Tesla releases list of Model X improvements since launch, wins ‘the Golden Steering Wheel’ award

It was announced today that the Tesla Model X won the Golden Steering Wheel 2016 award given by a jury composed of “professional race car drivers, accomplished technicians, editors, designers, and digital and connectivity experts,” who spent three days judging the all-electric SUV.

For the occasion, Tesla decided to highlight all the things the company improved on the vehicle since releasing it last year – whether it was through software updates or hardware improvements.

In the announcement, Tesla says that they delivered “nearly 20,000” Model X SUVs since the launch in September 2015:

“As a result of this continuous improvement, Model X owners have seen a 92% reduction in reliability concerns over the past year. Nearly 20,000 owners are now experiencing the quickest, smartest, and safest SUV ever, with more than 90% of owners saying they would buy Model X again.”

Here are some of the ways Model X has gotten better with time:

Falcon Wing Doors

• 2x improvement in door sensor object detection
• 25% improvement in opening/closing speed
• Dynamic profile adjustment to indoor mode when roof sensor detects a low ceiling
• 83% reduction in customer-reported issues with door opening/closing

Powered front doors and remote keyless entry

• Refined keyfob detection for smart automatic front door behavior as you approach, enter, or leave the car
• 8x improvement in keyfob battery life; automated alert from the car if the battery gets low
• Several improvements to power front door movement and latching system, leading to 51% reduction in door issues and improved performance on hills
• Wind noise customer-reported issues reduced by 22% with a combination of hardware modifications and fit/finish improvements

Interior Temperature Management

• Introduced Cabin Overheat Protection by managing the maximum interior temperature of Model X through software
• Improved HVAC performance by increasing maximum fan speed with an over-the-air software update

Second row seats

• Multiple over-the-air updates have enhanced seat motion, obstacle detection, pitch calibration, and usability
• Software enhancements have added intelligent behaviors between seats, adjusting spacing differently, for example, depending on which rows are occupied

Infotainment System

• Touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity improvements via over-the-air software update
• Largest user interface overhaul since the launch of Model S in over-the-air Software 8.0 rollout