reads article
Oh. An anti-feature.
> The only difference is that the software on the lower-end version limits the capacity of the S60’s battery, crippling its range. In fact, owners can instantly transform a lowly S60 into an S75 at any time for a fee of $9,000 ($500 more than if they’d initially bought it that way). They don’t even have to bring the car to a service center. Tesla flips the software switch remotely.
As users find out about things like this, and as it starts effecting them more and more, there will be an aura of distrust.
Currently, I'd say programmers or IT-related people are the only ones that care about this. But as soon as the consumer sees they need to pay 9k for something they already have? Closed source software is done for.
The 4S did come with noise-cancelling microphones and an extra chip to support this; I believe the official line is that this hardware was required for Siri to work with sufficient reliability.
Edit: here's an article about jailbroken Siri: http://www.cultofmac.com/133196/fully-functional-siri-arrive...
When I had to register my car in a different state the ad valorem taxes and fees were $500 in the first year.
So you buy the 60, after you register the car and get the license plate, you pay $9k and save money on taxes.