Tesla’s latest tech now finally being delivered to customers
Tesla has started delivering new electric vehicles with the latest technology. First deliveries of Tesla’s flagship Model X now appear to come with the latest line of cameras, HD “Phoenix” radar, and an upcoming FSD software update to enable the hardware.
Jason Clinton, a customer in the US, has received delivery of a 2023 Tesla Model X Plaid that appears to be equipped with a Hardware 4 (HW4) computer, along with a set of external cameras that are part of the updated Autopilot system.
Jason shared the images and answered questions about the features of his new car on the social media platform
Reddit. This vehicle has a build date of February 25th so delivery within 2 weeks shows how fast Tesla delivers some of their cars in the US.
A Tesla service advisor also confirmed that Tesla’s internal systems show the vehicle is equipped with Hardware 4. The consultant also showed Tesla’s internal inventory system screen to verify this.
Several changes can be seen on this vehicle that differ from previous Model S and Model X deliveries, including the fact that the screen says “Autopilot Hardware: None.”
The vehicle cameras also have a red tint that highlights that they are upgraded cameras. This is also reflected in the door pillar and side repeater cameras.
Another important feature is the heating elements for the front-facing windscreen cameras.
That’s good news for what’s to come in Tesla’s upcoming Model 3 upgrade and a potential Model Y.
The Model S and Model X are Tesla’s flagship vehicles, which also happen to be one of the most technologically advanced electric vehicles on the market.
Australian customers are still waiting to get the updated version of these models since their original unveiling in 2021.
That said, we expect the latest versions to arrive in late 2023, all sporting Hardware 4 and the features of the Tesla Model X Plaid just shipped in the US.
Tesla’s Plaidium line of vehicles is available with two or three engines, with the top-of-the-line vehicles offering a whopping 1,020 hp or 760 kW.
Top speed is limited to 262 km/h and a car as big as the Model X can still outperform most Lamborghinis and Ferraris, demonstrating the technological superiority of a well-designed electric powertrain.
All Plaidium vehicles are also fitted with a 100kWh battery pack that can be quickly charged at over 250kW.
The Driven’s Take: It’s great to see the updated Hardware 4-equipped vehicles roll out as Tesla continues to improve its vision-based Autopilot system, which is years ahead of its competitors. The same system has been tested by safety agencies such as Euro NCAP as the safest.
We look forward to seeing these improvements in person when right hand drive vehicles finally arrive in Australia over the next 12 months.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne specializing in Australian EV data, insights and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transportation infrastructure before founding carloop. He has a passion for cars, especially electric vehicles, and wants to help reduce traffic emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.