So somebody at Tesla never got around to supergluing the rearview mirror onto the windshield of this particular mule, and suddenly that means no rear view mirror on the production car?
Tesla may be able to get external rear view cameras past the DOT. There's a good reason for it (range). But no inside rear view mirror? It's going to be a lot harder to get the DOT to buy into that. And the advantage of no inside rear view mirror is what, exactly? It's neat-o?
I'm beginning to see why people are saying the speculation is getting a bit out of hand here...
The point isn't, really, the lack of a rear-view mirror - at least not for me. The point is signs of DRIVE PX, which is significant if so.
Whatever Tesla is testing on this mule might well appear only after the first release of the production vehicle, if ever. Some of it might also only appear on certain markets and not on others, like various missing mirrors. That said, what is seen on this mule aligns with the known chip partnership news of Tesla's. DRIVE PX is official, it is out and not speculation, as is Tesla's partnership with nVidia. Even if the car ships with regular side and rear mirrors, it could include the extra DRIVE PX platform cameras for additional visibility, parking and traffic recognition. In fact, if I had to guess, I would expect Model X Signatures to ship with regular mirrors in all the right places, but that wouldn't preclude them from shipping with DRIVE PX.
I would never recommend anyone make purchase decisions based on the analysis of mules (mule photos) and industry information (nVidia press and Tesla/nVidia partnership), unless they absolutely have to for some reason. However, if anyone cares about my opinion: To me it seems very much likely Model X will be Tesla's first car with a second generation of Auto-pilot. If that particularly interests someone, it might be worth the cash to wait for that before making the purchase decision, it is only some months now after all. Model S may get similar upgrades in the same time frame, didn't Tesla say after "D" that these would be the only major changes to Model S for a year or so, which could align with a Model X launch era "facelift".
Forward-looking statements are speculation of course.
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Wouldn't it be prudent to know exactly what is an option and what is standard before canceling your reservation?
None of what is posted here is official, and it's all guesswork at this point.
I agree. Cancelling a reservation would make no sense, unless one desperately needs the money back.
Also, most importantly, while I am intrigued there may be something to the Tegra X1 story (Elon quotes backing up as much), it isn't at all clear-cut that Model X would ship without traditional mirrors in some markets or perhaps as an option in all markets, even if it had additional side and rear-view capability through the DRIVE PX platform and associated cameras.
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Some folks saw something they think is a camera behind the drivers side window at the top of the door; somehow this became a thread about how that means there'll be a certain chip in the car and no rear view mirror.....I wouldn't worry too much just yet Dirkh, it's just a mule.
I think that's an oversimplification of what happened. I think this is more accurate:
- We know nVidia has a new multi-camera self-driving chip out and the information about its existence and features is official
- We know Tesla is partners with nVidia and that the launch window of X1/DRIVE PX coincides with that of what is now expected for Model X
- Elon Musk apparently saying at nVidia conference when Tegra X1 was discussed, something to the effect of I'm excited to show what we've been working on together for the X
- We can see at least three possible elements of DRIVE PX on Model X mule(s): nose bumper camera, B pillar camera and lack of rear-view mirror
- Cameras is the major element where Tesla is still behind, as the next big improvement addressing this area would make sense and to wow at Model X launch, this would be such a feature
Anyone feel free to correct above if mistaken. If accurate, I would speculate that Model X was originally slated to ship with what we saw at "D", but since Model X got delayed for whatever reasons, it may have been bumped to second-generation Auto-pilot in the process. This would suggest to me, Model S will also get similar improvements in due course.
BTW, even if there is a side camera in that position how will it be affected by window tinting?
Good point, of course. It is hard to tell if the camera is under the window or in the top trim. Due to the mule-esque pushed out windows and broken up trim in this area, the camera/window/trim setup may not be anywhere near final at all, of course, if there even is a camera.