Christmas is approaching, and Tesla is therefore taking the opportunity to deploy its traditional end-of-year holiday update. This free upgrade is deployed without going to a workshop using OTA (Over The Air) technology, for all Tesla owners.
In his sack, Tesla Santa Claus brought many presents. Among them, the possibility of using your Apple Watch to interact with your Tesla. This new feature only concerns a segment of Tesla owners who have an Apple connected watch, but it seemed expected for several months already. From now on, the Tesla application is compatible with the connected watch, and allows you to lock and unlock the vehicle, start it, turn on the air conditioning, open the front trunk or even know its charge level. Owners of connected watches running Android or Wear OS do not seem affected at the moment.
A smarter planner
The route planner is enhanced with a search function estimating detour time. Credit Photo – DR.
One of the other features users have been waiting for for a while is the ability to set a battery level upon arrival at their destination. Thanks to the integrated route planner, Tesla customers can now choose a battery percentage below which not to go, for example if they are traveling and do not have a charging solution at their destination. The scheduler adapts and offers earlier stops if necessary in order to maintain the correct battery level.
This route planner is also evolving with the arrival of a location search function with estimated detour time. As with other navigation applications such as Waze or Google Maps, Tesla's integrated GPS offers to search for a point of interest along the route and indicates the necessary detour time. Tesla is also adding a search function for the parking lot closest to your destination or a point of interest. Finally, the navigation also indicates a precipitation map and the weather at the destination directly in the interface.
New alerts and driving aids
Tesla adds a cross-traffic alert when reversing, already common among other manufacturers.Credit Photo – DR.
Tesla's update also offers other interesting features, like rear cross-traffic alert. When reversing, the Tesla can trigger an alert to warn of the approach of a vehicle or pedestrian. An audible alert is also added in the event of an object detected in cross traffic, such as a bicycle arriving in the blind spot when the driver wants to open his door. Finally, on the restyled Model 3s, the “Auto-Shift” mode automatically switches between reverse and forward during a parking maneuver. Tesla also specifies that an automatic audio volume reduction function in reverse is also integrated to reduce distractions.
Tesla is also adding a function to save clips from its Dashcam and Sentinel modes on its phone. Through the Tesla app, the owner can save, edit and share recorded videos. Until now, you had to use a USB key in the glove box to transfer files to a computer. The Californian manufacturer also includes a new virtual maintenance logbook allowing you to follow maintenance recommendations on the central screen.
But also some less essential functions
Tesla's famous whoopee cushion can now be triggered as soon as someone sits in the seat.Credit Photo – DR.
Finally, Tesla being what it is, the manufacturer also adds functions that are less requested and not necessarily very useful. Owners will be delighted to discover a new video game (Boomerang Fu) to wait while charging, two new sound and light shows, customization of the Santa Claus-style avatar in a Cybertruck or even a new mode for the whoopee cushion. 'activating as soon as someone sits on the seat.
Photos : DR.
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To summarize
Like every year, Tesla offers an update to all owners for the holidays. Compatibility with Apple Watch, setting the battery level on arrival, rear cross traffic alert… Discover everything the update brings.
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