News
Tesla shares new Cybertruck features: Diff locks, Baja Mode, CyberTent Mode, and more
Tesla has provided a list of new features that are rolling out to the Cybertruck soon. From a dedicated Baja Mode to locking differentials and a CyberTent mode, the Cybertruck is receiving a series of features that are designed to make the all-electric pickup truck into an even more capable off-road adventure vehicle.
Tesla announced the list of the Cybertruck’s upcoming features in a post on the all-electric pickup truck’s official account on X. As per the EV maker, the features it listed will be rolling out soon. Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill also noted that the update with the Cybertruck’s new features is now being installed on Wave 1 vehicles.
Off-Road Mode and more updates rolling out soon
Here’s what’s coming…
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Off-Road Mode
Overland Mode – More consistent handling & better overall traction while driving on rock, gravel, deep snow, or sand.
Baja Mode – Vehicle balance is improved & the vehicle handles more… pic.twitter.com/3h4MRWOVLw— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) April 29, 2024
Following are the new features that are being rolled out for the Cybertruck.
Off-Road Mode
Overland Mode – More consistent handling & better overall traction while driving on rock, gravel, deep snow, or sand.
Baja Mode – Vehicle balance is improved & the vehicle handles more freely when Stability Assist is set to Minimal.
-->Locking Differentials (Dual Motor AWD) | Off-Road Mode
On uneven or slippery terrain, if a wheel has limited or no traction, Cybertruck can direct that torque to the opposite wheel.
In Off-Road Mode, choose from Locking Differentials options on the vehicle status area or in the Off-Road app.
Off road mode got an app! (And yes, lockers)
On the left side you get a vitals page and the right side are your one-touch controls, these change depending on which mode you are in.
There are two main modes: 'Overland' for technical driving and 'Baja' for more dynamic action… pic.twitter.com/U1HDvqMTEN— Wes (@wmorrill3) April 29, 2024
Front Locking Differential (Cyberbeast Tri Motor) | Off-Road Mode
Go to Off-Road Mode > Overland to enable Locking Differential feature. Cyberbeast tri motor has a virtual rear locked differential which is always working in overland mode.
Trail Assist | Off-Road Mode
It’s like cruise control, but for off-roading. Trail Assist helps maintain a set cruising speed so you can focus on steering. Trail Assist works as both a hill ascent and descent control helping to keep the wheels from slipping.
Off-Road Mode > Trail Assist
-->In 'Overland' mode you get a focus on technical traction, you can of course vary the ride height from High to Very High to Extract
You can change the 'Surface' slider to suit your situation:
All Purpose – exactly as it sounds, best all around mode
Rock – Defaults the ride… pic.twitter.com/ShWLiSg11Z— Wes (@wmorrill3) April 29, 2024
Slippery Surface | On-Road
Better traction control on snowy, icy, wet, or slick roads to distribute traction evenly across all tires.
Dynamics > Slippery Surface
Dynamics > Engage Rear Locking Differential for increased traction (should be used temporarily only)
Ride and Handling with a Load | On-Road
Adaptive suspension now estimates payload more accurately & automatically adjusts damping to deliver a more comfortable ride & more consistent, confident handling.
Tent mode – uses the vehicles air suspension to level the bed, for a comfortable sleeping experience
The front lightbar, bed lights, and tail lights are all independently controllable as ambient lights. When you install the off road light bar you can also control the ditch… pic.twitter.com/Zmj6HiBSQx— Wes (@wmorrill3) April 29, 2024
CyberTent Mode
Levels the suspension so you can sleep comfortably on a flat surface in your CyberTent.
-->Also keeps the tonneau cover open to accommodate your tent. Lights, AC & outlets will stay on as well if enabled.
An apparent video of the Cybertruck’s new features, or at least some of them, were shown in a recent video from Top Gear. As could observed by the Top Gear hosts, Tesla’s Cybertruck update did make the all-electric pickup truck a competent off-roader that could stand toe-to-toe to the Rivian R1T, a vehicle that could, in a way, be considered as the current standard for all-electric off-road adventures.
