Model S and X to Get Updated Wheel, Ambient Lighting and Front Bumper Camera [Updated]

January 8, 2024

By Not a Tesla App Staff

An updated yoke is coming to the Model S and Model X, along with ambient lighting and more

Not a Tesla App

Tesla appears to be ready to unveil some changes to the Model S and Model X.

The Model S and Model X will gain updated "efficiency" packages in 2024. References to these hardware changes were spotted by Tesla enthusiast Greentheonly in the 2023.44.30.8 vehicle firmware. Green goes on to say that Tesla makes efficiency package changes when there are changes to the battery or drivetrain that affect the vehicle's range.

However, these changes don't necessarily mean the changes will improve efficiency or increase the vehicle's range.

Former Tesla service technician, Anthony Spina mentions that Tesla last changed an efficiency package in 2021 when they increased the battery pack for the Model 3 and Model Y from a 77 kWh battery to a 82 kWh battery. Tesla also added more efficient motors at the time.

Tesla recently updated their EPA mileage for new models in the U.S. and Canada due to government-required testing changes. Although vehicle hardware didn't change, the EPA estimates are now lower than before across most Tesla models, including other EVs.

This is because the EPA now requires vehicle manufacturers to account for all acceleration modes and averaging them when determining the vehicle's range.

To combat less efficient stopping modes, Tesla is removing roll and creep modes on new Model 3 and Model Ys in these countries.

Update: New Model Xs have now come off the assembly line with the new steering wheel we talk about in this article, although they do not include additional changes to the battery pack, drivetrain or the ambient lighting and front bumper camera changes. It appears that Green’s findings for the new efficiency package in the vehicle’s firmware may have been related to Tesla’s updated EPA range estimates and not related to changes to the battery pack or drivetrain themselves, as they have been in the past.

However, the new Model S and Model X are still expected to receive the ambient lighting treatment akin to the new Model 3 and the front bumper camera like the Cybertruck.

Center Horn

While looking through the firmware's code, Green also found a reference to a new yoke for the Model S and Model X. The new wheel will finally feature a mechanical horn in the center. Since the new Model S was revealed in 2021, it has used a small button on the steering wheel to activate the vehicle's horn.

We've heard that this center horn has been coming for a while now, but given that it's now showing up in Tesla's firmware, it looks like a release may finally be near.

Ambient Lighting and Bumper Camera Also Coming

The Model S is due for a new seat design. A few months ago, the parts catalog displayed a different seat design with a much higher and more narrow headrest. Directly below the headrest is a Plaid badge that looks like it could be swapped out for different designs. The seat design is similar to the RECARO or Sparco racing seats, two leaders in the performance automotive seat field.

The ambient lighting in the new Model 3, and Cybertruck has been a popular feature, adding an option to the vehicle's cabin that resonates with the high-tech feel of these vehicles. The ambient lighting addition is certainly coming to other models, and our source previously confirmed that it will include the Model S and Model X. Remember the Model Y refresh, code name Juniper is underway.

The front camera is also featured in the Cybertruck and will undoubtedly be added to the rest of the fleet. The camera removes the blind spot just in front of the car for those tight parking spaces and has been a welcome addition after removing other sensors. Our source also confirmed that the front bumper camera will also be arriving on the Model S and X.

However, all of these changes may not necessarily arrive at the same time. Tesla is all about efficiency and doesn’t roll out changes with model years, so they will typically only add new parts when they’ve used up their current supply. We could see the bumper camera arrive first and later followed by ambient lighting, although we wouldn’t expect these features to be very far apart.

It’s the start of a new year, but the same ol’Tesla, a company that continues to make changes, adapting to new testing and customer preferences.

Tesla To Launch Four New Battery Cells in 2026

October 17, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

According to an article published by The Information in early October, Tesla intends to introduce four new types of 4680 batteries in 2026. We already know that Tesla has been working hard on new batteries. The Cybercell - the upgraded 4680, is already a new design meant specifically to get the Cybertruck and future vehicles off the ground.

Tesla has also been working on Solid-State Batteries, but even with Tesla’s technological and engineering prowess, that technology is still quite far out.

The 4680 Cell

To put things in context, the 4680 cell is Tesla’s replacement for the older 2710 cells present in most Model 3s and Model Ys. Tesla has been producing these cells for a long time and has optimized them considerably, both in terms of scale of manufacturing and engineering.

