Unofficial renderings circulating online in mid-January 2026 offer a speculative look at what a Tesla Model S facelift could resemble in 2026, rather than confirming any official redesign plans by Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA).

The images, widely shared by Chinese automotive media on January 14, 2026, and attributed by a more reliable source to digital artist Nikita Chuicko—known online as “kelsonik”—are conceptual designs. They do not originate from Tesla and are not indicative of an approved production update.

Source: kelsonik

The CGI project imagines how Tesla might visually refresh the Model S sedan through a mid-cycle facelift, building on the design language introduced with recent updates to the Model Y. The most prominent feature across the renderings is the use of full-width lighting elements at both the front and rear of the vehicle.

At the front, the sketches explore two closely related design directions. One replaces the current split-headlamp arrangement with a slim, continuous LED light bar integrated into the closed front fascia, visually widening the car and lowering its perceived center of gravity.

Another version combines a full-width light strip with split headlight units positioned lower on the bumper, paired with a trapezoidal lower grille. Both interpretations retain the overall proportions of the current Model S, which measures more than 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length.

Source: kelsonik

The front bumper design is revised to appear sharper and more angular, with simplified air intakes and a stronger emphasis on horizontal lines.

Source: kelsonik

At the rear, the renderings show a full-width LED taillight bar, paired with a reworked rear bumper and a small spoiler element.

From the side, the designs retain the Model S’s fastback profile and core body panels. Changes are limited to detail elements, including newly designed five-spoke concave alloy wheels, hidden door handles, and smoother surfacing intended to suggest improved aerodynamic efficiency.

Cameras integrated into the front fenders and conventional side mirrors are also visible, consistent with the existing model.

While Tesla updated the Model S and Model X for the 2026 model year, those changes focused on technical improvements such as aerodynamic optimization, improved high-speed stability, and extending the Long Range Model S to 410 miles (660 km) of range, rather than major design revisions.

In this context, the kelsonik renderings function less as a preview and more as a visual thought experiment, raising the question of whether a design-focused facelift is warranted to restore attention to Tesla’s flagship sedan in an increasingly competitive global EV market.