Software Recall
Electric vehicle giant Tesla (TSLA) has issued a voluntary recall on 362,758 vehicles that were equipped with Full Self-Driving, or FSD, which is the company’s experimental driver-assistance software. The recall notice was posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
However, CEO Elon Musk was quick to point out that, since FSD can be fixed with a software update rather than extensive industrial repairs, this scenario is quite different from a traditional product recall.
What’s Wrong?
It looks like the term Full Self-Driving might still be a bit of a stretch. The optional installation, available only to drivers with high safety scores, is designed to allow Teslas to navigate complex urban environments independent of driver input. However, the system itself doesn’t get top marks in terms of safety – particularly around intersections. It’s been known to proceed straight while in a turn-only lane or roll through stop signs without caution.
Despite the misleading program name, the product recall stated, “the driver is responsible for operation of the vehicle whenever the feature is engaged and must constantly supervise the feature and intervene (e.g., steer, brake or accelerate) as needed to maintain safe operation of the vehicle.”
Although FSD can be installed in any new Tesla, the system is priced at a premium of $15,000. Tesla has not disclosed how many people have purchased the FSD package.
Hands on the Wheel
Musk has already gone on record to state that Full Self-Driving is “the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money or worth basically zero.” With this in mind, investors will be keeping a close eye on this recall, as well as any future updates to FSD.
Meanwhile, if you drive a Tesla that’s equipped with the premium FSD software installed, then you can expect an over-the-air software update in the coming days. But for those drivers – as well as those on the streets with them – you’ll want to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road until this experimental system finishes the testing phase.
(And, if recent evidence is anything to go off, even after.)
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Every Tesla car, compared
Tesla’s streamlined product portfolio makes it easier than most manufacturers to directly compare its vehicles.
There are far fewer complicated trim options and extra technology, performance and safety packages to wade through, and just four different types of vehicles to pick from. Even the color palette is limited to just a handful of options, keeping things simple when it comes to making your purchase.
In this article, we have lined up every car Tesla currently sells, ranging from the entry-level Model 3, right up to the new ‘Plaid’ version of Model S, which is available for pre-order ahead of deliveries beginning at the end of 2021.
We have decided to include the cash price before incentives for every vehicle, as the incentives available vary by location.
Many features are the same across the Tesla product range, including much of the interior with its heated, power-adjustable seats, giant touchscreen with apps and games and wireless phone charging.
Autopilot is also included with all new Teslas, enabling them to steer, accelerate and brake automatically on certain roads. This is an advanced driver assistance system, but it is not yet designed to function without the driver paying full attention.
An additional package called Full Self-Driving Capability costs $8,000. This includes a feature that lets the car follow the navigation system when on the highway, dealing with on and off ramps, interchanges, and the overtaking of slower vehicles. It also includes automated parallel and perpendicular parking, and the Summon feature where the car will drive itself to its owner (on private land only, like a parking lot). Tesla says automatic steering on city streets is “upcoming.”
Full Self-Driving Capability can be bought after the car is purchased, via a software update, but Tesla says prices “are likely to increase over time with new future releases.” It also says the current features, as of October 2020, “require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
Read more:
Tesla
The Model 3 is Tesla’s smallest car, and is intended to compete against the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 in the compact premium sedan segment (although the Model 3 is technically a hatchback).
All versions of Model 3 come with a central storage console, four USB-C ports and two smartphone wireless charging points. They also all come with a tinted glass roof, power folding, auto-dimming and heated side mirrors, Bluetooth and the ability to add a custom profile for each driver.
Only the white paint option is free with the Model 3, with paid-for options being black, silver, blue and red. These all cost $1,000, apart from red which is $2,000.
All versions of the Model 3 come with a black interior with wooden dashboard as standard. An option with white seats and door panels, and a silver dashboard, costs an additional $1,000. The Standard Range Plus and Long Range versions of Model 3 come with two wheel options, the free 18-inch Aero Wheels and the $1,500 19-inch Sport Wheels. The Performance version is only offered with the free 20-inch Uberturbine Wheels.
GearBrain
The entry-level Model 3 has a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. It has an estimated range of 263 miles (as it was recently updated and hasn’t yet received its EPA-tested range figure), a top speed of 140 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.
This car has what Tesla calls a “partial premium interior”, which includes 12-way power adjustable heated front seats and free access to the Premium Connectivity pack for 30 days. This includes satellite maps and live traffic data, internet streaming for music and media, video streaming, a karaoke app and an internet browser. After the 30-day free trial this package costs $10 a month if the owner wants to keep using it.
Tesla
The mid-range Model 3 is called the Long Range and it has two electric motors delivering all-wheel-drive. It has an estimated range of 263 miles (again, Tesla is waiting on the EPA figures), a top speed of 140 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.
Inside, the Long Range gets Tesla’s premium interior, which is the same as mentioned above but includes a year’s free access to Premium Connectivity (which is $10 after that), plus LED fog lamps, heated rear seats (as well as front) and floor mats fitted as standard.
Color and wheel options (and prices) are the same as the Standard Range Plus.
Tesla
The flagship of the Model 3 line is the Performance, which is also all-wheel-drive, has an EPA estimated range of 315 miles, a top speed of 162 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds.
The Model 3 Performance comes with only one choice of wheel, the new 20-inch Uberturbines, and paint options (and costs) are the same as mentioned above. The Performance car also gains uprated brakes, lowered suspension, a carbon fiber trunk spoiler, a set of aluminum alloy pedals and Track Mode, which is a traction and stability control setting designed for use on the racetrack.
