The Model X’s Trans-Siberian Orchestra light show easter egg is arguably one of the best easter eggs in Teslas.
The Model X's Light Show easter egg
If you haven’t seen the easter egg on the Model X, it’s quite impressive (video down below). During the light show, the Model X will flash its headlights, fog lights, and turn signals, while also opening and closing its doors and mirrors, all in tune with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
According to Sawyer Merritt, we may now see a similar light and sound show easter egg released for the Model 3 and Model Y in this year’s holiday update.
We will find out soon as the holiday update and FSD Beta 10.8 may start going out as soon as tomorrow, according to Elon Musk.
The Model 3 and Model Y don't feature powered doors like the Model X, but they do have a powered trunk/hatch in newer models that could be used.
Tesla would likely also take advantage of models that are equipped with an external speaker and use that as part of the easter egg as well.
Last year a Model 3 owner manually recreated the Model X's light show on their Model 3 to see how well it came out. It's not as impressive as the X's, but it's still enjoyable.
Tesla may even do something completely different that works better with the Model 3 and Model Y and take advantage of other components they can control such as the screen, dom lights, windows, etc.
If Tesla releases this easter egg for the Model 3 and Model Y, I would also expect Tesla to release it for the Model S since it has a similar feature set.
This will be an exciting week. We should know more soon.
Update:
It's confirmed that a Light Show feature is coming to not only the Model 3 and Model Y, but also the Model S. You can view all the known Holiday Update features here.
We’re eagerly anticipating Tesla’s biggest update of the year — the Holiday update. The update usually arrives in December, typically towards the end of the month. Last year, the rollout was actually earlier, happening in the second week of December.
As part of our ongoing series, we’re sharing our wishlist for features we hope to see in this year’s holiday update. This edition focuses on improvements to Tesla Maps and Autopilot.
User-contributed Map Data
Many users have asked for the integration of more Waze-like features into Tesla’s navigation. Earlier this year, Tesla added Speed Camera locations, traffic lights and stop signs to maps, but users really want it to be a Waze-like experience that lets you contribute data. This includes marking police car locations, accidents, construction, and more. We’re not sure how likely this is to happen. So far, Tesla has relied on the Google API and other vendors to highlight information on the map.
Avoid Highways Option
Users have been asking for an ‘Avoid Highways’ option forever, as it’s a standard option in navigation systems nowadays. While the Alternate Routes feature is helpful, it may not always provide a route that avoids the highway.
In June, Elon Musk confirmed that a “Avoid Highways” option would be added to Tesla navigation. We still haven’t seen it arrive, but we’re fairly confident that it will eventually be available in Tesla vehicles, maybe even for the Holiday update. What better way to enjoy a winter wonderland than to drive through some country roads instead of on the highway?
3D Buildings in Maps
Not a Tesla App
3D maps arrived in China earlier this year, and Google began rolling out 3D maps for various apps just last month. Apple already provides a 3D map with beautiful renderings of nearby buildings, and Rivian already features 3D buildings with an Apple-like look, so Tesla is playing catch-up a little bit here.
While 3D map support could be viewed as mostly eye candy, it can sometimes be useful when navigating an unknown area. Since the Intel infotainment processor is already near its limit and has excluded features in the past, such as improved visualizations and High Fidelity Park Assist, this feature could be limited to newer AMD-powered vehicles.
At Tesla’s recent Robotaxi event, we saw custom 3D maps in the vehicle with a specialized interface, so Tesla knows this is an appealing addition.
Full Screen Visualizations on Intel
BLKMDL3
This year Tesla added support for full screen Autopilot visualizations on AMD-based vehicles. Unfortunately the option to go full screen isn’t available on Intel vehicles, unless you’re in North America and have FSD.
There isn’t a clear reason why this is the case, since Intel vehicles can obviously handle them. It’d be nice if this holiday season Tesla expanded full-screen visualizations to all Intel vehicles, regardless of location.
Detect and Visualize Emergency Vehicles
Greentheonly/X
Tesla already detects emergency vehicles while on Autopilot, however, it doesn’t display them in the visualization any differently than a normal car. Tesla was planning on adding emergency vehicle visualizations as far back as 2021, but they didn’t happen for some reason.
Tesla recently announced that they’re going to step up emergency vehicle detection by not only detecting the vehicles visually but also using audio input as a cue. With FSD v13, which is expected to be released to Tesla employees this month, FSD will detect emergency vehicles using the vehicle’s internal microphone. This should let the vehicle know about emergency vehicles sooner. We’re hoping that on-screen visualization comes along with this update.
If it’s anything like Tesla’s 2021 implementation, Tesla will design emergency lights that could be added to various existing 3D models, such as cars, SUVs, and motorcycles.
FSD Visualizations in Other Regions
This one is long overdue, and we hope it finally arrives. Owners outside of North America have been paying for FSD for years and have almost nothing to show for it. Sure, it includes some features like Summon (with USS vehicles) and, more recently, Autopark, but it doesn’t even include Actually Smart Summon yet.
While Tesla says the FSD is coming to Europe and China in Q1/Q2 next year, it’d be a great addition to add FSD visualizations for the time being.
There’s no doubt that Tesla is already detecting objects and vehicles behind the scenes and comparing what the vehicle would do to what the driver does to help improve Autopilot in these markets. For some reason, Tesla has decided to show different visualizations depending on whether you have Autopilot or FSD and whether you live in North America or elsewhere.
Adding FSD visualizations for everyone, regardless of whether they have Basic Autopilot, EAP, or FSD, would be an exciting addition — and it may even increase the subscription rate to FSD.
