That must explain why the Space Shuttle always flew upside down once in orbit!

AFAIK both the center console and the dashboard display are controller by the same computer. It's the low-level stuff that doesn't use Linux.

The Model S has a webkit-based browser, plays MP3's, etc, etc. I'm glad Tesla did not write their own OS which then runs on 100,000 cars. I'd much rather have an OS that has been running on 100 million CPU's for many many years. The low-level stuff (controlling the power to the ~300kW motor) doesn't use Linux.

The Model S is actually designed from scratch and has no Lotus heritage whatsoever. The Roadster has 7% of its parts in common with the Lotus Elise and was built on the same production line.