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Green poked around the new 2023.44.1 firmware (as always) and discovered a few really interesting details:
Tesla’s FSD version 12 (v12) is now being internally rolled out to employees, as part of the update 2023.38.10. This version is expected to remove the “beta” label from FSD. The rollout coincides with upcoming major Tesla events, potentially showcasing v12’s improvements. A key change in v12 is the elimination of over 300,000 lines of code, replaced by a greater reliance on neural networks for vehicle control, marking a significant shift in Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving technology. v12 aims at taking a big step forward in FSD, having a system that is more human-like and can adapt better to all driving conditions.
Tesla has declared the design and engineering of its original Roadster as ‘fully open source’, making the related research and development documents available to the public. The original Roadster, which ceased production over a decade ago, was a limited run with just over 2,000 units produced. This new open-sourcing move, announced unexpectedly by Elon Musk, allows for the potential creation of replicas and offers comprehensive access to the vehicle’s design and engineering details. This initiative marks a more concrete step towards open-sourcing compared to Tesla’s 2014 decision not to sue for patent infringement. I personally love to see Tesla opening more manuals and repair manuals; great move!
Tesla’s updated Model 3 now features a new “Active Hood” safety system, designed to enhance pedestrian protection during collisions. This system automatically raises the hood’s rear portion by about 80 mm when an impact with a pedestrian or cyclist is detected at speeds between 30 and 52 km/h. The Active Hood’s deployment triggers a touchscreen alert and a collision chime, and it requires service center attention afterward. The system, which uses sensors and algorithms, was previously available in the Tesla Model S and X, but not in the pre-refresh Model 3. Other added safety features include double dampeners on the trunk and metal hooks for door alignment in crashes.
With the introduction of Highland, Tesla didn’t introduce a Performance variant, but we all knew it was only a matter of time before Tesla would release it, given that the Performance trim is the one with the highest margins. According to this article, Tesla’s Model 3 Performance is set to make a comeback in early 2024, featuring significant upgrades. The new model is expected to have a more aggressive body kit, interior design tweaks, trim upgrades, and an evolved Track mode.
This is my first time seeing this lighting effect when waking up the Cybertruck, it looks neat! A couple of interesting details, you can see the 4 wheel steering when pulling out of the stall and the Cybertruck’s air suspension rising when the car starts, something that we have seen in the S and X.
More details for the Cybertruck event: it will be at 2 pm CT or 12 pm Pacific on November 30th, and it will be streamed on X.
As we included last week, Tesla has been delivering Cybertrucks to its showrooms ahead of the November 30th delivery event. Many Tesla enthusiasts and curious have traveled to their local showrooms for a close-up with the truck. Since then, we have seen many many posts on social media highlighting its build quality and perfect panel gaps. I hope Tesla continues this as they ramp production and it isn’t some handpicked cars.
As Tesla fan I find myself sometimes having to remember what are all those acronyms, here is a list of the ones you can find in this issue.
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