Teslas and video games – the two types of products that receive significant updates after purchase. You could call it a problem and say that companies are selling incomplete products. Or you could say it’s fun to buy something and watch it get better later.
Tesla has released a long-promised major software update that adds new off-road features to its Cybertruck electric pickup truck. The updates include two new off-road modes – Baja and Overland – and the ability to activate the limited-slip differential was promised to owners.
According to Tesla, Baja Mode improves vehicle balance so the truck “drives more freely when Stability Assist is set to Minimum.” This mimics the sand modes of other off-road vehicles.
Overland mode provides “overall better traction when driving on rocks, gravel, deep snow or sand.”
A differential is a system that allows a car’s driving wheels to rotate at different speeds. When the differential is unlocked, the torque takes the path of least resistance. This isn’t helpful in some off-road situations – it can transfer most of the power to the wheel on an axle with the least traction.
A limited slip differential solves this problem by transmitting torque to both wheels on an axle. This helps a truck escape situations where one wheel has no traction.
The update gives owners of Cybertrucks with two engines the ability to lock differentials on both axles. Three-engine “Cyberbeast” versions get one on the front axle. The rear already has a “virtual limited slip differential” as each wheel has a separate motor.
Other updates include off-road cruise control, which “helps maintain a set cruising speed so you can focus on steering” on the trail.
The updates are intended to make the Cybertruck a significantly better off-roader. But we should also note that many viral videos shared on social media showing trucks getting stuck off-road may be due to the inexperience of the drivers rather than the capabilities of the Cybertruck.
Many have beginner mistakes, such as: E.g., riding off-road with fully inflated tires (most experienced off-road riders release pneumatic tires when they hit the trail).
The truck could be more effective off-road than social media suggests. But the update should help.