Latest Tesla news: Tesla Vision updates for Model S/X while Hatchback, Cybertruck & Roadster delayed
March 01, 2022 by
Tesla will stop fitting radar sensors to Model S and Model X cars built for the U.S. from February 2022 and doesn’t plan to launch any new models before 2023. Read on for full details.
- Model S and Model X news
- Tesla hatchback news
- Cybertruck news
- Tesla Roadster news
- Tesla Autopilot Full Self-Driving news
- Model S news
Tesla has stopped fitting radar sensors to U.S.-spec Model S and Model X cars. Elon Musk also confirmed several upcoming Tesla models will be delayed (again) as the firm shifts focus towards developing its ‘Full Self Driving’ (FSD) driver-assistance tech. Read on for full details.
No radar sensors for U.S.-spec Tesla Model S and Model X cars – 1/03/22
Tesla has confirmed that it will stop fitting radar sensors to Model S and Model X cars built for the North American market from February 2022. This follows a similar decision that saw all Model 3 and Model Y cars built for the U.S.A coming without radar sensors.
Instead, future U.S.-spec Tesla Model S and Model X cars will use the company’s latest ‘Tesla Vision’ system – a series of cameras fitted around the car to give the onboard computer a 360-degree live video feed of the car’s surroundings.
This is in stark contrast to what other manufacturers are doing, namely developing self-driving car software using Radar and Lidar technology.
Both these systems use emit their own light (although invisible to the human eye) that bounces off a car’s surroundings and returns to specialised sensors fitted to the car’s exterior. The car’s onboard computer uses this information to build a detailed digital map of the car’s surroundings.
Tesla’s system relies on external light sources (such as the sun, other car headlights and street lights) in the same way the human eye does.
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call in 2021 that “There’s no question in my mind that with a pure vision solution, we can make a car that is dramatically safer than the average person”.
New Tesla Hatchback not coming in 2022 – 27/01/22
Tesla’s upcoming hatchback will cost less than a Model 3 (the firm’s current cheapest car) and is set to undercut the Volkswagen ID3 by costing as little as £18,000.
However, Elon Musk confirmed Tesla won’t launch any new models in 2022 during the firm’s 2021 financial roundup in January ’22. It’s reportedly still in the works, but you may have to wait until 2023 to order one.
Click the green button to get all the details on this exciting new hatchback electric car.
Tesla Cybertruck deliveries pushed back beyond 2022 – 27/01/22
The Tesla Cybertruck will also be delayed by Tesla’s decision not to launch any new models in 2022. This electric Pickup’s lineup is also set to include a new range-topping quad-motor version.
This move is likely to help the ever-delayed Cybertruck stand out from the crowd of electric pickups that have appeared over the last few years, including the Ford F150 Lightning, the Rivian R1T, the Hummer EV and the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
New Tesla Roadster delayed (again) – 27/01/22
If you thought the Tesla Roadster had escaped any further delays, get ready for another bit of disappointment.
Just like the upcoming hatchback and Cybertruck, it’s been put on the back burner until after 2022 as Tesla focuses on developing its Full Self Driving (FSD) tech and deals with the ongoing chip shortage.
Full Self Driving (FSD) update – 27/01/2022
Elon Musk has said he’ll be “shocked” if Tesla doesn’t produce a Full Self Driving (FSD) system update that makes its latest cars safer than human drivers by the end of 2022.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system (FSD), which up until now was a £6,800 option on its Model 3, S and X vehicles, will now be available as a monthly subscription.
While not technically able to drive the car autonomously 100% of the time, it does offer an advanced suite of driver aids from collision warnings and emergency braking assist to auto parking and lane changing. It even has a smart summon feature which allows the car to navigate to you in a parking lot.
With periodic over-the-air updates adding to the systems abilities, Tesla’s FSD tech is one of the most advanced systems of its kind. However, some owners may not yet be ready to part with a lump sum for a technology that is still in development and the monthly subscription option will be a far more viable choice for them.
Features such as automatic steering and stopping on city streets are planned for release in due course.
Pricing for the US market is $199 per month if you have basic autopilot fitted or $99 if you have the enhanced autopilot feature (which was offered on certain older models). UK pricing has yet to be announced but should be approximately £145 at current exchange rates. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
You will need to have the FSD computer installed in your vehicle before you can take advantage of the subscription, this is a complimentary service if your car already has the autopilot computer 2.0 or 2.5.
Tesla Model S Plaid Track Mode revealed – 10/01/22
A new ‘Track Mode’ has begun rolling out for the high-performance Tesla Model S Plaid.
This mode has been honed at the famous Nürburgring racetrack in Germany and is available as an over-the-air update for cars in North America.
It makes key changes to the behaviour of the car’s electric components to maximise its performance around a racetrack.
These include optimised battery cooling to prevent the pack from overheating. This allows for more consistent power use, as well as increased regenerative braking power to return more charge to the battery.
A new torque-vectoring program has been introduced as well. This allows the car to automatically adjust the levels of torque split across the rear axle, improving turn-in response and mid-corner grip.
The Model S Plaid’s stability control also sees tweaks in Track Mode to allow the driver ‘maximum’ control of the car’s movement. Essentially, this will let the car slip and slide about more (if you’re going for style points rather than outright lap times.)
The car’s adaptive suspension firms up to prevent the Model S from rolling side-to-side too, while the icing on the cake is a racier infotainment display in Track Mode. This will show lap time info, vehicle temperatures and g-readings (among other bits.)
Track Mode won’t command an additional cost for existing Tesla Model S Plaid owners.
That said, you may want to consider paying to upgrade the brakes to Tesla’s-own carbon ceramic kit for the best track performance. These will be available later in the year for $20,000 (about £14,700).