The adaptive matrix lights, formerly reserved for the brand’s more high-end vehicles, are arriving thanks to an update. Problem is, these are only reserved for one model.
Matrix LED lights at Tesla were introduced in the first generations of Model 3. However, only the most expensive models benefited from this technology. While they represent a real advantage in terms of safety (we will come back to this below) Tesla had not really exploited the full potential of this lighting system.
In fact, matrix headlights are made up of a cluster of LEDs that can be controlled individually; they are therefore inherently capable of providing adaptive lighting. This new update of Tesla’s internal software will give the lighting system the ability to be adaptive. For all models? No, only the latest version of the Model 3, the Highland, is affected.
A nice update, but not for everyone
This update was relayed by the German TFF forums and confirmed by Note to Tesla App. The release note clearly states that “ high beams now adjust to reduce glare for other drivers and cyclists “. The vehicle will therefore detect other users and adapt the lighting accordingly, dimming the lighting pixel by pixel.
This is also where the main interest of matrix lights lies: their character adaptive. Without that, it’s just more expensive lights to change if there’s a problem. However, when it comes to the “light show” (the functionality that transformed the Tesla into a Christmas tree, with music and vehicle lighting worthy of a sound and light show), the manufacturer made good use of this technology. Highland owners will therefore be delighted to see this new feature arrive on board their vehicle. For the others, however, they will be able (for the moment) to chomp at the bit.
A safety advantage
Adaptive matrix lights are far from just a gimmick. In terms of comfort and nighttime safety, they can even be considered one of the best innovations since the arrival of xenon headlights. In fact, they make it possible to create shadow zones directly within the light beam. This helps avoid dazzling other vehicles and prioritizes lighting certain areas of the road.
Concretely, you never touch your light controls, and stay on full headlights without disturbing anyone, it is the system which governs all of this for you. The technology is not new, having been first introduced in 2009 with the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, under the name Intelligent Light System.
A manufacturer update which will obviously be welcome, but we can still question the fact that Tesla is only making this functionality available for a single model. We can only hope that the other models in the range will also benefit from this improvement.
Sources: Note to Tesla App, Youtube
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