Tesla upgrade now available

Tesla’s new software upgrade Version 9 is now available in New Zealand and Australia.

The main changes include a refined and simplified user interface after Tesla took into account customer feedback.

Key differences from the last version are what’s called Quick Controls with what functions people use the most down the left side of the car screen.

Your most popular apps are also shown across the screen bottom, and the next set can be scrolled up at the touch of an on-screen button. These include radio and music choices, heating and other climate control measures.

Version 9 also differentiates between cars, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians on the display showing the car’s surrounding traffic using a 360-degree view. Previously, just car images featured.

Map navigation forms the main screen background, the navigation icon made bigger and you can zoom in more – with other functions selected partly overlapping the map or made full screen if you wish.

The whole set up functions more along the lines of what the driver wants.

Version 9 also allows expansion of autopilot features, with over the air updates planned.

One of the big changes is in using the Tesla app on your mobile device to remotely set the vehicle destination before even getting in the car. Other functions can be set or controlled in similar fashion.

You can also monitor the car’s energy consumption in real time and view projected energy use for an upcoming trip.

The dash cam records all driving but only saves for 10 minutes when you hit the dash cam screen icon immediately there’s an incident.

A handy action is the Obstacle Aware Acceleration which cuts acceleration while lane changing if there is another vehicle in your blind spot.

There’s more in the Version 9 software which can be viewed on the car screen by hitting the Tesla icon at the top and opening the release notes.

Oh, and you can play Tesla Tari – as in classic Atari games – on screen when the car is parked.