Expand Basic Autopilot
Tesla’s Basic Autopilot includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Autosteer, but we’d love for Tesla to expand this further to match what other manufacturers are offering.
Right now, Tesla considers Navigate on Autopilot and automatic lane changes part of Enhanced Autopilot. This means that if you’re on Autopilot and want to change lanes, you need to disable AP, change lanes, and re-enable it. Since many regions no longer offer Enhanced Autopilot for purchase, users are forced to put up with this annoyance or pay for FSD, which isn’t offered as a subscription outside of North America.
By creating a clearer distinction between Autopilot (focused on highway driving) and FSD (designed for city driving), Tesla could improve the Autopilot experience for users while encouraging them to upgrade to FSD.
Actually Smart Summon
Actually Smart Summon is still mostly limited to North America, with some small regions such as Taiwan, also receiving it. However, it still requires you to hold the ‘come’ button currently. The next big leap would be to remove this requirement and enable users to summon their vehicles with a single tap. Tesla previously said this was coming in a future improvement to A.S.S.
Ideally, we’d see the reach of Actually Smart Summon expanded to Europe and other regions and improvements of the feature, although we’re much more likely to see the former for the Christmas update.
Cybertruck is also still waiting for Summon, so this could be an additional surprise.
Autoshift for All Cars
While Autoshift isn’t directly tied to Autopilot, it does leverage AI to decide whether to shift into reverse or drive. This feature has now been released on the new Model S, Model X, the new Model 3, and the Cybertruck. However, Musk once said that it would be added to all Tesla vehicles, so we’re hoping that’s still in the works.
There’s certainly no reason why Tesla can’t add it to older vehicles with stalks. For those not familiar with Autoshift, it allows the vehicle to automatically shift into reverse or drive when the driver is ready to start moving. This makes it even easier to get going: You simply get in the car, press the brake pedal, giving the vehicle a chance to shift, and then press the accelerator.
This is our second wishlist of features we’d love to see in Tesla vehicles this holiday season. If you haven’t seen our first wishlist, the Tesla App Edition, be sure to check it out.
While this is a list of the most popular user requests related to Tesla’s navigation and Autopilot features, we’re sure that there are some we missed. Let us know your thoughts and ideas in our forums.
There’s been a spade of Cybertruck announcements that just came up all at once, so let’s see what the polygonal truck is up to in the month of November. We’ve got a variety of topics to cover, starting with some disappointing news about Tesla’s in-house wrapping services, which are being discontinued for the Cybertruck. But don’t worry — there’s plenty of good news to follow.
No More Tesla Wraps
Tesla no longer offers wraps for the Cybertruck as an option for US customers. Tesla began wrapping vehicles earlier this year but stopped offering wraps for the Cybertruck as of November 13th.
This comes after Tesla previously reduced the color options for Cybertruck wraps from seven to five. However, this isn’t too big of an issue—there are plenty of companies that specialize in vehicle wraps.
The reason Tesla stopped offering wrap services for the Cybertruck isn’t clear. Was there not enough demand? Did it take up too much time from technicians who are already stretched thin?
Given the long repair backlogs in the United States, it makes more sense to have service technicians focus on vehicle repairs rather than spending time wrapping cars.
Inventory Foundation Series
The Cybertruck Foundation Series is now available as an inventory vehicle in certain locations in the United States. That means you can pick up a Foundation-series truck with little to no delay.
Only a few trucks are currently in stock, but this will likely expand as Tesla continues to ramp production and begins to offer the non-Foundation Series trucks as inventory vehicles.
These inventory vehicles are only available in the United States. Canadian owners will still need to put down a deposit for a Foundation Series Cybertruck to get it soon.
Crossbars
Tesla has just announced it is offering a new set of crossbars for the Cybertruck. With a load rating of 200 lbs, it’s on par with roof racks for other trucks. These crossbars also come with mounting pads and quick releases. There are also slots for attaching ski racks, bike racks, or even cargo boxes, letting owners expand the truck's storage capacity.
Interestingly, the Foundation Series trucks can install the crossbars over the cabin or the truck bed, while the non-Foundation Series can only mount the crossbars over the truck bed. That isn’t the greatest news - because one of the best uses for these crossbars is protecting the cabin glass when you’ve got items like long wooden planks hanging over the roof of the truck. Maybe we’ll see more on this soon.
The mounting points for the Cybertruck's crossbars.
Not a Tesla App
Update: It turns out that you can, in fact, install the crossbars anywhere on a non-Foundation series vehicle. You’ll just have to pay for an additional roof applique, according to Wes Morril, Lead Engineer of the Cybertruck Program.
Faster Charging
Tesla announced updated versions of the V4 Supercharger, with a more powerful electrical cabinet that can charge the Cybertruck at up to 500kW. That’s an insanely fast speed—nearly 1,300 mi/hr of charging. This will come as part of a future update for the Cybertruck and as V4 Supercharger stations begin to be deployed.
That’ll make the Cybertruck the fastest-charging Tesla - even with its enormous battery.
![Tesla Unveils V4 Superchargers Capable of Charging at 500kW [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/charging/v4_supercharger.jpg/e6e109be929ba0765b4303a7e9d5bb7d/v4_supercharger.jpg)
![First Look at Tesla's New 'Service History' Feature [Photos]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/service-mode/service-mode-records-4.jpg/8dd9d11fd3f5159c393831cbd9f4815a/service-mode-records-4.jpg)
![Andrej Karpathy considers returning to Tesla to work on Optimus [video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/images/news/2022/karpathy-podcast_300w.jpg)
