Tesla Outlines Thruster Status Readout In Roadster Cockpit Tour
The manufacturer is detailing driver-facing displays that monitor vehicle pressure and track metrics ahead of public exhibition.
By Luis Fernandez ·
Tesla is providing a detailed look at the software interface intended for the next generation Roadster, specifically focusing on the instrumentation required for high-pressure propulsion systems.
In a clip posted on Friday afternoon, the company demonstrated a layout inspired by fighter jet cockpits and designed around the driver as the pilot. The visual presentation begins with a black background featuring red graphics and a three-dimensional wireframe of the vehicle positioned next to a squared-off yoke. Interacting with the wireframe model brings up controls for the rear wing, allowing for low drag and high downforce positions, as well as a charging screen with a charge limit bar and a compact music player. A series of tabs located at the bottom of the display are labeled Home, Vehicle, Listen, Climate and Navigate.
The majority of the recording is dedicated to Track Mode functionality. The dashboard provides a live map of the circuit, a log of session lap times, brake and motor temperatures, and pressure and temperature data for each tire. A configuration screen allows the driver to select Auto, Low Drag, High Downforce or Custom aero modes, adjust aero balance and brake balance, and disable stability and traction control. Along the bottom, a status bar reads "Thruster · 5,500 PSI" next to a "Boost Ready" indicator.
That gauge ties the software to the hardware Tesla showed off near Waco, Texas on October 15. The Thrust and Rocket versions use cold gas thrusters fed by carbon overwrapped pressure vessels, and Tesla lists 0 to 60 mph times of under 0.9 seconds and under 0.59 seconds for them, and Teslarati detailed in its breakdown of the three Roadster configurations. The base Performance car relies on a fan and ground sealing system for grip, and the aero settings on screen match the active wings and suction setup covered in our look at how the Roadster generates downforce.
The Roadster layout is a departure from the rest of Tesla's lineup. Instead of a map centered screen, the Roadster puts the car itself at the center of the home page, and Tesla's Roadster page lists two smaller forward displays alongside the main touchscreen. Tesla has not said whether any of the Track Mode telemetry will make its way to the Model 3 Performance or other vehicles.
The interface could still change before deliveries. Elon Musk said at the event that Roadster production will begin in 2028, and Tesla says the flagship Rocket version is not approved for public road use. Reservations are open with a $50,000 payment, while Thrust is listed as a limited release and Rocket is invite only.
Those who want to see the car in person will get their first chance this weekend. The Roadster goes on display in the lobby of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles from October 24 to 27, according to Sawyer Merritt, the first time the public will be able to view it up close.
Source: Teslarati
