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Top 10 Tesla Cybertruck hidden features you may have missed

(Credit: The Fast Lane Truck/YouTube)

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The Tesla Cybertruck is loaded to the teeth with technology that the vehicle is practically a mystery box of hidden features. Couple this with the fact that the vehicle’s unveiling did not really go as planned, as well as CEO Elon Musk pretty much rushing through the truck’s presentation following the pickup’s Armor Glass demo, and many of the Cybertruck’s noatbly cool features remained unsaid.

Fortunately, some of these hidden features have been spotted by the Tesla community, thanks to photographs and videos of the vehicle taken during the unveiling event, as well as images that were released by the electric car maker in the Cybertruck’s press kit. With this in mind, following are the Tesla Cybertruck’s Top 10 hidden features that may have been missed during last week’s unveiling event. Let’s dig in.

Center Fold-Down Front Seat Cup Holders and Storage Area

(Credit: Shmee150/YouTube)

The Tesla Cybertruck is equipped with three seats on the front, though the middle acts more like a smaller jump seat. As could be seen in test ride videos of the vehicle, this middle seat actually folds down to become a large center armrest. Interestingly, this center armrest doubles as a storage compartment. It also has three cup holders that are fitted right at the middle seat’s back headrest, along with a spare change holder (aka “junk cubby”) for random knick knacks.

Interior Lighting Strip for Rear Seats

(Credit: Tesla)

Despite its unapologetically futuristic, brutalistic exterior, the interior of the Tesla Cybertruck is actually quite welcoming. Upon entering the vehicle, passengers are greeted by a cavernous interior and a massive glass roof that would surely be a treat for those who love camping in their vehicle. The rear seats are also fitted with an interior lighting strip on the sides, providing illumination for the truck’s passengers at the back. The lights are white too, giving an additional futuristic, Tron-like flair for the Cybertruck’s exterior.

Sun Visor is Flush Against the A-Pillar

(Credit: JerryRigEverything/YouTube)

Among the clever features of the Cybertruck is its sun visor, which flushes against the A-Pillar. This would be particularly useful considering that the pickup has a massive windshield that may very well dwarf the Model X’s already-expansive windshield in sheer size.

Rear Armrest, Pass-Through for Extra-Long Cargo

(Credit: Tesla)

The Tesla Cybertruck has a large center armrest in the rear that looks to double as support for extra-long cargo. The all-electric pickup is already equipped with a 6.5-foot bed, which is pretty substantial, but for those who wish to haul even lengthier cargo, the center armrest can fold down and act as a pass-through for items that exceed 6.5 feet. 

Scroll Wheels on the Steering Wheel

(Credit: Teslarati)

The Tesla Cybertruck is fitted with a steering yoke that looks very similar to the one used by the company in its next-generation Roadster prototype. This would likely be changed into a regular steering wheel when the vehicle enters production, but based on test rides of the pickup, it appears that the Cybertruck will utilize Model 3-esque steering wheel controls, complete with the sedan’s scroll wheels.

Autopilot Camera in Fender

(Credit: Teslarati)

Similar to Tesla’s other prototypes like the next-generation Roadster or the Semi during its unveiling, the Cybertruck is not equipped with traditional side mirrors. Instead, the vehicle would likely use a pair of Autopilot cameras in its front fender. Considering existing regulations in regions such as the United States, there is a pretty good chance that the Cybertruck will be equipped with traditional side mirrors when it enters production.

L-Track Rails and T-Slots

(Credit: The Verge/YouTube)

The Cybertruck is fitted with L-track rails and T-slots that allow users to place anchor points anywhere in the vehicle’s expansive 6.5-foot bed. This is key to transporting items that may otherwise move about on the pickup’s bed during transport if they are not tied down. With these components in place, Tesla Cybertruck owners would be able carry even fragile items on the rear in a secure manner.

Flush Tonneau Truck Bed Cover Activation Buttons

(Credit: Teslarati)

The Tesla Cybertruck utilizes a motorized tonneau bed cover that can be engaged and disengaged by a flush button on the vehicle’s rear. These buttons, which are notably large and easy to reach, are found on both sides of the vehicle.

Hidden storage underneath vault bed

(Credit: Tesla)

The Tesla Cybertruck is full of storage areas, one of which is found on the bottom of the vehicle’s 6.5-foot bed itself. Based on images provided by Tesla, this space appears to be large enough to store medium-sized items such as toolboxes and sleeping bags, for those extended outdoor trips.

Hidden storage in sail pillar

(Credit: Tesla)

For those who wish to use the Cybertuck for work, the futuristic pickup truck is fitted with a hidden storage compartment in its sail pillar. Images of the space shown during a slide at the Cybertruck’s unveiling suggest that the storage areas in the vehicle’s sail may be enough to fit some tools or similarly-sized items.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla brings Model Y L ‘Launch Series’ to the U.S. at $61,990

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Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L in the United States and Puerto Rico for $61,990. It is the longer-wheelbase version of the Model Y, and has been available in China since last year.

Tesla brings the Model Y L to the U.S. just months after it phased out the only pure SUV in its lineup, the Model X. It is slightly longer than the Model Y configurations that are already available in the U.S., and features a three-row, six-seat setup with Captain’s Chairs being among the many features that make this a truly fantastic offering.

