Tesla Model S- Main Features

Tesla’s Model S is a trendsetter for electric cars. Its sleek design, cutting-edge technology, and white-knuckle driving performance are just a few of its main features.

Other notable amenities include a hands-free front trunk called a frunk that opens when you stand near it. Plus, its HEPA cabin air filter keeps your ride free of pollutants and allergens.

High-Tech Interior

The Model S has a sleek cabin dominated by a large 17-inch touchscreen that controls most of the car’s functions. Fans of modern minimalism love the look, but the layout can be challenging to navigate. It takes time to figure out where all the buttons are, and even simple tasks like changing lanes require drivers to take their eyes off the road momentarily.

Tesla’s Autopilot features can assist with steering, accelerating, and braking. It can also maintain a safe distance from cars ahead of you, making highway driving safer and more convenient. The fully autonomous feature is still under development, however, and cannot replace the driver.

Some owners enjoy Tesla’s Premium Connectivity, which allows them to access streaming music apps and other websites while their car is parked. They can also use Smart Summon to summon their car when they’re within a certain radius of it. This can be especially helpful in crowded parking lots. The car can also notify emergency services of its location, which could speed up response times. This is particularly useful for people who live in areas that are prone to natural disasters.

Long-Range Driving

With its instantaneous torque, the Model S is very satisfying to drive on the open road. It feels athletic and agile, even when overtaking on the motorway. Its low center of gravity also helps it handle corners with the precision you’d expect from a premium sports luxury car.

Inside, Tesla’s minimalist interior is clean and crisp. A large 17-inch display dominates the cabin, controlling most of the EV’s functions. You can also order the optional carbon-ceramic brakes for added performance and safety.

You can also get a variety of over-the-air software updates to add new features or improve functionality. This is a big advantage that makes your car more useful over time, and you don’t have to take it into the dealer for physical upgrades.

Over-The-Air Software Updates

The software that runs Tesla vehicles is constantly being updated to add features or fix security issues. Unlike traditional cars that require drivers to take them into the shop for routine updates, Tesla enables owners to receive over-the-air updates that send new features to their vehicles.

Using the Tesla app, owners can also check on the status of their vehicles in real-time. For example, drivers can get notifications if sentry mode activates or if they’re getting low on battery power. They can also remotely activate their vehicle’s air conditioning or heat and control the charging status.

One of the most interesting features that Tesla offers is a remote software update feature. The company’s OTA updates allow customers to make their vehicles safer by sending over improvements to the driving system. For example, if the hazard detection system isn’t working as well as it should be, an OTA update can increase its accuracy to keep the vehicle safe on the road. The updates are wirelessly transmitted to the vehicles and can usually be downloaded and installed within an hour.

Sentry Mode

Sentry Mode keeps the car’s cameras activated while parked and locked to detect and record suspicious activity around the vehicle. It’s an effective way to deter theft, break-ins, or vandalism while providing video evidence in the case of an incident.

When the system detects movement it enters Alert status, which displays a message and pulses headlights to notify people of its presence. If it senses a more serious threat, it will enable an alarm protocol, which sounds the car’s security alarm, flashes the lights and saves a video recording of the event from four of the car’s nine cameras (the cabin camera, rear camera, and two of the fender cameras are excluded for privacy reasons).

Owners can view this footage in real time via the Tesla app by tapping Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > View Live Camera. The feature uses a lot of power, so it’s not ideal for long-term use and will drain the battery within hours if left active. Moreover, owners must insert a formatted USB drive before they can download this data.

Supercharging Stations

When you plug in at a Supercharger station, your car will automatically begin preconditioning. This starts about 10 to 20 minutes before you arrive at the station and essentially prepares your battery for charging at the optimal rate. The battery will also ‘wake up’ the system when you approach within 40 feet to ensure high-efficiency wireless electricity transfer.

Tesla’s branded charging stations are referred to as ‘Superchargers’ and have been designed to be as fast as possible, with a charge time of around 30 minutes or less. They’re also free of charge for Tesla owners, although this has now been opened up to other electric vehicles.

The company also offers a third-generation wall connector at home, which can be installed by a licensed electrician and costs from 549 euros, including taxes. You can also opt for Power Sharing, which enables multiple electric cars to charge at home with a single 240V power outlet.