The Cybertruck has a lightbar animation when the doors are unlocked
@omg_tesla / Not a Tesla App
We got another glimpse into the future of Tesla's Cybertruck. As the much-anticipated delivery event approaches on November 30, the stainless steel beast is now available in showrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Even now, just days before the big event, the Cybertruck still offers surprises.
The Cybertruck Owl: A Nod to Personalization
A recentsighting by omg_tesla has unveiled more elements. The Cybertruck owl is displayed on the infotainment system screen while Sentry Mode is activated. It's a unique element that adds a touch of personalization to the already over-the-top Cybertruck's interior experience. Everyone loves the owl as the t-shirt has been sold out in all sizes for months.
It's hard to say what the most iconic symbol of the Cybertruck is, but indeed, the headlights and a straight light bar across the front bumper symbolize this truck. The vehicle's light bar activates when the vehicle is unlocked. Seeing that bar turn on as the driver gets in is a showstopper.
Moreover, the Cybertruck's suspension behavior caught the eye. The truck raises to a medium suspension position once the driver gets inside the vehicle and presumably touches the brake. This observation also hints that the Cybertruck defaults to the lowest suspension setting when parked. While it's unclear if this is a standard feature or customizable, it certainly answers questions some of the less-tall potential owners had about getting in the beast.
Understanding Tesla's Suspension Philosophy
So many things will set the Cybertruck away from the pack, but the suspension is undoubtedly a headliner. Viewers of the video often mistook the truck's medium suspension setting for its highest due to the impressive elevation.
A few months back, Munro Live provided a deeper understanding of Tesla's suspension strategy. Contrasting competitors like Rivian, Tesla appears to favor a robust yet straightforward design, evident in the presence of an anti-roll bar and a dynamic damping actuator.
Munro Live's analysis emphasizes high-strength materials, balancing weight and durability. The unique design and layout of the suspension components, crafted for both on-road comfort and off-road prowess, highlight Tesla's dedication to efficiency and performance.
The latest sightings and insights into the Cybertruck's features, such as the adaptive light bar and suspension, reinforce Tesla's reputation for innovation. With the delivery event around the corner, Tesla enthusiasts and potential customers can look forward to a powerful, efficient vehicle packed with unique, user-centric features.
BREAKING: 2 UNSEEN FEATURES FROM CYBERTRUCK Cybertruck wake up light sequence, and raise to start (sitting in low, raising up to medium aka ride height) pic.twitter.com/IXmtaj6RqT
For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.
Price Increase
The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.
The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series.
The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.
Free Lifetime Supercharging
For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.
There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.
We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.
Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.
Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.
Optimus is Blind
Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer.
Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.
Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips.
What’s Next?
Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.
Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.
There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.
We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.
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