The technology doesn’t need additional sensors, and the software control can redistribute power “within milliseconds” instead of the relatively pokey limited-slip differential found in gas cars. Porsche said it has been testing the system over the course of two winters.

There’s one, overriding question: which model gets a four-motor system first? Porsche has already confirmed that a Macan EV is in the works, but it’s also a crossover aimed at the (relatively) entry level crowd. It wouldn’t be surprising if the company instead focused on larger SUVs, whether it’s an EV variant of the Cayenne or a completely new design. Whichever model gets first dibs, it might make a convincing case for electric SUVs by providing all-weather abilities that just aren’t available for combustion-powered vehicles.

It’s powerful, too. The initial design can lift seven times its own weight, but you can add more components for extra strength or to handle complex movements. And notably, you can scale the size of the parts to tackle very large or very tiny projects. Until now, you typically needed specialized methods to make motors work at either extreme.

While this is is just a “first step,” MIT sees vast potential. It could lead to standardized part sets that help assemble task-specific robots without needing to design new manufacturing bots every time. You could also see more extra-small robots capable of working in tight spaces. Either way, this could help robots transition from expensive, niche machines into something relatively commonplace.

There’s no timetable for when the motors, nicknamed Raven, would reach shipping cars. The tipsters say the powerplants could arrive “relatively soon” alongside upgrades to improve the charging rate.

If the rumor is accurate, it would represent a logical step for Tesla. Longer range is an obvious selling point, and might help Tesla fend off competing EVs from the likes of Audi and Mercedes. Speedier charging, meanwhile, might be virtually necessary if Tesla is going to make the most of its third-generation Superchargers. The bigger question is whether or not PMR would significantly affect the price. While it’s affordable enough to sit in the Model 3, it hasn’t been used in Tesla’s highest-performing cars so far.