Tesla vehicles might soon be equipped for that special trip to the Thunderdome.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted at a “Mad Max” mode — named after the post-apocalyptic adventure from director George Miller — for its self-driving system Autopilot.
On Sunday night, Musk shared a tweet from November 2017 by user Jon Gold, complementing the entrepreneur on the “Mad Max” inspired image of Tesla’s Semi self-driving truck.
“Tesla Semi Truck in Mad Max Mode,” wrote Musk as he shared the tweet.
It initially seemed like Musk was cracking a joke, but in a subsequent tweet, Musk said “Mad Max” mode was a real thing.
Tesla Semi Truck in Mad Max Mode https://t.co/hL5v9rikhW
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 24, 2018
It’s real pic.twitter.com/L9h3F86Guo
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 25, 2018
The screenshot shared by Musk appears to show a development build of Autopilot with a series of options including blind spot threshold, which helps the system in performing moves such as changing lanes on a highway. The threshold has three settings: Standard, Aggressive and Mad Max.
“We considered going beyond Mad Max to ‘LA Freeway’ level, but that’s too loco,” Musk joked with one Twitter user.
The mode is currently unavailable to Tesla owners. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on details of the mode.
Musk said it’s a “tough call” deciding which options users will have available through Autopilot, as it also ensures the system still works safely.
“Reality is that it will be pretty easy to bully a self-driving car, as it will always yield,” wrote Musk. “Will prob have a manual override that requires continuous press for hardcore lane changes.”
It’s a tough call. Reality is that it will be pretty easy to bully a self-driving car, as it will always yield. Will prob have a manual override that requires continuous press for hardcore lane changes.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 25, 2018
More: Musk tells fans ‘full self-driving’ Teslas are near, as investigators dig into Autopilot accidents
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.