Watch the fascinating Tesla Model S autopilot mode freak out a test driver

Tesla, the company involved in the business of turning science fiction to science fact, recently demonstrated their Model S sedan pulling some pretty intelligent moves in city traffic, completely unassisted.

From current-day cars that can self-park and even intelligently maintain lanes when in cruise control mode, there now appears to be evolved ability where a car can navigate through actual city traffic. Known as their Autonomous Level 2 system, Tesla maintains it is not fully autonomous, but from what was demonstrated it does seem to just… work.

When engaged, the completely glass dashboard switches to a depiction of the actual vehicles on the road ahead in relation to itself. The Tesla Model S uses a concert of radar, visual and ultrasonic sensors, enabling the vehicle to obtain an intimate understanding of the surrounding traffic situation. The autonomous update to this car takes things to the next level by using this granular information to actually have the car drive itself--from accelerating to braking to even changing lanes--in response to real traffic as it winds its way towards its destination. Any type of driver intervention, such as hitting the brakes or grabbing the steering wheel, causes the car to instantly hand over control to the driver.

The fact that this demo took place in a real-world setting--New York City traffic, no less--is stunning in itself. Then to think this ability was the result of a firmware update to the car boggles the mind even more.

Watch, as this autonomously driven Jalopnik test driver gets his mind blown.