The Model Y L is priced competitively at $61,990, and features 325 miles of range and a 0-60 MPH in just 4.4 seconds.

Tesla also added a handful of new features that are not available in even the Premium Model Y. Here’s a full list of its features:

  • Heated/Ventilated Front Seats with Powered Thigh Cushion
  • Heated/Ventilated Captain’s Seats in Second Row with Powered Armrests & One-Touch Fold
  • Heated Third-Row Seats with Power Recline, One-Touch Fold & Child Seat Anchors
  • Improved Airflow, Increased Efficiency, More Range
  • 89 cubic feet of trunk space
  • Upgraded Acoustic Glass and Suspension to Minimize Road Noise
  • Adaptive Damping for a Smooth, Stable Ride
  • Staggered Tires for Enhanced Grip
  • Larger Tailgate for Better Rear Visibility and Bigger Windows Overall
  • 16″ First Row and 8″ Second Row Touchscreens
  • 19-Speaker Immersive Tesla Audio
  • 50W Wireless Charging Pads with Active Cooling and Charging Ports for All Other Seats
  • FSD Supervised and Integrated Grok AI

Tesla is also delivering these first units as a “Launch Series,” which comes with additional features, such as:

  • Door Trim Puddle Lights
  • Suede Dashboard Wing
  • Exterior and Interior Badging
  • Floor Mats
  • Sill Plates

The launch of the Model Y L in the U.S. marks a huge offering from Tesla to U.S. consumers. People have been calling for Tesla to bring a larger car to the U.S., and it needed it more than ever now that the Model X is gone.

It is a huge accomplishment for Tesla to get the Model Y L to the U.S., and after reporting strong deliveries today, it will be interesting to see how this car impacts future quarterly delivery reports.

Deliveries for the Model Y L “Launch Series” are slated for September or October of this year.

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Tesla just told us twice that Model Y L is coming to the U.S.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla just told us twice that the Model Y L is coming to the U.S., and two social media posts definitely just tipped the company’s hand, as if they wanted it to be any other way.

The two social media posts basically confirm that the slightly longer version of the Model Y will be heading to the United States soon, and many have speculated that the company could launch the vehicle as soon as this weekend.

The first post was directly from Tesla, and it showed an incredibly long Dachshund, with words above that said, “Looking forward to the long weekend.”

Anyone who knows Tesla knows the company loves to troll its fans and have fun, and this is a perfect example of that. While not a direct acknowledgement, Tesla is very involved on social media, especially CEO Elon Musk’s platform X, and the company is well aware of what is being discussed within the community.

With recent sightings of Model Y L test mules in California, peeks of the vehicle at Giga Texas, and a large call for the car to come to the U.S., Tesla is simply stoking conversation with this.

However, the company also made another move that was recognized on social media. Tesla has a large gallery that includes photos of its products so media and others can use them. This gallery applies to the U.S. market specifically, unless otherwise specified.

Tesla uploaded a Model Y L to the Gallery last night:

This seems to be another indication that the Model Y L is coming to the United States.

Musk said last year that the Model Y L could make its way to the United States late this year, but it was not something that was set in stone by Tesla. The company definitely needs to establish something in the SUV market that is larger than the Model Y, and the Model Y L might be the answer.

Even still, there are consumers out there who would love Tesla to develop something even larger, like a competitor to the Tahoe or Expedition. Tesla has not really given much of an indication that it will go in that direction.

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Tesla is using vehicle microphones to improve build quality: here’s how

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is using the vehicles’ internal microphones to improve build quality, Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy revealed recently.

It’s no secret that Tesla is always finding ways to make its manufacturing operations more efficient, accurate, and valuable. Constantly trying to make its cars better, the company has never placed any restrictions on what it will do to improve everything from panel gaps to paint.

As Teslas have been driving autonomously on the property of the Gigafactory Texas plant for a while now, Moravy revealed to Herbert Ong in a new interview that cars rolling off production lines now autonomously navigate themselves through a bumps, squeaks, and rattles (BSR) portion of the line. This helps to identify any loose or improperly installed internal parts.

The cabin’s microphones, which are used for a variety of things in ownership, simultaneously monitor any noises inside the vehicle while it rolls through the BSR portion of the production line. Moravy actually revealed that Tesla is trying to build “Full Self-Hearing,” an AI system that will detect minor imperfections so they can be corrected before delivery.

It’s no secret that build quality is something that Tesla struggled with as it scaled to a fully massive production operation that manufactures over 1.6 million vehicles per year. However, in recent years, especially, there have not been as many complaints. Tesla has truly improved upon its build quality and paint quality over the past several years, especially in the U.S.

Tesla’s ‘megacasts’ are key to massive build quality improvements

While those improvements have been evident, there are still some complaints; no automaker is perfect with this. But this step will now ensure that every single car that rolls off the production lines at Gigafactory Texas will be void of any creaks, squeaks, or squeals when it leaves the factory.

This measure is one of the most unique we’ve seen in terms of a strategy to avoid build quality issues, but it is not exclusive to Tesla.

Ford uses acoustic analysis AI to find abnormalities in seat motors, climate control units, and other components. Suppliers and OEMs will also use microphone arrays or particle velocity sensors in end-of-line stations.

The full interview with Lars Moravy is available below:

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