Tesla’s plans for the new Autopilot features on the Model S aren’t exactly humble, with CEO Elon Musk suggesting EVs that could come to heel at your beck & call and even read your calendar to know when they might be needed, but what works now and what’s merely on the roadmap? Speaking at the launch of the Tesla “D”,the AWD version of the Model S, Musk cited regulatory lag for blocking some of the more advanced autonomous features his cars are capable of, so we went hunting to see what, exactly, new owners should expect.
On the hardware front, every new Model S is created equal. Each will come equipped as a matter of course with all the hardware for Autopilot, including twelve long-range ultrasonic sensors and a forward-facing radar, all integrated into the EV’s bodywork.
Standard, and enabled by default, will be any of the safety oriented features the system offers. That will include lane-changing warnings – though not the automatic lane-changing which impressed us in the demo – and crash detection, aiming to reduce the impact of a collision.
via Slash Gear
