In early 2021, Tesla announced a redesigned Model S sedan and Model X SUV. Updates for the new electric vehicles include an improved powertrain and a fresh interior. The biggest change, however, is the new steering wheel, which is fundamentally different from anything previously seen on the company’s production models. Rather, it is a steering wheel that does not have an upper semicircle, making it easier for the driver to read the dashboard.
However, the steering wheel is not the only part that Tesla got rid of during the restyling of the S and X models. The new electric vehicles will not have a gear lever: the company plans to replace it with a system called Smart Shift.
Tesla said that now cars will use their autopilot sensors and artificial intelligence to automatically determine the intended driving modes. For example, if an electric car is parked in the garage in front of the inside, then the autopilot itself will guess to engage reverse gear when the driver releases the brake pedal.
And while Tesla plans to make Smart Shift the primary way to shift gears inside a car, manual direction will remain. The driver will be able to correct movement using a force touchscreen located on the center console. Instead of buttons, the user will have to click and drag a small car icon in the upper left corner of the scroller. For example, in order to manually start the car, you need to drag the slider up, and in order to change the position back – down.
Most likely, it will not be very convenient to use the new system. Firstly, the program does not indicate the D and R labels, which inform which gear the car is in. Secondly, there is a possibility that drivers will switch the electric car in the wrong direction, which will lead to emergency situations. Thirdly, if the screen breaks, users will not be able to change gears. However, it is assumed that often you will not have to resort to the help of a sensor device, since in typical situations the automation will cope with everything on its own.
Deliveries of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV are known to begin in spring 2021. The updated models start at $ 121,190.
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