Ah, the allure of hidden features! Tesla is renowned for its quirky "Easter eggs" – delightful surprises tucked away in its software, often paying homage to pop culture or providing humorous functionalities. Unlocking these can add an extra layer of fun to your Tesla ownership experience. Let's dive into how you can discover and activate some of these hidden gems!
Step 1: Embark on Your Digital Treasure Hunt! ️♀️
Before we get started, imagine your Tesla's touchscreen as a vast digital playground. Many Easter eggs are found by interacting with the screen in unexpected ways, or by inputing specific commands. Are you ready to uncover some of the secrets your Tesla holds?
Step 2: The Gateway to Easter Eggs – The Tesla "T" and Toybox
Many Tesla Easter eggs are accessible through a dedicated "Toybox" menu or by interacting with the iconic Tesla "T" logo on your car's touchscreen.
Sub-heading: Accessing the "About Your Tesla" Menu
Tap the Tesla "T": On your car's touchscreen display, look for the Tesla "T" logo at the very top. Tapping this "T" will typically bring up the "About Your Tesla" menu, which provides information about your vehicle's software version and other details.
Sub-heading: The Easter Egg Drawer (Toybox)
Look for the Green Ornament: In newer software versions, once you're in the "About Your Tesla" menu, you might see a pull-down section or an image of a green holiday ornament. Tapping this ornament or pulling down the section will reveal the "Easter Egg Drawer" or "Toybox," which is a collection of various Easter eggs. From here, you can often directly activate many features like Santa Mode or Mars Map.
Step 3: Unlocking Specific Easter Eggs – A Guide
While the Toybox provides a centralized location for some, many classic Easter eggs require specific actions or codes.
Sub-heading: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Answer to Life)
Rename Your Car to "42":
Tap the Tesla "T" at the top of the touchscreen to access the "About your Tesla" menu.
In the top right corner, you'll see your car's current name. Tap on it.
A text box will appear, prompting you to "Name Your Vehicle."
Carefully enter the number "42" into the text field.
Press "Save." What happens next? Your car's name will change to "Life, the Universe, and Everything," a nod to Douglas Adams' famous science fiction comedy.
Sub-heading: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart Homage)
Activate Autopilot Four Times:
Ensure your Tesla has Autopilot capability.
While driving and with Autopilot engaged, quickly pull the Autopilot stalk down four times towards yourself. The result? The on-screen visualization of the road will transform into a vibrant rainbow, reminiscent of the popular Mario Kart track. You might also hear "More Cowbell" playing!
Sub-heading: James Bond Submarine (For Air Suspension Models) ️
Enter "007" as an Access Code:
Press and hold the Tesla "T" icon at the top of the touchscreen for approximately 5 seconds.
A ripple graphic will appear. Release the "T" icon.
A text box will prompt you to "please enter access code."
Enter the code "007" and press "OK."
Navigate to the Air Suspension page within your settings. You'll find your Tesla's image replaced with the iconic Lotus Esprit submarine from the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me". You'll also see depth options!
Sub-heading: Santa Mode (Holiday Cheer)
Voice Command "Ho Ho Ho":
Press the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel to activate voice commands.
Say "Ho Ho Ho." Your car's on-screen visualization will transform into a Santa sleigh pulled by reindeer, and Christmas music (often "Run Rudolph Run") will play. You can also say "Ho Ho Ho Not Funny" for a different song. This can also be accessed through the Toybox.
Sub-heading: Mars Map (Multi-Planetary Exploration)
Access via Toybox:
Go to the Toybox (as described in Step 2).
Look for the "Multi-Planetary Species" button or icon and tap it. Your navigation map will change to a Martian landscape, and your car's icon might become a Mars rover!
Sub-heading: Rainbow Charge Port Light (A Colorful Welcome) ⚡
Rapidly Press Charger Button:
Ensure your Tesla is connected to the charger.
Quickly press the button on the charger handle 10 times. If done correctly, your charge port light will cycle through a rainbow of colors!
Sub-heading: Monty Python References (The Foot of Cupid, Patsy, etc.)
Rename Your Car with Monty Python Names:
Similar to the "42" Easter egg, try renaming your Tesla to names like "Patsy", "Rabbit of Caerbannog", "Mr. Creosote", "Flying Circus", "Biggus Dickus", or "Unladen Swallow."
Some of these can trigger amusing animations or sounds, like the "Foot of Cupid" stomping down.
Step 4: Keep an Eye on Software Updates!
Tesla frequently introduces new Easter eggs and hidden features with software updates. What might be hidden today could be an exciting discovery tomorrow! Always check your release notes after an update. For example, recent updates have added "Light Sync" for ambient lighting to react to music and new "Fart on Sit" options.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to access the Easter Egg menu in a Tesla?
You can usually access the Easter Egg menu, often called the "Toybox," by tapping the Tesla "T" logo on your touchscreen and then looking for a pull-down section or a green holiday ornament icon.
How to turn on Rainbow Road in my Tesla?
To activate Rainbow Road, engage Autopilot and then quickly pull the right stalk down four times towards yourself.
How to make my Tesla a James Bond submarine?
For Teslas with air suspension, press and hold the Tesla "T" on the screen for about 5 seconds, and when prompted for an access code, enter "007" and press OK. Then go to the suspension settings.
How to activate Santa Mode in a Tesla?
Press the right scroll wheel on your steering wheel to activate voice commands, then say "Ho Ho Ho."
How to get the Mars map in my Tesla?
Access the Toybox menu (through the Tesla "T" icon) and look for the "Multi-Planetary Species" button or icon to activate the Mars map.
How to make my Tesla charge port light up in rainbow colors?
While your Tesla is plugged in, quickly press the button on the charging handle 10 times.
How to change my Tesla's name to "Life, the Universe, and Everything"?
Tap the Tesla "T" on your screen, then tap your car's current name and change it to "42."
How to customize Tesla horn sounds?
Some newer Tesla models allow you to customize horn sounds through the "Boombox" feature, found in the Toybox.
How to find new Tesla Easter eggs after a software update?
Always check the release notes after a new software update, as Tesla often announces new or updated Easter eggs there. You can also explore the Toybox menu.
How to use voice commands for Tesla Easter eggs?
Many Easter eggs, like Santa Mode, can be activated using specific voice commands after pressing the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel.
Explore more Tesla Easter eggs and hidden features:
