first time actually sitting in the five-seater version. And honestly? It brought back a lot of memories, most of them good.

The first and second rows are essentially the same between the five and seven-seat configurations. What changes is the back. Where the third row usually lives, you get a huge open cargo area with a sub-trunk underneath — similar to the Model Y layout, though not quite as deep because the battery pack sits right under there.

The Alcantara on the door panels got me. I love that material. The wood trim is still there, the self-presenting doors still work the way I remember them working. There were some genuinely nice surprises too — ambient lighting has been extended to the cup holder area and down along the door sills. It’s a small thing, but it makes the cabin feel more premium at night.

One thing Ace from Upland Tesla pointed me toward: this ambient lighting is exclusive to the Model S and X. No Cybertruck, no Model 3, no Juniper. Only the flagship pair. I did not know that.

The front camera is a new addition for parking — FSD doesn’t use it for driving yet, just for low-speed maneuvering. Fine addition. There’s even a dedicated button on the touchscreen to pull up that view. The capacitive buttons on the door panels are still there though, and that’s still a no from me. They haven’t fixed that, and probably won’t.

The screen looked sharper than I remembered. I’d need to verify the actual resolution spec, but visually it reads as an upgrade. And yes, it has the delivery status display like the Juniper — small quality-of-life thing that I keep noticing.

2026 Model S Long Range: Walnut Trim and Trunk Space

The Model S had white interior on this unit. I prefer cream for the S and X — it ages better, feels warmer — but the white works. The big difference with the Long Range trim is the walnut wood instead of carbon fiber, and I’ll take walnut every time. I know Plaid owners get carbon fiber by default, but it’s not my thing.

The trunk on the S is genuinely cavernous. Huge. There’s a sub-trunk compartment in there too, though it’s not removable — I checked. Still no outlets in the rear, which at this price point continues to be a miss.

Suspension is adjustable on the S, which is one of those things you appreciate when you’re actually living with the car daily. The driving position is lower than the X, but that’s just the S being a sedan.

The Cyberbeast Launch

Okay, here’s the part I actually came here to tell you about.

I finally got to experience launch mode in a Cyberbeast. A friend had it ready and just said “come through.” I was not prepared. The torque hit like nothing I’ve felt before — that compressed front axle, soft tire, instant torque delivery all at once. I could smell it after. That’s how you know it was real.

That’s the first Cyberbeast launch for me, and it will not be the last.

The Rest of ACG

The meet itself was solid. Andrew from SoCal Tesla Runs was there, showing off some new yellow DRL headlights on his car — sharp look. Toby, Oli, and Reese all had Model 3s out. Good turnout.

Fino came through with the noodles. He insisted these are available at Ralphs. I do not believe him. Someone said Costco. I remain skeptical of everyone in this situation, but the noodles were good.

South Pasadena Model Y with a full police cruiser wrap — one of the more creative builds in the lot.

Also worth mentioning: Haloblk has new disc wheel designs dropping in October. I saw them there. They might end up on the Cybertruck — no commitments, but also not ruling it out.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Model S and X are refined cars. The ambient lighting expansion, the front camera, the screen improvements — these are all real upgrades that make the cabins feel current. What I kept coming back to, though, was the Cyberbeast. My previous experience with Tesla performance was the Model X Plaid — those two buybacks taught me a lot — but the Cybertruck in Cyberbeast trim is a different animal entirely.

If you’re curious how the 2026 Model X stacks up as a daily driver beyond a single meet impression, check out the full delivery day breakdown. And if you want a closer look at the 2026 Model S, I eventually got one as a loaner and put together a full honest review.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done a Cyberbeast launch and whether it wrecked you the same way it wrecked me.