X

Incredibly cool Tesla Easter eggs

These cars are hiding some very cool secrets.

Fox Van Allen
Fox Van Allen is a Los Angeles-based writer for CBS Interactive covering technology, tech lifestyle and gaming topics for GameSpot, CNET, ZDNet and TechRepublic. He has previously worked as a news and feature writer for a number of other sites, including Techlicious, Tecca, WoW Insider (Joystiq) and Blizzard Watch. In his spare time, Fox is an amateur skydiver, retro gaming and arcade enthusiast, 8-bit pixel artist, podcaster and Twitch live streamer.
Fox Van Allen
Hunting down all the Tesla Easter eggs
1 of 21 Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Hunting down all the Tesla Easter eggs

From their impressive interfaces to their partially automated driving technology, there's a lot to like about Teslas. In addition to the cars' advertised features, Tesla owners have found something else to love: They come with a wealth of fun Easter eggs.

Some of these cool eggs have been revealed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk or by Tesla owners. And some, supposedly, are still waiting to be found.

Here are the Tesla Easter eggs we're aware of. Check 'em out and click the caption links to see how to unlock them.

tesla-easter-egg-press-the-t
2 of 21 Bjørn Nyland/YouTube

Press and hold the Tesla logo for 5 seconds and enter access code "007"...

This James Bond-inspired Easter egg, documented here by Bjørn Nyland, works on the Model S.

tesla-james-bond
3 of 21 Bjørn Nyland/YouTube

...and the Suspension menu will show James Bond's Lotus submarine.

Musk owns the original version of the Lotus Esprit sub, which was featured in the 1977 Bond flick "The Spy Who Loved Me."

tesla-charging
4 of 21 @ChaseButlerTV

Click the High Power Wall Connector button 10 times...

This cool Easter egg, demonstrated by Chase Butler (@ChaseButlerTV), works with the Model S and Model X.

5 of 21 @ChaseButlerTV (video)/Fox Van Allen (GIF)

...and you get a fun little light show.

This Easter egg makes your car's charging port rapidly flash different colors. Way cooler than a traditional gas pump, no?

tesla-toggle-rainbow-road
6 of 21 Voice of Geeks Network/YouTube

Rapidly activate autopilot four times in succession and...

This Easter egg is the perfect prescription for your fever...

7 of 21 Voice of Geeks Network (video)/Fox Van Allen (GIF)

...and you'll start driving on Rainbow Road, just like in Mario Kart.

Your Tesla will even start laying down some cowbell as it plays a sound clip from Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper."

You can watch Voice of Geeks Network's YouTube video to appreciate the full sound.

tesla-xmas-show
8 of 21 DÆrik/YouTube

Hold down the Tesla 'T' logo on a Model X, enter "holiday"...

This is honestly one of the coolest Easter eggs ever devised, for anything.

9 of 21 DÆrik/YouTube

...and you'll be treated to a Model Xmas show

The Model X will flash its lights in rapid succession as it plays "Wizards in Winter" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. DÆrik on YouTube has recorded an excellent demo of the show.

Be careful, though -- in this mode the Falcon Wing doors open a lot higher than normal. You should only do this one outside.

tesla-ho-ho-ho
10 of 21 DÆrik/YouTube

Give your Tesla the voice command "ho ho ho"...

This Christmas-themed Easter egg was demonstrated by DÆrik on YouTube.

tesla-santa-sleigh
11 of 21 DÆrik/YouTube

...and Santa's sleigh appears on your dash!

Your Tesla will play "Run Rudolph Run" when the mode activates. Use your turn signal, and your car will play a jingle bell sound effect.

If you give your car the voice command "Ho ho ho not funny," it will instead play "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer."

tesla-t-touch
12 of 21 Tava/YouTube

Hold the Tesla logo, then enter access code "Mars"...

This Model S and X Easter egg is clearly a nod to Elon Musk's private space exploration venture Space X.

tesla-mars-rover-closeup
13 of 21 Tava/YouTube

...and your map will show your vehicle on the surface of Mars.

Elon Musk has said that he'll have people on Mars by 2025.

model-x-space
14 of 21 Tava/YouTube

Your "About Your Tesla" screen will also show the SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System.

The SpaceX vehicle, seen here with its solar arrays extended, hopes to one day travel to Mars.

15 of 21 Tava/YouTube

Quickly tap the Tesla logo three times...

This Easter egg, first revealed by Elon Musk in 2017, works on the Model S, X and 3.

tesla-drawing-app
16 of 21 Tava/YouTube

...and you'll access a sketchpad app.

When you're finished with your drawing, you have the option to send it to Tesla for them to "critique" your work.

This Easter egg was documented by Tava on YouTube.

tesla-staff-1
17 of 21 Timothy Bell/YouTube

In the "About Your Tesla" screen, tap and hold the lower right hand corner here...

If you have a Model 3, you'll want to tap and hold the number "3" in "Model 3," instead.

tesla-staff-2
18 of 21 Timothy Bell/YouTube

...and you'll get a photo of the Tesla staff.

This nice hat tip to the workers who assembled your car was recorded by Timothy Bell on YouTube.

tesla-42-1
19 of 21 TAVA/YouTube

Enter "42" as the name of your vehicle...

Douglas Adams fans know what's coming next.

telsa-42-2
20 of 21 Tava/YouTube

...and your car's name will be "Life, the Universe, and Everything."

This low-key egg was documented by Tava on YouTube.

tesla-easter-egg-basket
21 of 21 DÆrik/YouTube

Want easier access to all the best Easter eggs?

Here's a little shortcut for you: Go to the "About Your Tesla" page, tap the downward facing triangle at the top of the screen and drag it down.

You'll open up the Tesla Easter egg basket, where you can just tap the egg you want to launch.

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