CEO Elon Musk has announced on Twitter that Tesla's Software Update 8.0 is already out. On its website, the company states that it is a significant over-the-air overhaul of the Tesla touchscreen which incorporates a modern interface and more intuitive Media Player with display improvements for Maps and Autopilot.
Wired has reported that drivers can download the software by pushing a button on their vehicle's touchscreen, informing them about its availability. Around 140,000 Tesla cars have the feature.
Like the clients who bought their vehicles last month, customers, who owned theirs since 2012, will receive the same value of functionality and improvement.
The system refurbishment is probably the most important approach for both Tesla and its clients. Apart from increasing the use of radar imaging which will make the self-driving system more accurate, the Autopilot update provides a new safety feature that disables the car's auto-steering capability if the driver ignores safety warnings. This procedure is aligned with the luxury electric car maker which reiterates that autopilot is not a fully autonomous driving system. It also points out that drivers must be wary about the road at all times.
Smaller updates include redesigned Autopilot indicators, showing the directions of vehicles on the instrument panel and increased responsiveness in stop-and-go traffic.
Drivers can now navigate more content at one time by zooming into selected locations. This is made possible due to an expanded map interface to cover the entire touchscreen.
Voice controls are clearer and easier to utilize. Initiation is fast and a clear visual feedback allows people to focus on the road without compromising control or convenience.
Meanwhile, the Cabin Overheat Protection feature introduces a temperature control system that is focused on the safety of children and/or pets left in the vehicle. According to Tesla, the presence of large battery packs sets a safe temperature for hours even when the car is off. Musk reveals that automatically venting the cabin and turning the air condition on will keep the temperature below 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
