Tesla Model Y surprises by overtaking Jeeps in quick sand dune climb

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There are things that Telsas are known to do. Winning drag races easily is one of them, and more recently, with the advent of the Model S Plaid with Track Mode, competing on the track has become another. Off-roading, however, has always been considered as something that would have to wait, at least until the Cybertruck starts its consumer deliveries. 

This is not to say that Tesla has not put in any effort to develop its vehicles’ off-roading capabilities. When the Model Y was released, electric vehicle enthusiasts quickly observed that the all-electric crossover had a dedicated “Off-Road Assist” mode. Few looked at the feature very seriously, however, as the Model Y’s low ground clearance suggested that the vehicle would be an adequate “soft-roader” at most. 

As per a recent video that was shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, it would appear that the Tesla Model Y’s off-road performance should probably not be dismissed. In the short clip, the Model Y could be seen starting at the same line as a couple of Jeeps. As the climb began, the Model Y proceeded to easily and authoritatively overtake its two combustion-powered peers. 

At the end of the video, the Model Y could be seen driving all the way up to the top of the sand dune while the two Jeeps turned back near the top. Overall, it’s pretty difficult not to be impressed with the Model Y as it practically treated the sand dune as a drag strip. That’s quite an accomplishment for a city car like the Model Y. 

The video, of course, only increases the excitement for the upcoming Cybertruck, which is starting its deliveries at the end of the month. The Tesla Cybertruck is designed from the ground up to be a tough vehicle that can take severe punishment, so when it comes to tackling sand dunes, the all-electric pickup truck will likely do quite a bit better than its crossover sibling.

Elon Musk has stated in the past that the Cybertruck should be able to perform well at Baja. Over the past months, Cybertruck release candidates were indeed spotted testing at the off-road location. The Cybertruck has also been seen testing at off-road areas like Hollister Hills in California. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla Model Y surprises by overtaking Jeeps in quick sand dune climb





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Tesla’s next software update has front camera washer button and more

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Tesla appears to be rolling out a front camera washer button and a number of other features with its next software update, as spotted over the weekend.

Code sleuth and close Tesla follower GreenTheOnly has discovered a number of new features coming to vehicles with the 2023.44.1 update, including the addition of a front camera washer button, the addition of Shaka media player, and a new ability to adjust playback speed in Apple Podcasts, among other additions still.

The front camera washer button comes ahead of the Cybertruck’s launch next week, with the electric pickup expected to include the front camera. Green also shared a photo of the button, though the image has since been removed from X.

There has been some confusion over whether the new Model 3 “Highland” would include the front fascia camera, as Tesla originally shared photos of the vehicle on its website that included the new feature. However, initial deliveries of the refreshed Model 3 have omitted the camera and the automaker has since removed it from all images.

As for the playback speed update, Green notes that the associated file is called apple_podcasts, confirming that the playback speed feature is specifically for Apple Podcasts.

Below are all the features Green says will hit Tesla’s vehicles with the next update.

  • Front camera washer and activation button
  • Shaka media player
  • Apple Podcasts 1.25x, 1.5x and 2x playback speeds
  • New IIHS seatbelt reminder mode with higher pitch and frequency
  • Cabin Camera can be used to enable or disable HOV lane use (requires additional cabin camera permission)
  • Most probable path navigation mode added
  • New low-voltage battery options added

According to Teslascope, the 2023.44.1 software update was first spotted in some cars on Friday, and it’s currently just beginning to roll out to vehicles. However, release notes are not yet available at the time of writing.

Tesla regularly deploys over-the-air (OTA) software updates to improve its vehicles, often adding new features and adjustments to the features its cars currently include. Recent examples include the addition of live object-on-road detection, expected to first debut in China, along with the recent inclusion of congestion fees at Superchargers, both spotted in update 2023.38.

Tesla may add live object detection and more in upcoming update

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla’s next software update has front camera washer button and more





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Tesla starting release of FSD V12 to employees, confirms Musk

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Tesla has started rolling out Full Self Driving (FSD) V12 to employees. The update was confirmed by CEO Elon Musk in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

Citing a source reportedly familiar with the matter, EV publication and software tracker Not A Tesla App claimed that FSD V12 had begun an internal rollout with update 2023.38.10. But while FSD V12 really did reportedly drop its “Beta” moniker, the initial rollout for the highly anticipated update was reportedly done on a more limited scale than previous updates. 

Musk responded to reports of FSD V12’s initial rollout to Tesla employees simply, writing “yes” as a response to a post about the matter. Musk’s post was the first official confirmation that FSD V12 is being distributed to groups of Tesla owners, even if they are only employees for now. 

There is much anticipation surrounding the release of FSD V12. The update reportedly eliminates over 300,0000 lines of code that were previously governing FSD functions that controlled the vehicle. This suggests that FSD will now rely more on neural networks, and the system will be less dependent on hard-coded programming. 

The expected changes implemented on FSD V12 could be a step towards the development of an autonomous driving system that functions and perceives the world in a way that’s similar to a human. Musk demonstrated FSD V12 himself in a livestream on X, which showed a Tesla Model S driving around Palo Alto. Musk’s demonstration was quite impressive, as FSD V12 only needed one intervention. The rest of the drive was very smooth. 

With FSD V12 now being released to Tesla employees, the wait may not be long before the highly-anticipated version of the advanced driver-assist system gets released to regular Tesla owners as well. FSD, after all, is considered one of Tesla’s most notable selling points. It is also considered a key safety system for Tesla’s electric cars. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla starting release of FSD V12 to employees, confirms Musk





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