The Cybertruck is not just about power; it's also about a unique user experience. The app update provided a glimpse into the Cybertruck's distinct user interface, showcasing a design divergence from Tesla's other models. This UI image, extracted from the app, shows a fresh approach, keeping in line with the vehicle's futuristic appeal.
Earlier, we discovered the infotainment screen displayed the Cyber Owl while Sentry Mode is activated. Its red eyes glow, offering a unique and cool appearance.
However, with this new image, the Cybertruck UI reveals several things. This UI is radically different from what we see in other 'single-screen' models, like the Model Y.
Visualization & Map
The most obvious change in this 'Parked' screen is that the vehicle is now predominately displayed in the center of the expected 18.5" screen. The navigation map is much smaller, and instead of taking up the right two-thirds of the screen, a portion of it is subtly displayed on the top right corner. However, once the vehicle moves out of park, the map area would likely enlarge to take up the majority of the screen.
App Icons
The familiar app icons along the bottom have been aligned vertically and moved to the left side of the screen. They're also displayed on the right side, for passenger use. In the image we see the same icons displayed on the left and right sides of the screen, but Tesla has talked about passenger preferences in the past, so it wouldn't be unrealistic if Tesla offered a customized version of apps for the passenger.
Looking closer at the app icons, it's not conclusive what they are, but they appear to be the usual suspects, including Apple Music, the Energy app, Camera app, the All Apps icon, which is followed by the most recent app, the phone.
After the apps, there are temperature controls, seat heaters and the familiar Controls or settings icon in the bottom left corner. The seat heater icon is activated on the passenger side, however the Cybertruck is expected to include ventilated seats as well.
On the bottom right corner we have the air bag icon, which indicates whether the passenger airbag is enabled.
The top right corner has the passenger volume control, as well as what looks too be a new icon, possibly to shift or swap the display layout, bringing certain elements closer to the passenger, much like the Model S.
Display Size & Ratio
While its expected that the Cybertruck will include a 18.5" screen, the largest display of any Tesla, not much else is known
With this new image, we can conclude that the display will be 16:9, like the Model Y's. On both the Model S and Model Y, Tesla includes displays with about 150 pixels per inch, so we can expect something similar in the Cybertruck.
If Tesla ends up going with a 18.5" screen at 150 PPI, we may see a display with a resolution of about 2420x1360.
Status Icons
The status icons, such as battery, time and temperature are displayed at the top, aligned toward the driver. While other status icons, such as WiFi are aligned center. In the image we can see the lock icon, what appears to be the driver profile icon, alerts, WiFi, Sentry Mode, but the last two icons are harder to make out, and they could be Cybertruck specific features.
3D Terrain
As we've seen in several other images, the Cybertruck 3D model appears to be displayed in a 3D environment. There have been hints that Tesla is looking to show 3D terrain in the driving visualizations, and this could be our first glimpse at this integration.
V12 Software Update
The Cybertruck is truly a unique vehicle and the UI appears to be just as unique. Tesla has introduced major UI updates in the past, with v11, not to be confused with FSD Beta v11, was introduced last holiday season. It's possible that some of these UI elements will carry over to other vehicles, in particular the status icons, the parked view and more.
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Tesla recently showed off Giga Small Haus, an interesting new display project hosted at Giga Berlin. The small new house is located just outside the main entrance of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, with a Quicksilver Model Y parked inside.
Giga Small Haus is powered only by solar and Powerwall 3 - disconnected from the local grid and from Giga Berlin itself. It serves as a live demonstration of Tesla Solar and Tesla’s Powerwall battery backup.
Giga Small Haus
The centerpiece of the display is a Model Y in Quicksilver - a beautiful pick for a beautifully lit house. However, that’s not the real focus here - it's the Powerwall and Gateway on the wall.
The Powerwall is the focus of Giga Small Haus, and there’s a display with some additional information on the wall. Part of the display also includes a screen that displays the current output of the Powerwall itself versus the consumption of Giga Small Haus, as well as the input from solar.
The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
Not a Tesla App
The text on the exhibit is divided into several sections. Here’s a translated and edited version of what we can see from Tesla’s images. Some additional text is obscured. If someone visits Giga Small Haus, let us know.
Powerwall
Powerwall is a home battery system that stores energy from solar panels, the electrical grid, or during off-peak hours and powers your home during the day or during a power outage.
With Powerwall, you can use self-generated solar energy during the day and night, thus avoiding high electricity costs. You can also store excess energy produced during sunny periods for use during times of low production or power outages.
Key Features
Energy Storage: Powerwall stores excess energy from solar panels or the grid for later use or during power outages.
Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, Powerwall automatically switches to battery power to ensure continuous power supply.
Integration: Powerwall can be seamlessly integrated with existing solar systems and other power sources.
Scalability: Multiple Powerwalls can be installed to meet higher energy storage needs.
Smart Energy Management: Powerwall works with Tesla's software to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.
How Powerwall Works
Storage: During the day, when solar panels produce more energy than needed, the excess is stored in Powerwall.
Usage: At night or during times of low solar production, the stored energy is used to power the home, reducing reliance on the grid.
Backup: During a power outage, Powerwall automatically provides power to critical circuits, ensuring continuous operation of essential appliances.
Benefits
Cost Savings: By storing and using solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills.
Reliability: Provides backup power during outages, ensuring your home remains powered.
Sustainability: Promotes the use of renewable energy by storing excess solar production for later use.
Overall, Giga Small Haus is an interesting real-life demo of what Powerwall and Solar can accomplish. It would be neat if Tesla built more of these displays - perhaps near major Delivery and Service Centers and at Giga Texas, Fremont, Giga Shanghai, and other facilities. Many Tesla owners have yet to learn about and experience some of Tesla’s Energy products.
Tesla has added the Acceleration Boost option to the Tesla store for owners of the 2024 Model 3 Long Range - specifically owners in Australia and China. Acceleration Boost is an upgrade that provides a significant performance boost, drastically narrowing the performance gap between the Long Range and Performance versions of the same model.
This upgrade will likely become available in Europe, Canada, and the United States in the next few days as Tesla updates its shops globally.
Acceleration Boost
This new Acceleration Boost is retailing for $3,000 AUD, or approximately $2,000 USD. That’s the same price for current owners of older Model 3 or Model Y Long Range vehicles, which all have the option to purchase Acceleration Boost through the shop.
The boost provides improved 0-100km/h (0-60mph) performance, bumping the 2024 Model 3 LR from 4.4s to 3.8s. The 2024 Performance version comes in at a blazing fast 2.9 seconds, so while it isn’t equivalent to just buying a performance variant in the first place, it is still a noticeable and significant upgrade.
Performance variants also come with a different front fascia vent for cooling, performance drive units, sport seats, adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels, and Track Mode V3. That’s a significant number of additional features in the $10,000 USD price difference between the Long Range and Performance versions.
Should You Buy It?
If you’ve purchased a Long Range model and are itching to go just that little bit faster at every red light, this is the upgrade for you. It previously came with the cost of slightly reducing vehicle range, but the Tesla store doesn’t make a note of reduced range this time around. The 2023 Model 3 and Model Y Long Range models had an efficiency loss of about 5% due to the additional always-available acceleration and cooling.
You could drive in Chill mode to mostly negate that efficiency loss, but what’s the fun in driving in Chill when you just got Acceleration Boost? Anyhow, the shop listing for the 2024 variant doesn’t include this detail, so it's possible Tesla may have worked some more engineering magic.
Overall, if you’ve got the $3,000 AUD burning a hole in your pocket, some Tesla referral credits sitting around, or just want to go faster, it's definitely an upgrade many users find valuable.
