Tesla Model 3, Every Other New Tesla Will Bear Chock-Full Self-Driving Hardware

Software, however, is a different story

Tesla's big announcement on Wednesday said that all their new models, including the Model 3, will encompass the necessary hardware to carry out autonomous actions.

In doing so, Tesla underlined that the new technology will enforce self-driving at far greater and safer levels than a human driver could reach.

Concisely, Tesla's new Autopilot feature uses eight surround cameras for 360-degree visibility up to 250 meters around the car, in any direction.

Furthermore, the cameras are assisted by twelve updated ultrasonic sensors, which are tasked with detecting hard and soft objects from twice as far as the previous setup.

Up front, a radar setup will scan the world ahead, regardless of how bad the weather conditions are. Basically, it can see through "heavy rain, fog, dust and even the car ahead," according to Tesla.

Handling the improved amenities is a new onboard computer 40 times more powerful than the previous stock.

The trick here is that together with the sensors, radar, and cameras, the entire setup projects a view of the world which would otherwise be inaccessible, as the car can now see "in every direction simultaneously and on wavelengths that go far beyond the human senses."

Tesla's blog post also mentions that Model S and Model X vehicles fitted with the new hardware are already on the production line, but while engineers are calibrating the system, some features will not be available, including the "automatic emergency braking, collision warning, lane holding and active cruise control."

Once these points are validated, an OTA (over-the-air) update will unlock them.

According to Road & Track, Elon Musk confirmed that the full suite will cost $8,000, a hefty $5,000 jump from the Autopilot's currently price tag of $3,000.

The same outlet further mentions that the Enhanced Autopilot will receive the go in December 2016. Once it's up and running, it will allow cars to change lanes, exit and switch highways without the driver's involvement.

UPDATE: Tesla released a video showing a Model X autonomously crusing around Palo Alto. Check it out below: