Buzz
Tesla Inc. has rolled out one of its most amusing "over-the-air" updates yet, delivering a dose of unexpected humor.Owning a Tesla comes with its perks, like waking up to find your car has new features overnight. Thanks to Tesla's wireless "over-the-air" updates, the car's system refreshes automatically. In December 2018, Tesla introduced one of its quirkiest updates, packed with playful Easter eggs, including a mode for emissions testing.
Elon Musk teased the upcoming features beforehand, cryptically referencing a tweet about "toilet humor."
Most Tesla owners were taken aback by the emissions testing mode. Given that Teslas are fully electric, they are exempt from state emissions testing, as they don’t emit harmful fumes like gas or diesel vehicles. The sudden appearance of an unannounced emissions testing mode certainly sparked curiosity.
Interestingly, the emissions testing mode isn’t about emissions at all—it’s all about farting. This quirky feature allows drivers to trigger fart sounds on command or via the turn signal. With six unique fart sounds like Not a Fart, Short Shorts Rapper, Falcon Heavy, Ludicrous Fart, Neurastink, and Boring Fart, each nodding to Elon Musk’s ventures and hobbies (the last one referencing the Boring Company’s Not a Flamethrower), it’s a playful way to entertain passengers. The I'm So Random option selects a sound at random.
In summary, Tesla’s high-end vehicles now boast the ability to produce six distinct fart sounds at the push of a button.
The update also introduced a romance mode, which displays a crackling fireplace on the car’s infotainment screen, raises the cabin temperature, and plays soothing music. It’s an ideal setup for fostering those cozy, self-satisfied vibes.
The pole position mode unlocks retro racing games, accessible only when the car is parked. While it’s a fun addition, one might wonder why Tesla owners would simulate racing in a game when their car already feels like a high-performance machine.
Tesla's over-the-air updates showcase remarkable innovation, though they aren’t without flaws. During a September 2018 update, Consumer Reports, which owns a Tesla Model 3 for testing, observed that several vehicle features malfunctioned. These issues were safety-critical, affecting systems like automatic emergency braking and driver assistance functionalities. While Tesla resolved the problem within the same week, the incident highlights potential risks associated with the system.
