Cybertruck and other Tesla references on The Simpsons throughout the years

Tesla's Cybertruck is featured in The Simpsons

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The Simpsons, one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, have had some epic cars in Springfield; now Tesla is on that elite list. The Cybertruck and Model X appeared in this past weekend's Simpson's Halloween special. The Teslas now join the Canyonero, which smells like a steak and seats 35, the Canyonero Hybrid, which gets 11 miles to the gallon, and The Homer, a car designed by Homer Simpson, as classic Simpson rides.

Treehouse of Horror XXXIII has the animated family in a version of Westworld where the amusement park staff use a Cybertruck to take the malfunctioning robots to a repair facility. Monorail Homer gets stuck in a catchphrase loop, and the humanoid robot is shut down by flicking a switch in his nose. He is then tossed into the back of a Cybertruck.

Tesla's Cybertruck is featured in The Simpsons

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Interesting placement of the killswitch; Elon Musk did say that Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot, would have a switch to shut down the unit. So it could be up Optimus' nose.

Tesla's time in Springfield continues in the next episode, Not It. The show has a hilarious take on Stephen King's IT, and appearing on screen for just a few seconds is a white Model X. The vehicle belongs to Comic Book Guy, who is married to Marge. It may be the second time the Model X has appeared in the Simpsons. In episode 716, released in December of 2021, Fit-Fat Tony becomes Maggie's Godfather and leases the Simpsons a "Luxus" SUV. Bart is later seen playing with the Falcon Doors.

The Model X opens its falcon doors and hits Bart Simpson

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The Tesla Roadster has also appeared in the Simpsons. In the fifth episode of season 32, a red Roadster is parked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio's mansion. Although there was a glaring error, the car was plugged in on the right side. The Model S has been in the show as well. Mr. Burns has a Model S that he charges at Richard Branson's house to avoid paying for electricity. Krusty the Clown also has a Model S. He uses Autopilot to hang out the window and attack Homer.

Mr. Burns charging his Model S

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Who can forget the episode The Musk Who Fell to Earth? Tesla's CEO voiced himself during the episode in season 26 where he lands in Homer's backyard, and the two become fast friends. Bart and Lisa go for a joyride in Elon's car, using the password MUSKRULEZ to disable FSD. However, the show takes a turn when Mr. Burns plans to kill Musk.

The Simpsons is notorious for predicting the future, so now that Cybertruck has been spotted on the streets in Springfield, it has to be coming to the real world soon.

Psychiatrist decked out in Tesla merchandise

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Kent Brockman, the news reporter on The Simpsons uses Tesla's Summon feature to call his Tesla.

Kent Brockman summons his Tesla

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A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

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Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

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Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

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Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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