2017 Tesla Model S P100D menu and interior

Every now and then, something special comes across my desk.

When I received a request to take a Tesla, the first thing to do was familiarize myself with the complex interior.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. The interior was simplified to the point of austerity. There are almost no buttons or levers visible to clutter the beautiful cabin. Even the climate controls are absent.

So how do you go about customizing such a complex system with no buttons?

Cleverly, it is split between the steering wheel controls which display in front of the driver, and the 17” tablet in the console.

Steering wheel controls are simple scroll-and-press knobs. The left one controls the left menu, and the right hand knob does the right side. In the centre is the speedo. To bring the menus to life, you press the scroll. Rolling the knob will go to your preferred sub menu. You select the option by pressing.

Many of those same commands can be made from the centre tablet.

The hi-res portrait aspect 17” LCD screen looks enormous. Touching anywhere will bring up a selection of menus and buttons. Top left is door look, bottom right is main menu.

Satnav, audio, climate control, user guide, and vehicle settings, are all found here. This is where you find the “Ludicrous” mode button. Use it with care.

It puts the tesla into a driving mode so barking mad, that you cover 1-100 in just 2.7 seconds. Beware, it runs your battery down quick smart.

The 3G connection, and Super Charger are free for the life of the car.

There is nothing commonplace about the Model S Tesla. Yet, after a very short while it feels like home. Everything is geared to making life convenient, and safe. If you want to now something, ask the car.

Siri will work handsfree by simply saying “hey Siri” out loud. Don’t be afraid.

Here, I talk to David Brown about the menus in the Model S.

2017 Tesla Model S P100D menu and interior

Every now and then, something special comes across my desk.

When I received a request to take a Tesla, the first thing to do was familiarize myself with the complex interior.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. The interior was simplified to the point of austerity. There are almost no buttons or levers visible to clutter the beautiful cabin. Even the climate controls are absent.

So how do you go about customizing such a complex system with no buttons?

Cleverly, it is split between the steering wheel controls which display in front of the driver, and the 17” tablet in the console.

Steering wheel controls are simple scroll-and-press knobs. The left one controls the left menu, and the right hand knob does the right side. In the centre is the speedo. To bring the menus to life, you press the scroll. Rolling the knob will go to your preferred sub menu. You select the option by pressing.

Many of those same commands can be made from the centre tablet.

The hi-res portrait aspect 17” LCD screen looks enormous. Touching anywhere will bring up a selection of menus and buttons. Top left is door look, bottom right is main menu.

Satnav, audio, climate control, user guide, and vehicle settings, are all found here. This is where you find the “Ludicrous” mode button. Use it with care.

It puts the tesla into a driving mode so barking mad, that you cover 1-100 in just 2.7 seconds. Beware, it runs your battery down quick smart.

The 3G connection, and Super Charger are free for the life of the car.

There is nothing commonplace about the Model S Tesla. Yet, after a very short while it feels like home. Everything is geared to making life convenient, and safe. If you want to now something, ask the car.

Siri will work handsfree by simply saying “hey Siri” out loud. Don’t be afraid.

Here, I talk to David Brown about the menus in the Model S.