Tesla
The Model Y is Tesla’s newest car. It uses the same chassis as the Model 3 and features an almost identical interior, but it is taller and offers more space inside. The Model Y lineup is very similar to that of the Model 3, but there are just two versions to pick from.
Paint options are the same across both the Model 3 and Model Y lines, which means white is free, black, silver and blue cost $1,000, and red is $2,000.
Both versions of the Model Y have a black, five-seat interior layout as standard. Changing to a seven-seat option, with two seats fold-out seats in the trunk, costs $3,000. This option will be available from 2021. As with the Model 3, the Model Y’s black and white interior option costs an additional $1,000.
Tesla
The entry-level Model Y is the Long Range, which is a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive car with an EPA estimated range of 326 miles, a top speed of 135 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds.
Wheel options for the Model Y Long Range are the free 19-inch Gemini Wheels and the 20-inch Induction Wheels, which costs $2,000.
Tesla
The flagship Model Y Performance has an EPA-estimated range of 303 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. As with the Model 3, the Model Y Performance also gets the new Uberturbine Wheels as standard (up from 20 to 21 inches here), plus uprated brakes, lowered suspension and aluminum alloy pedals.
Tesla
There are three versions of Model S, but while the flagship Plaid can be ordered now, Tesla doesn’t expect deliveries to begin until late 2021.
All versions of Model S come with white paint for free. Paid-for options of black, silver and blue cost $1,500, while red costs $2,500.
Tesla
Recently given a small price cut, the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Long Range Plus Model S has an EPA estimated range of 402 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds.
Wheel options are the 19-inch Tempest Wheels as standard, or the 21-inch Sonic Carbon Twin Turbine Wheel as a $4,500 option.
The interior is black with ash wood detailing as standard and comes with heated seats for every passenger, plus a heated steering wheel, wiper blade defrosters and washer nozzle heaters. The Model S also has an HEPA air filtration system as standard and a year of free access to Premium Connectivity (which costs $10 a month afterwards).
Bluetooth, LED fog lamps, tinted glass roof, auto dimming, power folding and heated side mirrors, and wireless phone chargers also all come as standard.
Interior options include black and white with dark ash wood details for $1,500, and cream with oak wood decor, also for $1,500.
Tesla
The Model S Performance has an EPA estimated range of 387 miles, a top speed of 163 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 2.3 seconds, thanks to Tesla’s ‘Ludicrous Mode’. The Performance also gets a carbon fiber trunk spoiler and an interior with carbon fiber detailing as standard.
Wheel options for the Performance are the standard-fit 19-inch Tempest Wheels, and the optional $4,500 21-inch Sonic Carbon Twin Turbine Wheel. The latter reduces range from 387 miles to an estimated 334 miles.
The black and white interior option (this time with carbon details) is $1,500, and the aforementioned cream and oak option is also offered (With no carbon) for $1,500.
Tesla
Finally for the Model S, Tesla recently opened pre-orders for an even faster version, the Plaid, that’s due to arrive in late 2021. This car promises an EPA-estimated range of over 520 miles, a 200 mph top speed and a 0-60 mph time of under 2.0 seconds, making it the quickest production car currently on sale. Tesla also claims a quarter-mile sprint time of under nine seconds and a power output of over 1,100 horsepower from the new three-motor configuration.
Paint, wheel and interior options for the Plaid are the same as they are for the Model S Performance.
Tesla
The Model X uses the same chassis and motors as the Model S, but is taller, has a larger interior with room for seven adults and includes the unique ‘falcon wing’ rear doors.
Paint options and colors are the same as the Model S, with only white being free. The Model X comes with a five-seat interior as standard, while adding a pair of extra seats in the trunk costs $3,500. Switching to a six-seat configuration, where the second row has a pair of individual seats, costs $6,500.
Both versions of Model X have 20-inch Silver Wheels as standard, while the 22-inch Onyx Black Wheels are a $5,500 option.
Tesla
The entry-level Model X has an EPA estimated range of 371 miles, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.
As well as the seating options mentioned above, the Model X Long Range Plus comes with a black interior with ash wood details as standard. Switching this to black and white with dark ash wood details costs $1,500, as does the option of cream with oak wood.
Tesla
Finally for the Model X, the Performance has an EPA estimated range of 341 miles, a top speed of 163 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds. As with the Model S, the Performance package includes Ludicrous Mode.
Wheel options are the same as the Long Range Plus, but picking the optional Onyx Black Wheels sees the estimated range of the Performance fall from 341 miles to 300 miles.
As with the Model S Performance, the Model X Performance interior gains carbon fibre details on the black, and black and white configurations.
Tesla
Finally, the Tesla Roadster (which was announced in 2017 and due in 2020 but has been delayed) is available to pre-order. This requires an initial fully-refundable $5,000 credit card payment, plus a $45,000 wire transfer payment no more than 10 days later.
The more exclusive Founders Series Roadster is limited to 1,000 units, costs from $250,000 and requires a $5,000 deposit, followed within 10 days by the remaining balance of $245,000.
Tesla hasn’t explained the differences between these two models of Roadster, but has previously said how the car will have a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, a 0-100 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 8.8 seconds. Tesla has also claimed a top speed of over 250 mph and a range of 620 miles.
The Roadster has a removable roof panel and is a 2+2, which means it is predominantly a two-seater, with an additional pair of smaller seats in the back.
Related articles:
- Tesla, Audi, Kia: The best electric cars on sale in 2020
- Tesla Model Y vs Tesla Model 3: How do they compare?
This article originally appeared on GearBrain.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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