Disclaimer: I do not work for Tesla, I have no inside connections, I do not get calls from my SA (though the two times I have called him since I ordered in December, he stated he was just about to call me)… I’m just a guy excited about my first Tesla…
This is my first post. It doesn’t seem like a lot of people are talking about the possibility of Tesla incorporating drive by wire (steer by wire) technology into the refresh, which may be part of the reason for the delay… but not certain. If you are not familiar with drive by wire, there are a few videos online (this is one of the best ones that demonstrate the tech and its capabilities:)... note that the video is 3 years old. The latest photos in the Teslarati article have two photos to indicate they may be incorporating drive by wire:
1. If you compare the yoke position to the position of the wheels, you will notice that the yoke is slightly turned and the wheels are turned in a fair amount. I can’t speak for all car types (and do not currently own a Tesla), but based on the photo angles, I think my current car would require ~180 degree turn of the steering wheel to obtain the equivalent wheel turn.
2. The “steering column” has a significant notch… my hypothesis is that this notch and the removal of the stalks are to enable the yoke to be stowed when not in use (when FSD is enabled). Since the yoke has a very square base, the yoke could be stowed without coming in contact with your legs (particularly for taller drivers).
If they are incorporating drive by wire, this eliminates the mechanical linkage and need for a traditional steering column. I presume this saves significant cost - both with components and ease of manufacturing both left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles.
Just my thoughts… but I think Tesla has not disclosed a lot of the new tech they are incorporating into the refresh. I believe they want to make a big splash (especially with the new competition)… which would include showcasing the latest FSD with drive by wire technology (including a stowable yoke). Perhaps this is just wishful thinking… but this may explain some of the “odd” design choices that have been incorporated and reason for the delays.
That being said, I have not ordered FSD. If the above is true… it sure is compelling.
RN1142 (Dec 11 - East Coast) MS LR White ext./Black int + Arachnids
No, you're 100% correct.