Tesla Motors announced Friday that it is giving its Model S vehicle a software update that will allow drivers to start their car with their smartphones.
The electric car maker wrote in a blog post that the new remote feature could come in handy for drivers when they forget their key fob, and that owners will be able to access it through the Tesla mobile app, PC Magazine reported. Owners will have to put in their password every time they use the app.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently revealed on The Colbert Report that the version 6.0 update will also let Model S owners to name their car.
The new software brings several other new features to the Model S, such as traffic-based navigation, which could help drivers avoid delays, and the inclusion of data from other Model S drivers for observing traffic conditions, The Verge reported.
The software will also help drivers get through their commutes easier by studying traffic they face before even leaving the house and offering other routes that will get them to work quicker.
The update also comes with a new calendar that drivers will see on the Model S touch panel, The Verge reported. Drivers will be able to look at appointments from their smartphones on the screen, as well as get directions to addresses attached to their schedules.
Another new addition is the location-based air suspension feature, which can remember where the driver selected high ride heights, which are on roads with very high clearances, and automatically adjust the air suspension at those areas, PC Magazine reported. Drivers are also getting a new power management option, which puts the car into a mode that will save energy.
The software update is the latest that the Model S has received, with previous updates including smart suspension controls, hill start assist, and energy-saving sleep mode.
