Every report about the Tesla Cybertruck makes it easier to understand why Tesla had so little to say about its long-awaited pickup at the launch event. After an OTA package in February, the car manufacturer says another major software update to add additional functions to the electric off-roader is about to be released. The new code mainly improves the off-road functions, but there are also some on-road features. There is now an off-road driving mode with two settings: Overland and Baja. This involves the activation and expansion of menus already included in the infotainment menu, which we learned about in December, but which did not work and were not explained.
Lead Engineer for Cybertruck Wes Morrill broke down the features in a series of posts on X. Overland mode allows the driver to tune the truck for the best traction on all types of surfaces. New buttons and sliders allow selection of terrain such as rock or sand, whether to activate a brake hold feature or allow the truck to roll when not on the brakes, three ride heights, activation of rear wheel steering, locking the differentials and wading. There are also a number of digital displays showing heading, pitch and roll in degrees.
Note that Morrill explains locking differentials as follows: “When one wheel has limited or no traction on uneven or slippery terrain, Cybertruck can direct that torque to the opposite wheel.” To us, that sounds more like traction control or torque vectoring , or for a feature that was lost in translation because the Cybertruck doesn’t have solid axles, but as long as that gets the truck out of a jam, who’s complaining? The front and rear locking e-differentials are a boon for the dual-motor truck; The three-motor Cyberbeast has a variable rear wheel lock that is always active and also has a front E-Diff. As far as we can tell, Wade mode still does not specify a value for the maximum allowable water height. A Graphic explaining Overland mode The menu just says “Use when navigating shallow waters.”
In Baja mode, the Cybertruck is said to have better vehicle balance and “moves more freely when Stability Assist is set to Minimum, as opposed to Standard or Reduced.” This is referred to as “the equivalent of Track mode” and opens up some high-speed off-road capabilities. The notes explain that the mode’s “Rugged” setting is best to use, and there’s a handling balance slider that lets you choose which axis does the most work.
Trail Assist is an off-road cruise control. A camera feed displayed at the top of the off-road pages allows passengers to swipe through surround camera views on the go. And a Cybertent mode Holds the tonneau cover open and works with the suspension to keep the truck level, making it easier to get a good night’s sleep in the $3,000 overlanding add-on. This means that the truck bed lighting and sockets in trucks equipped in this way also remain switched on.
For on-road use, selectable terrain control on slippery surfaces activates the new rear E-Diff lock for better traction on slippery surfaces like ice and snow, but Tesla says it “should only be used temporarily” without explaining how long is temporary. The adaptive suspension has been optimized to better estimate the payload weight and thus enable better handling. A Vitals page displays data such as battery and engine temperatures as well as tire pressures.
At this point, we expect it will be another year after the Cybertruck’s launch before the Cybertruck is finally updated with all the features buyers expect at launch. If you’re looking for a more in-depth download, feel free to check out the 22-page Cybertruck Off-Road Guide with additional information about the new systems. Furthermore a Teslarati According to the report, the automaker’s spring software update could bring even more features to the Cybertruck and other Tesla models.