Tesla Model D To "Push The Limits Of What's Safe" With Automation

The new Tesla Model S – the D, that is – won't be driving itself to your workplace when it hits the road in the near future. But it very well could. Describing the autonomy their newest model was able to achieve today, Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested last night that they're "essentially going to push the limits of what's safe with this hardware, and what's available with the current regulations." He speaks of self-driving cars, of course – which aren't entirely street legal as of yet.

What you're getting instead of a fully self-driving car is a bit of driver assistance. We've seen similar features here to what groups like Land Rover are offering with smart cars seeing what's in front of them and compensating with breaks, acceleration, and turns of the wheel. Lexus and Mercedes Benz have similar systems as well.

Tesla representatives were quick to note that some of the more advanced features shown to us this week weren't necessarily going to be in place at the launch of this next "D" variant of the Tesla Model S.

Eventually the car will be able to track road signs and adjust cruise control to stay within the law. This car will be able to park itself in your car – it'll be able to work with your smartphone's calendar and know when to be in your driveway on which morning of the week.

It'll be able to do a lot of really neat stuff, including watching out for objects that you'd otherwise have a chance of hitting. Deer and children – and other cars, too.

Above you'll see our in-car demo with some of this software in car, ready to roll. You'll see the vehicle go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in three seconds, as well.

Have a peek at our extended details article on the D as well as our P85D hands-on from last night.