Tesla Software Update Enables Autosteer at 80mph

Tesla rolled out the latest update to its cars' software this week, which lets owners of the high-functioning electric vehicles engage automated steering at upwardly to 80mph, among other improvements.

Nextcar Bug art Near of the viii.1 software update focuses on adding back features that were dropped from the current-generation Autopilot, Electrik reported on Midweek. Tesla released the new Autopilot in January, and it runs on a new hardware and software platform, which initially didn't support many of the automation features to which owners were accustomed.

In add-on to boosting the automated steering speed limit to 80mph, the 8.ane update also introduces a beta feature that lets owners move their vehicle in and out of parking spaces without anyone in the car, according to Electrik. That parking feature was also bachelor in the first-generation Autopilot software, and requires several days of calibration while driving at highway speeds earlier information technology'due south fix for use.

Automatic lane changes are some other starting time-generation Autopilot feature that'south being reintroduced, Electrik reported. If Autosteer is active, it allows drivers to move into an adjacent lane using just the turn signal. Tesla's Vice President of Autopilot Software, Chris Lattner, said in a tweet that 8.1 is the "biggest update still" for cars with the second-generation Autopilot hardware.

Not all Tesla owners have sprung for the pricey Autopilot add-on, though. Even those who didn't will run into improvements with the eight.1 software, including improvements to voice commands and the addition of Google ratings in the Maps app, co-ordinate to Electrik.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is known for surprising customers, and the viii.1 update is no exception. Musk hinted at the presence of Easter eggs, asking owners in a tweet to "tap the the T on center screen three times," which, co-ordinate to Electrik, will open up up a sketch pad on the car's center display.