Watch the Cybertruck’s new features in action in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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News
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise for its smoother performance and smarter decision-making.
Videos and firsthand accounts from Tesla owners highlight V14.2.1 as an update that improves navigation responsiveness, sign recognition, and overall fluidity, among other things. Some drivers have even described it as “more alive than ever,” hinting at the system eventually feeling “sentient,” as Elon Musk has predicted.
FSD V14.2.1 first impressions
Early adopters are buzzing about how V14.2.1 feels less intrusive while staying vigilant. In a post shared on X, Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic described the update as a “huge leap forward,” adding that the system remains “incredibly assertive but still safe.”
Another Tesla driver, Devin Olsenn, who logged ~600 km on V14.2.1, reported no safety disengagements, with the car feeling “more alive than ever.” The Tesla owner noted that his wife now defaults to using FSD V14, as the system is already very smooth and refined.
Adverse weather and regulatory zones are testing grounds where V14.2.1 shines, at least according to testers in snow areas. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt shared a video of his first snowy drive on unplowed rural roads in New Hampshire, where FSD did great and erred on the side of caution. As per Merritt, FSD V14.2.1 was “extra cautious” but it performed well overall.
-->Sign recognition and freeway prowess
Sign recognition also seemed to show improvements with FSD V14.2.1. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted a clip from his upcoming first-impressions video, showcasing improved school zone behavior. “I think it read the signs better,” he observed, though in standard mode, it didn’t fully drop to 15 mph within the short timeframe. This nuance points to V14.2.1’s growing awareness of temporal rules, a step toward fewer false positives in dynamic environments.
FSD V14.2.1 also seems to excel in high-stress highway scenarios. Fellow FSD tester @BLKMDL3 posted a video of FSD V14.2.1 managing a multi-lane freeway closure due to a police chase-related accident. “Perfectly handles all lanes of the freeway merging into one,” the Tesla owner noted in his post on X.
FSD V14.2.1 was released on Thanksgiving, much to the pleasant surprise of Tesla owners. The update’s release notes are almost identical to the system’s previous iteration, save for one line item read, “Camera visibility can lead to increased attention monitoring sensitivity.”
News
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
Tesla has kicked off passenger ride-alongs for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Italy, France and Germany. The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
The program, detailed on Tesla’s event pages, arrives ahead of a potential early 2026 Dutch regulatory approval that could unlock a potential EU-wide rollout for FSD.
Hands-Off Demos
Tesla’s ride-along invites participants to “ride along in the passenger seat to experience how it handles real-world traffic & the most stressful parts of daily driving, making the roads safer for all,” as per the company’s announcement on X through its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account.
Sign-ups via localized pages offer free slots through December, with Tesla teams piloting vehicles through city streets, roundabouts and highways.
“Be one of the first to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from the passenger seat. Our team will take you along as a passenger and show you how Full Self-Driving (Supervised) works under real-world road conditions,” Tesla wrote. “Discover how it reacts to live traffic and masters the most stressful parts of driving to make the roads safer for you and others. Come join us to learn how we are moving closer to a fully autonomous future.”
-->Building trust towards an FSD Unsupervised rollout
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) ride-alongs could be an effective tool to build trust and get regular car buyers and commuters used to the idea of vehicles driving themselves. By seating riders shotgun, Tesla could provide participants with a front row seat to the bleeding edge of consumer-grade driverless systems.
FSD (Supervised) has already been rolled out to several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and partially in China. So far, FSD (Supervised) has been received positively by drivers, as it really makes driving tasks and long trips significantly easier and more pleasant.
FSD is a key safety feature as well, which became all too evident when a Tesla driving on FSD was hit by what seemed to be a meteorite in Australia. The vehicle moved safely despite the impact, though the same would likely not be true had the car been driven manually.
News
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
