Update to Add Tighter Turns for Cybertruck, Hidden Tow Hitch Revealed and Full Owner's Manual

By Kevin Armstrong
Not a Tesla App

Tesla's Cybertruck is already going to get an improvement, according to the CEO. We’ve also discovered a few more new and interesting pieces of information about the stainless steel beast.

Enhanced Turning Radius and Maneuverability

One of many cool things about Cybertruck is the four-wheel turning. But it is not good enough, according the Elon Musk. Cybertruck boasts a 9% better turning radius than the Ford F-150 Lightning. This translates to a turning circle of 43.5 feet (12.5 meters), an impressive achievement considering the size and design of the electric pickup. But Musk says it will get even better.

This maneuverability is largely due to the Cybertruck's four-wheel steering system, allowing the rear wheels to rotate opposite to the front wheels at lower speeds. This feature is especially useful in tight spaces, such as job sites and crowded parking lots, making the Cybertruck more agile and easier to handle.

Innovative Towing Capabilities

The Cybertruck is rated with a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs. A unique feature of the Cybertruck is its hidden tow hitch, which is cleverly concealed behind a removable cover in the rear bumper. This cover, located under the license plate holder, can be easily removed by opening three bumper clips with a flat-head screwdriver, as demonstrated by @VoyageATXBen. This design choice not only enhances the vehicle's aesthetic but also adds an element of surprise and sophistication to the truck's functionality.

Off-Road Mode and Granular Speed Control

Cybertruck also features an enhanced off-road mode, giving drivers more precise control over the vehicle's speed, offering MPH readings in 0.5 increments. Posted on X by @itskyleconner, this level of granularity is particularly beneficial for navigating challenging off-road terrains, ensuring a smoother and more controlled driving experience.

Owner's Manual on YouTube

Cybertruck's owner's manual has been shared online, offering detailed specifications and information about the electric pickup. This manual, featured in a video by T Sportline, is based on software version 2023.44.9 and includes a full table of contents. The video, described by the person who posted it as the world’s most boring video, scrolls through the entire Cybertruck manual. We didn’t see anything we didn’t already know, but if you spot something, let us know.

Since the delivery event, Cybertruck has dominated the EV headlines. While Cybertruck is now on the road, it is still a rare sight to see. That’s why these updates provided by the Tesla community, demonstrating interesting and cool things about this new vehicle, continue to generate excitement. For those million-plus holding a reservation, this is the closest we will get to our own Cybertruck for now.

Tesla Says 12V Power Socket Access Will Not Return With Sentry Mode

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

It turns out that the big undocumented change in Tesla update 2024.32 that disables the 12V power and USB ports while Sentry Mode is active is not a bug but an intentional change.

A fan contacted Tesla Service to see if the change was intentional and what the reason behind the change was. Surprisingly, they received a response pretty quickly.

No 12V Power Access

Tesla has decided to restrict 12V power access for safety reasons—namely, to “reduce the likelihood of thermal events” when third-party devices are left powered on without users present. Tesla reached out to the fan in question by phone, and they seemed to be sticking to that line.

It seems that Tesla is resolute that it was due to safety reasons and that the change would not be “fixed” or allowed in a future software update – as this was an intentional change for safety reasons.

Other sources have reported that the change was due to potential misuse of the 12V power access, with people wiring 1200w microwaves and kettles or jury-rigging 240v to 120v adapters, which had apparently been the cause of multiple fires in Tesla vehicles within China.

Workarounds

There are a couple workarounds, although neither are ideal. You can tap in to the vehicle’s 12v line directly to power your accessories, or you can use Camp Mode.

If you choose to enable Camp Mode, then you’ll need to manually lock the car from the app since walk-away door locking is disabled with Camp Mode. However, Camp Mode will use extra energy to keep the climate system enabled.

We’re still hoping Tesla considers bringing the Cybertruck’s Power Control menu to the rest of its vehicles and is somehow able to limit the max draw from these outlets to prevent dangerous situations.

Join Our Tesla Robotaxi Event Prediction Contest

By Karan Singh
Tesla

With the Robotaxi event just a day away, we thought it would be a fun idea to run a contest to predict what Tesla will announce tomorrow evening.

We’ve outlined a list of questions below; simply answer them on our forums or social media (X or Threads), and be entered for a chance to win some great prizes.

The individuals who have the most correct answers will win one of five prizes mentioned below. If more than five people get them all right, a random drawing will be held from the pool of winners.

We’ll reach out to the winners either by email or by DM on social media.

The Questions

  1. Will Tesla let attendees experience Robotaxi at the event?

  2. Will Tesla first start the network with human supervision (ridesharing), or with Robotaxis only?

  3. What year will the network start? When will it become fully autonomous? (if announced)

  4. When will Robotaxi production begin? (if announced)

  5. Will it be Robotaxi or Cybercab?

  6. Which of these Robotaxi Concepts will be the closest to the one announced?

  7. Will Robotaxi include:

    1. Front-facing camera?

    2. Stainless-steel body?

    3. Steer-by-Wire or No Steering Wheel? (if announced)

    4. Which current Tesla model has the most similar door-opening mechanism?

    5. How many seats will the robotaxi have?

  8. Will the robotaxi include AI5/Hardware 5, HW4 or something completely different?

  9. Where will Tesla’s first Rideshare/Robotaxi location be established?

  10. Will customers be able to purchase a Robotaxi?

Requirements

Please use the template below to answer the questions on social media or in our forums. You can post your answer as a comment to our forums, to our X post, or to our Threads post.

Once you do that, repost or quote post your favorite article from us.

1. Yes

2. Ridesharing

3. 2025/2027

4. 2025

5. Cybercab

6. Dominic's

7. Yes, Yes, SBW, No, 2

8. HW5

9. LA

10. Yes

Prizes

Prizes are generously provided by Enhance and Jowua, makers of some of the best Tesla accessories and amazing Tesla community members. Prizes will be mailed out directly by them. Winners will get to choose their prize from the list below. First place will have the first pick and so on. There will be five winners in total.

  • S3XY Buttons (including a commander and wiring)

  • S3XY Knob for Model 3/Y

  • Tesla Gaming Controller - Multi-Device Wireless Controller (Wireless Charging)

  • Tesla Gaming Controller - Multi-Device Wireless Controller (Wireless Charging)

  • Tesla Gaming Controller - Multi-Device Wireless Controller (Wireless Charging)

Disclaimer

This is a Tesla event, and Tesla normally likes to hold their cards close to their chest. If an answer is ambiguous, we’ll go with the best choice decided by our staff. We’ll do our best to be fair. This

With all that said, we wish our entrants the best of luck, and we’ll announce the winners at the end of the week.

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