A recent update is bringing an improved user interface to older Tesla vehicles. According to this report citing forum users, the v8.1 (2018.14) update improves the speed and capability in Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with an Nvidia Tegra 3-powered MCU. This was expected; Elon Musk stated in late December 2017 that Tesla was working to improve the browser for all its vehicles.
Users discovered the browser speed is dramatically faster, able to download at an average of more than 5 Mbps. HTML5 capabilities also improved. This is just the latest in Tesla’s ongoing mission to improve its vehicles after customers buy them.
Tesla launched the Model S with the Tegra 3 SoC and ran with it until late 2017, when the company switched to new x86_64-powered MCUs. Last month, Elon Musk confirmed through Twitter that it was possible to retrofit older vehicles with new MCUs.
Though possible to upgrade older vehicles, it’s better for the consumer, and likely for the company, to upgrade existing hardware than make drivers bring in vehicles for a hardware upgrade.