Issue 293 - Cybertruck's perfect panel gaps

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Software updates

Elon confirms Tesla FSD v12 is rolling out to employees
Tesla's FSD version 12 (v12) is now being internally rolled out to employees, as part of the update 2023.38.10. This version is expected to remove the "beta" label from FSD. The rollout coincides with upcoming major Tesla events, potentially showcasing v12's improvements. A key change in v12 is the elimination of over 300,000 lines of code, replaced by a greater reliance on neural networks for vehicle control, marking a significant shift in Tesla's approach to autonomous driving technology. v12 aims at taking a big step forward in FSD, having a system that is more human-like and can adapt better to all driving conditions.

2023.44.1 - Front camera washer, new JS player, and interior camera-activated HOV 📷
Green poked around the new 2023.44.1 firmware (as always) and discovered a few really interesting details:

Not only will some models carry a front camera, but there will also be a button to wash it.
Addition of Shaka Player, an open-source JS player for different media.
Enabling the use of the cabin camera to turn on and off the HOV lane use.
Media playback speeds added (1.25x and 1.5x) that will be useful when listening to podcasts.

Under the hood

Tesla 'Fully Open Source' Original Roadster Design and Engineering, Releases R&D Docs
Tesla has declared the design and engineering of its original Roadster as 'fully open source', making the related research and development documents available to the public. The original Roadster, which ceased production over a decade ago, was a limited run with just over 2,000 units produced. This new open-sourcing move, announced unexpectedly by Elon Musk, allows for the potential creation of replicas and offers comprehensive access to the vehicle's design and engineering details. This initiative marks a more concrete step towards open-sourcing compared to Tesla's 2014 decision not to sue for patent infringement. I personally love to see Tesla opening more manuals and repair manuals; great move!

Model 3

Tesla’s refreshed Model 3 includes ‘Active Hood’ pedestrian safety feature 📷
Tesla's updated Model 3 now features a new "Active Hood" safety system, designed to enhance pedestrian protection during collisions. This system automatically raises the hood's rear portion by about 80 mm when an impact with a pedestrian or cyclist is detected at speeds between 30 and 52 km/h. The Active Hood's deployment triggers a touchscreen alert and a collision chime, and it requires service center attention afterward. The system, which uses sensors and algorithms, was previously available in the Tesla Model S and X, but not in the pre-refresh Model 3. Other added safety features include double dampeners on the trunk and metal hooks for door alignment in crashes.

Tesla Model 3 Performance locked in for early 2024 debut
With the introduction of Highland, Tesla didn't introduce a Performance variant, but we all knew it was only a matter of time before Tesla would release it, given that the Performance trim is the one with the highest margins. According to this article, Tesla's Model 3 Performance is set to make a comeback in early 2024, featuring significant upgrades. The new model is expected to have a more aggressive body kit, interior design tweaks, trim upgrades, and an evolved Track mode.

Cybertruck

Cybertruck sequential lightbar 📹
This is my first time seeing this lighting effect when waking up the Cybertruck, it looks neat! A couple of interesting details, you can see the 4 wheel steering when pulling out of the stall and the Cybertruck's air suspension rising when the car starts, something that we have seen in the S and X.

Tesla Cybertruck delivery event 📷
More details for the Cybertruck event: it will be at 2 pm CT or 12 pm Pacific on November 30th, and it will be streamed on X.

Tesla Cybertruck's immaculate build quality and perfect panel gaps
As we included last week, Tesla has been delivering Cybertrucks to its showrooms ahead of the November 30th delivery event. Many Tesla enthusiasts and curious have traveled to their local showrooms for a close-up with the truck. Since then, we have seen many many posts on social media highlighting its build quality and perfect panel gaps. I hope Tesla continues this as they ramp production and it isn't some handpicked cars.

🤓 What the acronym
As a Tesla fan, I find myself sometimes having to remember what are all those acronyms, here is a list of the ones you can find in this issue.

FSD: Full Self-Driving
HOV: High-occupancy vehicle

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