Tesla Software Update Unlocks Safety Features (and Secrets)
CARS.COM — Tesla has released the 8.1 version of its software, and it includes a big update that adds some semi-autonomous driving features to the brand’s newest vehicles. It is an over-the-air update, so the changes will be downloaded to the vehicle and don’t require any legwork for owners.
Related: Tesla Adds Self-Drive to Its Entire Lineup
This bulk of the update applies to Model S and Model X vehicles built after Oct. 18, 2016, since Tesla announced that it would be adding self-driving capability to its entire lineup (including the forthcoming Model 3). Vehicles built after that date come with Tesla’s upgraded safety hardware, which includes eight surround-view cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a new forward-facing radar system.
Though the hardware has been installed on those vehicles the whole time, Tesla has been rolling out the attached safety features slowly, and the new software unlocks a few more features including lane departure warnings, high-speed autosteer, auto lane change and a summon function.
High-speed autosteer used to work at speeds up to 55 mph, but that has been increased to 80 mph (the system requires the driver to maintain contact with the wheel). Auto lane change will change lanes for you if you flip the signal while driving in Autopilot. Summon will pull the vehicle out of a parking space while the driver holds a button on the key fob or through the Tesla mobile app.
The update also allows the Model X to control the height of its doors, adds more information to the maps screen, such as hours and a phone number, and one more Easter egg, hinted at by Musk in a tweet. A video posted by a commenter on Musk’s tweet demonstrates how tapping the “T” on the center screen three times turns the entire display into a giant doodle pad on which you can make some finger art and then have the option of sending it to Tesla — for possible inclusion on Musk’s refrigerator, perhaps?
