Closer look at Tesla’s early access V10 driving visuals in action

Members of Tesla’s Early Access Program have started sharing some videos of the electric car maker’s upcoming V10 update in action. Among these are improvements to Tesla’s driving visuals, which are poised to get more refined and detailed with the major update’s wide release. 

Unofficial Tesla newsletter group Tesletter, which has access to a vehicle that is part of the Early Access Program, recently shared some images and videos of a Model 3’s V10 driving visuals. In a message to Teslarati, the group remarked that V10’s visual renders have several new capabilities, one of which involves the recognition of broken lane lines on the road. 

Apart from this, vehicles that are part of the V10 Early Access Program can detect and display double yellow lines, as well as monitor incoming traffic that are multiple lanes away. These updates provide a pretty cool representation of what the vehicle sees while it is operating. 

Perhaps most interestingly, V10’s updated driving visuals are also capable of displaying turning cars. A video taken at an intersection shows that some cars are still not rendered accurately, but they do show a pretty remarkable ability to recognize most vehicles in real time. An example of this could be seen below, with a school bus being rendered by the Model 3 as a large block, while other cars such as sedans and SUVs being displayed accurately. 

It’s not just Early Access Program members from North America who have begun sharing some nifty videos of V10’s updated driving visuals. A Chinese EAP user, for one, recently demonstrated how well V10 estimates a vehicle’s lane changing position. Reports from China suggest that the updated driving visuals in V10 are turning out to be a favorite among Tesla owners, as they provide what almost seems to be a teaser at what is to come when the company starts rolling out its Full Self-Driving features. 

Tesla’s Version 10 update is packed full of fun, new features that are designed to enhance the ownership experience, from a cool theater function to a built-in karaoke feature to the introduction of Cuphead, a cool run and gun game. Other unique functions such as the “(I’m Feeling) Lucky/Hungry” feature also add a certain layer of spontaneity to Tesla road trips. What is remarkable is that these generous set of features would likely comprise just part of the V10, as Elon Musk also tweeted about features such as Smart Summon being rolled out to its fleet with the upcoming major update.

Here’s V10’s updated driving visuals displaying double yellow lines.

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Closer look at Tesla’s early access V10 driving visuals in action

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Tesla Model 3 Performance to outlast the Porsche Taycan on the track due to superior range

While the Tesla Model 3 Performance will not be able to beat the Porsche Taycan in a timed lap around a track, the midsize family sedan could outlast the German-made four-door sports car in an endurance race. This is according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who recently provided several updates on the electric car maker’s upcoming Model S Plaid Powertrain variant in a series of tweets. 

While responding to a follower who inquired if the $56,000 Model 3 Performance will be able to beat the $150,000 Taycan around a closed circuit, Musk stated that Tesla’s most affordable vehicle will likely lose to the all-electric Porsche. Musk did explain that the race between the two all-electric vehicles will be “very close” nonetheless.  

Seemingly as an afterthought, Musk soon added that the Model 3 Performance would actually be able to beat the Porsche Taycan in an endurance race, simply because it has more range. Musk even playfully hinted at a potential performance boost coming to the Model 3 series, responding with a cryptic “You never know…” to a follower who asked if Tesla could still squeeze out more performance out of the midsize sedan.

Musk’s statement about the Model 3 Performance’s capability to outlast the Taycan in an endurance race does hold some merit, considering its superior range and efficiency. The Model 3 Performance has an EPA rated range of 310 miles per charge, after all, which is a substantial lead over the Porsche Taycan’s WLTP range of 236.74-279.61 miles per charge. This is a key difference-maker between the two vehicles, especially since the WLTP is generally more generous with range estimates compared to the EPA. Thus, at least in theory, the Model 3 could go around a track more times than the Taycan before it needs to recharge its batteries.

Despite their massive price and range discrepancy, the Porsche Taycan Turbo and the Model 3 Performance actually have fairly comparable specs. The Taycan Turbo has a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, while the Model 3 Performance sprints to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. In terms of top speed, the Taycan maxes out at 161 mph while the Model 3 Performance maxes out at 162 mph. Overall, a race between these two vehicles in a closed circuit will most definitely be a great match, as it will be a battle between a premium all-electric sports car that’s born and bred for the track and a family sedan that looks far too tame for its ferocity. 

Perhaps the real difference-maker in the Model 3 vs Taycan battle would be Tesla’s capability to unlock more performance out of its vehicle. Musk’s recent playful response would suggest that Tesla has some options to explore on this front. And considering a 2016 tweet where Musk responded positively to the suggestion of introducing Ludicrous Mode for the Model 3, it appears that Tesla might have some more tricks up its sleeve for its resident bang-for-your-buck performance car.

Tesla Model 3 Performance to outlast the Porsche Taycan on the track due to superior range

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First look at Tesla Model 3’s pedestrian noisemaker in action

Following reports from the electric car community suggesting that Tesla has begun equipping noisemakers on the Model 3, EV community members who ordered electric cars manufactured on or after September 1 are now getting their first look at the newly-added exterior speaker system, geared toward saving pedestrian lives.

Among the first videos of the noisemaker operating in a Tesla were uploaded on Twitter, with user Zach Feldstein showing his neighbor’s Deep Blue Metallic Model 3 emitting the “reverse” version of the noise aimed to help pedestrians everywhere. Opinions of the noise differ, as some find it too futuristic, whereas others see it as a great safety feature that could benefit pedestrians, particularly those who are visually impaired.

Rumors regarding the noisemakers broke on September 9, when a Tesla technician informed Trevor of Tesla Owners Online that the Silicon Valley-based carmaker has started equipping exterior speakers to its Model 3 sedan. The technician added that every Model 3 manufactured from September 1 moving forward would be fitted with the noisemaker that emits two separate sounds, one for low-speed forward driving and one for reverse.

The addition of the pedestrian noisemaker comes in response to an October 2009 report conducted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on blind pedestrians and the increased risk they hold when walking around quieter vehicles. The NHTSA passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 was eventually passed, making it mandatory for vehicles operated by batteries to contain a noisemaker. Manufacturers of these vehicles were able to choose the noise that was emitted, as long as it could be identified as a vehicle sound.

The NHTSA estimates that the addition of pedestrian noisemakers will save 2,400 people from injuries, and could prevent between $250M and $320M in damages. The addition of these noisemakers will likely save the lives of pedestrians, particularly as they will be required to be installed on battery-powered vehicles in the near future.

Traditionally, internal combustion vehicles emit engine, transmission and exhaust noise that is sufficient enough to alert those who have no vision of their presence. However, electric vehicles lack transmission and exhaust noise completely, while hybrid vehicles emit almost no noise when traveling at low speeds. It was determined that vehicles that match these descriptions will be federally mandated to equip some form of noisemaker by September 1, 2020.

First look at Tesla Model 3’s pedestrian noisemaker in action

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