- Explain the Tesla Model 3 Performance badge
- Connect the starburst look to Tesla styling choices
- Touch on the Spaceballs and Star Wars references
- Cover other Tesla speed-themed Easter eggs and badges
- Show how the badge idea spills into factory and aftermarket items
A Tesla with a starburst badge is not some mystery trim or secret government test car. It is a Model 3 Performance, and that little burst of light is part of the car’s identity, signaling the quickest version of Tesla’s compact electric sedan. The badge fits the car’s whole vibe, which is all about speed, sharp visuals, and a wink toward pop culture.
The Model 3 Performance arrived in the U.S. in April 2024, and it came in hot. With 510 horsepower, a 0 to 60 mph sprint of 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of 163 mph, it is built to embarrass plenty of gas-powered sports cars. Tesla did not stop there either, since the package also brings a carbon fiber spoiler, 20-inch forged wheels, larger brake rotors, continuously variable shock absorbers, and adaptive suspension.
That starburst on the trunk lid is really the cherry on top. It gives the car a distinct look without screaming too loudly, and for a lot of drivers, that is the sweet spot. It is stylish, a little playful, and easy to spot if you know what you are looking for.
The design also has a fun connection to movies. Tesla boss Elon Musk has long liked slipping in references to his favorite sci-fi and comedy worlds, and this badge follows that pattern pretty cleanly. If the starburst makes you think of streaking stars and jump-to-lightspeed chaos, that is not an accident your brain is making out of nowhere.
One of Musk’s biggest movie obsessions has always been “Star Wars.” He has said he saw it in a theater when he was about six years old, and he has spoken about it like it left a real mark on him. He has even called it the one film “everyone on Earth needs to see” and suggested it helped shape his love of rockets and space.
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/937447589460426752
But there is another movie in the mix too, and it is pure comedy gold. In Musk described “Spaceballs” as the “documentary,” and he joked that it taught him “real money comes from merchandising.” That line lands because the film itself is basically a giant spoof machine, taking the shine off big sci-fi spectacle while still loving every second of it.
“Spaceballs” also gave Tesla fans another piece of speed language to latch onto. In the movie, “Ludicrous” and “Plaid” are the hilarious high-speed settings that starships can reach, with plaid running even faster than ludicrous. Tesla has leaned into that joke before, most obviously with the Plaid name used on some of its quickest models.
That kind of branding shows up all over Tesla ownership culture. The Model S has had a hidden “Ludicrous Speed” Easter egg, where holding down the “Ludicrous” button triggers a full-screen light-speed animation on the center display. It is the sort of thing that makes owners grin the first time they see it, then show it to everyone else like they just uncovered buried treasure.
There was also a special launch series badge for the 2025 Model Y, done in an orange and red sunburst style. Outside the U.S., Plaid-equipped cars get their own badge treatment too, using red and black rectangles to keep that high-speed identity front and center. Tesla clearly likes its cars to wear their personalities on the outside, and the badges are part of that whole act.
Factory-installed emblems are only half the story. The starburst look has also become a piece of merchandise, with owners able to find all kinds of related accessories online, including projection lights that throw the same image onto the ground when the doors open. It is a neat little flourish, and it turns a badge into a full-on experience every time you step out of the car.