But the tech behind the 2170 cell is old, and 4680 will be Tesla’s next leap forward. They previously tried with the much-maligned 4680 Model Y, but it was quickly pulled from sale. They tried again with the Cybercell—and that went much better. So much better, in fact, that Tesla is working on enhancing the Cybercell even further—using a Dry Cathode Process to make the cell easier and cheaper to manufacture.

The Trouble with 4680

According to The Information, an inside source at Tesla has said that Tesla is losing 70-80% of its anodes—one of the two parts that move electrons from the cell to the vehicle—in test production. Tesla has been working hard to solve this, and they recently demoed a Dry Cathode Process Cybertruck.

First prototype Cybertruck with in-house dry cathode 4680 cells – making it an all dry electrode vehicle pic.twitter.com/NzJxKQrRBp
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) August 2, 2024

The 4680 cell is the next leap in large battery packs, but it's a difficult leap to make. Tesla is having trouble moving its research and development to engineering, but it's just a matter of time. Today, the 4680 is primarily made at the Fremont factory in California, but Tesla intends to move parts of its future battery chain production to a new area outside Giga, Texas.

With that new zone, they intend to establish the 4680’s dry cathode process production facility—to produce the 4680D Cell. According to Musk, that move will cut the 4680's production costs by nearly 30%.

The New Batteries

The four cells that Tesla plans to introduce in 2026 have some interesting code names. The first is “NC05.” The NC stands for New Cell, but we’re sure Tesla will come up with a witty name once it comes out of R&D.

NC05 Battery

This cell is intended to be the easy-to-manufacture cell that will power the Cybercab and will likely also power the lower-cost $25,000 model—which we’re still expecting to see sometime next year.

NC20 Battery

The next size up, the NC20, is intended to power Tesla’s SUV lineup and the Cybertruck. This will be a larger-format cell intended for moving larger and heavier vehicles and possibly optimized for towing—a constraint the Cybertruck, on its current 4680s, can find challenging in harsh winter conditions.

NC30 & NC50 Batteries

The NC30 and NC50 are the other two cells that The Information lists, but they’ll be drastically different. They won’t be using the standard cell materials that we’ve seen used up to this point. This is where the focus of Tesla’s R&D likely lies - they intend to introduce cells using silicon carbon into the anodes. Silicon Carbon, or SiC, can hold and move electrons faster than traditional anode materials.

These cells are likely where Tesla will make significant strides in both faster charging times and improved energy output. The advanced anode design, which allows for greater energy transfer, is poised to play a crucial role in Tesla's push for ultra-fast Supercharging.

The NC30 will eventually end up in the Cybertruck and Tesla’s future SUV lineup - maybe a refreshed Model X or Model Y.

The NC50, on the other hand, will be focused on performance and a smaller cell. It’ll power the new Tesla Roadster and likely Tesla’s performance models, such as the Plaid, Performance, and Beast variants.

The Information didn’t provide any information on whether Tesla will utilize this tech on its Powerwalls or Megapacks just yet, but it's likely that both of those two products will see further cost optimization and efficiency gains as well.

We’re excited to see where Tesla takes its battery tech in the future, as charging times and vehicle range are still one thing preventing the mass adoption of electric vehicles.

We're Launching Our Redesign: See What's Included

October 17, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

We’ve been working behind the scenes on a few updates for our readers. We recently saw the unveiling of the Robotaxi and even some leaks of the Model Y refresh. This time, it's our turn for a refresh.

Let’s take a quick peek at the changes coming next week.

New Navigation

One key feature of our site refresh is an updated navigation. The new nav better organizes our content under one of three sections: News, Software Updates, or Guides. Once you tap on a category, you’ll be presented with the pages for that section.

This will also allow us to expose a lot more of our news content — letting you dig down into Robotaxi news, Project Juniper, or specific models. In a future update, we’ll also introduce a new Popular section, letting you easily catch up on news by viewing the best content on the site.

Dark Mode+

Not a Tesla App

Along with the new navigation and some tweaked site colors, we’re also happy to introduce an updated dark mode with new, smoother colors that will be easier on the eyes. It’ll keep our night owls happy and keep your eyes nice and comfy whether you’re using it during the day or night.

Auto-Updating Statistics

Not a Tesla App

We recently also launched auto-updating statistics for each of Tesla’s software updates. These stats let you view the number of installations and rollout of each Tesla update, giving you a better idea of which updates are still rolling out and which are paused.

More Features

We’re also actively working on a couple of other projects, so stay tuned for more features coming soon.

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