Tesla has always been a bit different from your average car company. While legacy automakers are busy arguing over cup holder placements, Tesla has been busy baking sci-fi references and pop culture deep cuts into its software.
If you have ever sat in a Tesla, you know it feels more like a giant rolling smartphone than a vehicle. But what you might not know is that many of the features on your screen are actually inside jokes. From 1980s cult comedies to futuristic space travel, here is a breakdown of some of the names Tesla has given features or products with pop culture tie-ins
Plaid and Ludicrous (Spaceballs)
If you are a fan of the 1987 Mel Brooks classic Spaceballs, you already know exactly where these names came from. In the movie, which is a parody of Star Wars, the villainous Spaceball One ship has several speeds: Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed, Ludicrous Speed, and finally, "Going Plaid."
Tesla adopted these for its high-performance acceleration modes. Ludicrous Mode was the first big one, giving drivers a massive boost in 0-60 mph times. But when that wasn’t fast enough, Tesla released the Model S Plaid. In the movie, when the ship hits Plaid speed, the stars literally turn into a plaid pattern because they are moving so fast. Tesla even added a "Plaid" animation to their cars when you floor it, showing the same light-streak effect.
Not a Flamethrower
This one is technically a product from Musk’s Boring Company, but it is a massive part of the Tesla lore. Back in 2018, Musk decided to sell 20,000 "flamethrowers" to raise money for his tunnel-digging venture. The problem? Shipping something called a "flamethrower" is a legal nightmare.
To get around customs and shipping restrictions, he literally renamed the product "Not a Flamethrower." Musk later told podcaster Joe Rogan, “We are told that various countries would ban shipping of it, that they would ban flamethrowers.” It is essentially a large propane torch inside a plastic shell that looks like a sci-fi rifle, but the name stuck as one of the ultimate "if you know, you know" jokes in the community.
Joe Mode
Unlike the movie references, Joe Mode is named after a real person. In 2019, a Tesla owner named Joe messaged Musk on Twitter (now X) asking for a way to quiet down the car's beeps and chimes. Joe had kids sleeping in the back seat, and every time the car adjusted its lane or sensed a nearby vehicle, the loud "ding" would wake them up.
Musk replied, “Hoping to get ‘Joe Mode’ into V10.” True to his word, the feature rolled out shortly after. When you toggle Joe Mode on, it reduces the volume of non-critical system alerts by half. It’s a small tweak, but it’s a lifesaver for parents on long road trips.
Sentry Mode (Rick and Morty / Portal)
Sentry Mode is Tesla’s built-in security system that uses the car's cameras to record everything happening around it while parked. While the name "Sentry" sounds like it could be from any sci-fi flick, the voice commands are where the nerdiness really shines.
If you want to turn it on using your voice, you can say, “Keep Tesla safe” or “Keep Summer safe.” This is a direct quote verbatim from the Rick and Morty episode "The Ricks Must Be Crazy," where Rick tells his spaceship’s AI to protect Morty’s sister, Summer.
Additionally, if the car detects a potential threat, the screen will display a glowing red "eye." This is a nod to the sentient turrets from the video game Portal. It’s a subtle way of telling people they are being watched by a very smart, very sarcastic computer.
Mad Max Mode
If you look in the Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) settings, you might see an option for lane-change aggressiveness called Mad Max. Named after the post-apocalyptic movie franchise Mad Max, this mode makes the car much more assertive on the highway.
Instead of waiting for a massive gap in traffic to change lanes, Mad Max mode tells the car to take smaller openings and move more quickly around slower vehicles. It’s basically the "commuter in a rush" setting, though it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
Mars Mode (SpaceX)
If you have ever wanted to drive on the Red Planet, Mars Mode is as close as you will get without a ticket from SpaceX. When activated via the Toybox, your navigation map is replaced with a high-resolution rendering of the Martian surface. Your car’s avatar even swaps out for a Mars Rover.
Tesla recently updated this mode to be even more immersive. On newer models, the cabin’s ambient lighting shifts to a dusty orange, and the climate control screen shows red airflow to match the planet’s atmosphere. You can also activate it the old-school, more easter-egg-y way by tapping and holding the vehicle name in the software menu, then typing the access code "Mars."
Santa Mode
Perhaps the most famous holiday feature, Santa Mode turns your Tesla into a red sleigh pulled by reindeer. When you say the "Ho Ho Ho" voice command, the car starts playing "Run, Rudolph, Run" by Chuck Berry. If you say "Ho Ho Ho, Not Funny," it swaps to "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" instead.
On the Cybertruck, this mode gets a futuristic twist. Instead of Santa, a Tesla Optimus robot sits at the helm of a "Cyber-sleigh." Pedestrians on the screen turn into elves, and other cars become reindeer. If your car has external speakers, you can even "Spread Cheer" by playing the holiday music for everyone nearby to hear.
Tron Mode (Tron: Ares)
One of the newest additions to the Toybox is Tron Mode, a collaboration with Disney for the Tron: Ares film. This isn't just a simple skin; it’s a total overhaul of the driving visualization. Your car is replaced by a Lightcycle from the movie franchise that actually tilts into turns and leaves a glowing trail behind it on the screen.
Beyond the visuals, the mode adds a custom startup sound and uses the car’s ambient lighting to turn the cabin into "The Grid." Unlike Santa Mode, where the music volume is fixed, Tesla listened to feedback and allowed the Tron music to be paused using standard media controls. It sets a new high bar for how detailed these easter eggs can be.
Monty Python Easter Egg
In one of the easter eggs, Tesla pays homage to the cult classic Monty Python. Users can change their vehicle’s name to a variety of characters from Monty Python to activate the easter egg.
Upon activation, the Foot of Cupid comes crashing down onto the screen.
Rainbow Road (Mario Kart & SNL)
Tesla even pays homage to Nintendo. If you pull the right stalk down four times in rapid succession (or through the Toy Box) with Autosteer already engaged, the gray road on your instrument cluster transforms into a psychedelic, glowing Rainbow Road — a direct nod to the hardest level in Mario Kart.
To top it off, Tesla added an extra layer of humor to the experience. When this mode is active, you can get the car to play the "More Cowbell" skit from Saturday Night Live. It turns a standard highway drive into a bizarre, nostalgic party on wheels.
Tesla is constantly adding new features and easter eggs through software updates, so your car might have a few more secrets waiting in the Toy Box menu.
Have you found another reference to pop culture that we didn’t mention here? Let us know.
