This Week in Tesla: S & X Refresh Unveiled

S & X Refresh Unveiled -

After years of anticipation, the Model S & X have finally been refreshed. The exterior remains largely unchanged on both models, Tesla just added some new front accents and made the chrome trim black.

The real magic is in the interior. Firstly, they updated the central screen to a horizontal screen, making it easier for Tesla to design software for a horizontal screen on all models rather than a mix of vertical and horizontal.

Secondly, there is the steering wheel. The steering wheel has been the most polarizing piece of the updated interior, as it is a new yoke steering wheel with no stalks at all behind the wheel. Shifting into gears will also be interesting, as a leaked document from Tesla states:

“The vehicle uses its Autopilot sensors to intelligently and automatically determine intended drive modes and select them. For example, if the front of Model S/X is facing a garage wall, it will detect this and automatically shift to Reverse once the driver presses the brake pedal. This eliminates one more step for the drivers of the world’s most intelligent production cars.”

In addition to automatically selecting drive modes, owners will also reportedly be able to use force touch buttons located below the phone chargers on the center console to select a drive mode. All other controls that would traditionally be located on stalks such as the wipers and turn signals will be relocated in the form of buttons on the steering wheel.

Furthermore, the climate system has switched over to the same, single vent system first implemented in the 3/Y. Another very cool feature is the gaming capabilities that the two refreshed models will have. As Elon Musk stated, entertainment will be crucial once Teslas are fully self driving, and the ten teraflops of processing power is astonishing. For example, the new PS5, highly regarded as the gaming console with the best performance has 10.28 teraflops of processing power. All of this processing power means that the new S/X will be capable of playing very advanced games such as the Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. Another very interesting feature is the new rear screen, which is 8” and can presumably be used to control basic functions as well as play games.

Here is the complete list of features that S/X will come equipped with:

• Premium 22-speaker audio with active noise cancelling
• Multi-device music and media over Bluetooth®
• 17” center display, 12.3” driver’s display, and 8” second row display
• Gaming computer with 10 teraflops of processing power
• Wireless controller compatibility

• Heated seats for every passenger, heated steering and heated windshield
• Ventilated front seating
• Tri-zone Airwave cabin conditioning
• HEPA air filtration system
• Custom driver profiles with automatic easy-entry and exit
• Ambient lighting
• Tinted glass roof
• Ultraviolet and infrared protection on all glass

• Front center console with sliding cup holders and storage
• Second row stowable center armrest with integrated storage and wireless charging
• Automatic opening and closing rear liftgate
• Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
• Wireless and USB-C fast charging for every passenger
• Location-aware automatic garage door opener
• Phone Key

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