Tesla has released FSD Beta 11.4.1 update to employees, featuring significant architectural improvements that Elon Musk says should arguably qualify it as version 12.0. This update is more than just bug fixes. It contians new release notes, which likely build on top of the features from FSD Beta 11.4 version, which never made it beyond employee testing. In includes many enhancements that should make driving smoother and safer than ever.
Enhanced Control and Smoothness in Driving
The FSD Beta 11.4.1 update offers improved control through turns and overall smoothness by refining various aspects of lanes, lines, road edges, and restricted spaces. This results in a significant boost in the perception of lanes in city streets, forks, merges, and turns, thanks to an expanded and cleaner training set and an updated lane guidance module.
Boosted Perception and Detection Capabilities
With the addition of lane-guidance inputs to the Occupancy Network, the update delivers improved detections of long-range roadway features, reducing false negative median detections by 16%. Additionally, the update enhances motorbike recall by 8% and vehicle detection precision, making the system more robust against variances in vision frame rate.
Assertiveness and Lane Management Improvements
The FSD Beta 11.4.1 update showcases improvements in Tesla's assertiveness when dealing with crossing pedestrians, allowing the vehicle to cross safely before the pedestrian when possible. In addition, interventions caused by other cars cutting into the Tesla's lane have been reduced by 43% thanks to a new framework that anticipates such actions and proactively adjusts the car's position.
Speculating on the Release Date for Public Testers
The release date for FSD Beta 11.4.1 to public testers remains uncertain. Since version 11.4 has been in testing with some employees for three weeks, and 11.4.1 is a revision, we could see the update roll out to select public testers within the next few days. However, Tesla could also wait for another revision before releasing it more widely, depending on the success of the current testing phase. It's also unlikely this version will be given out as a one-month free trial.
An Unusual Version Number in Tesla's Update History
The choice of version number for the FSD Beta 11.4.1 is peculiar, but it isn't the first time Tesla has used unconventional version numbers this year. It remains unclear whether this update includes any features beyond those in the 2023.6 branch. Other unusual releases include 2022.45, 2023.2, and 2023.6, which deviate from Tesla's typical version naming.
Additional Features in FSD Beta 11.4.1
Even if FSD Beta 11.4.1 only includes features from the 2023.6 update, it will still be a significant upgrade for current testers on the 2022.45 FSD branch who are missing features from the 2023.2 and 2023.6 updates. Some notable features introduced in these updates include Sentry Mode Lighting improvements, improvements to Apple Music and more.
This FSD Beta update is also expected to include features from Beta 11.4, which includes enhanced navigation planning, improved vehicle handling in challenging weather conditions, better speed control in parking lots and during lane changes.
Tesla's FSD Beta 11.4.1 represents an exciting expansion of the features introduced in version 11.4 and subsequent updates. With major architectural improvements, enhanced control and smoothness, advanced perception and detection capabilities, and additional features from updates 2023.2 and 2023.6, this upgrade promises a significant step forward in Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology.
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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.
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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