Tesla to Add Driver Profiles to the Cloud, Giving You the Ability to Use Your Profile on Any Vehicle

February 23, 2021

By Nuno Cristovao

Teslas have tons of settings to help you customize your experience. These settings are either global and apply to all driver profiles or they are unique to your profile, allowing each driver to maintain unique settings.

These settings are only saved locally in the car, meaning that if you're lucky enough to own multiple Teslas, then your settings from your first vehicle would not carry over to your second vehicle.

In 2017, Elon Musk said on Twitter that Tesla will be migrating driver profiles to the cloud, and according to Tesla guru @GreenTheOnly, it looks like Tesla has started to test this feature. We would expect this to allow you to make changes to your driver profile and have them tied directly to your Tesla account and accessible from anywhere. This would allow your settings to be applied to any vehicle that you have access to.

We are going to move all info and settings to the "cloud" (aka server) so any Tesla you drive in the world automatically adjusts to you
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2017

For anyone that has multiple Tesla cars, this is going to be a fantastic addition. The ability to have your driver seat position, your radio stations, home and work addresses, AutoPilot settings and so much more would follow you from one vehicle to another is going to be really nice. However, the subtle advantages of this will be even wider spread. How about when you take your car in for service and get a loaner vehicle? To have your seat position and radio stations carry over to that vehicle will be a little wow moment.

How about once Tesla releases the Semi and truck drivers will be able to maintain all of their preferences when they switch trucks? And how about when Tesla is able to achieve FSD and you hop into one of their robotaxis and you're able to just resume your Netflix show right where you started off?

The benefits of this change in the short-term are really nice, but they could have an ever bigger impact down the road. This change is only available on development vehicles but if everything goes well we hope to see it available to everyone soon.

Currently inactive, but something to look forward to in the future I guess. pic.twitter.com/QPiwT5bc2O
— green (@greentheonly) February 23, 2021

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

September 22, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

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 Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

September 22, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

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

Tesla

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

eivissacopter / X

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.