Already on Friday we reported about the Tesla Model 3 Facelift "Highland" that was spotted on the Fremont test track. The video allowed us a first look inside the Model 3 and although most of the interior was covered, we did get a look at the steering wheel, which looks very similar to the Model S and Model X's round steering wheel with capacitive buttons.
The 14-minute video, posted on YouTube, now confirms that the new Model 3 will not have a shift lever like the Model S and Model X. Instead, it will use Tesla's Smart Shift technology. The video shows a Tesla engineer getting into the car and buckling up. Before he puts the car in reverse, he swipes down on the left side of the central display instead of using the shift lever. This user interface (UI) is similar to that of the Model S/X, where you swipe up to engage forward gear and down to engage reverse.
The video shows the manual version of Smart Shift, while the actual feature is able to automatically switch between forward and reverse gears based on the vehicle's previous movement and objects around it. However, in the Model S/X, there are also touch switches on the center console that serve as additional support in case of emergency. However, due to the camera angle and the distance of the drone footage, this is not visible in the video.
