In a busy week for Openpilot enthusiasts, three new community-tuned driving models were released:
- Le Tomb Raider 14 (Le TR14) on July 14
- Le Tomb Raider 14h (Le TR14h) on July 18
- Tomb Raider 16 (TR16) also on July 18
Each brings its own approach to lane-centering, lead following, and braking—but none are perfect. Here’s a breakdown of what testers are saying.
Le Tomb Raider 14 (Le TR14): Policy Takes Over
Le TR14 introduced a significant architecture change: lead detection and probability shifted from vision to policy. This adjustment aims to make lead handling more consistent and accurate.
Highlights:
- Highway Lane-Centering: Praised for stable highway performance and smooth lane holding at higher speeds.
- Left Hugging Remains: Left-lane bias persists, especially on unmarked roads.
- Torque Inconsistencies: Right-hand curves and lane changes feel weaker; left turns smoother.
- Toggle Confusion: The “Dynamic Model Outputs” toggle confused many testers, affecting not just longitudinal but also lateral behavior.
- Longitudinal Performance: Decent, but following distances can feel too close.
Summary: Le TR14 offers solid highway behavior but struggles in urban environments and tight turns.
Le Tomb Raider 14h (Le TR14h): The Baguette Strikes
Le TR14h appeared just days later with minimal explanation from devs—leading some to jokingly call it the “baguette model.” While there was little official documentation, early driving tests revealed clear differences from its predecessor.
Highlights:
- Smoother, More Centered Lateral Control: Many testers, including owners of the 2025 Ioniq 5 and RAV4 Prime, reported significantly improved lane-centering across speeds.
- Lead Detection Improvement: Le TR14h seems to handle lead vehicles more reliably, though it’s aggressive when braking.
- Braking Aggressiveness: Users consistently reported harsh, last-second braking, with ABS kicking in more often than previous models.
- Curve Handling: Lateral control in curves is aggressive, sometimes “pushing” vehicles towards the lane line during exits.
- Low-Speed Behavior: At lower speeds, Le TR14h struggles, with late steering corrections leading to close calls near curbs.
- Highway Comfort: For medium to high-speed driving, this model feels stable and reliable—some drivers finally felt ready to trust Openpilot for long road trips.
- A Mixed Verdict: Many wish they could combine Le TR14h’s lateral with TR15v2’s smoother braking.
Summary: Le TR14h may be the strongest lateral model to date for straight highways and sweeping curves—but it brakes late and hard.
Tomb Raider 16 (TR16): Divisive but Promising
Released the same day as Le TR14h, TR16 built on the Tomb Raider series’ focus on refining lateral control.
Highlights:
- Excellent Lane Holding: Stronger lane-centering than earlier TR models, with reduced lane-edge hugging.
- Inconsistent Longitudinal: Like Le TR14h, TR16 tends to brake too late and too hard. It also follows lead vehicles too closely, sometimes failing to decelerate safely.
- Exit Ramp Problem: TR16 often follows lead vehicles onto exit ramps unnecessarily—a behavior previous models like TR15v2 avoided.
- Steering Dropouts: Some users reported TR16 simply stopping steering mid-curve, without issuing a takeover alert.
- NNLC and Dynamic Outputs: Whether to use Neural Network Lane Centering (NNLC) remains debated. Some testers find smoother performance with it off.
Summary: TR16 feels stable and trustworthy on straight roads and gentle curves but stumbles in complex traffic scenarios.
Which Model Should You Use?
| Model | Lateral Control | Longitudinal Control | Known Issues | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le TR14 | Moderate | Decent | Left hugging, inconsistent torque | Highway cruising |
| Le TR14h | Strong | Harsh & Aggressive | Late braking, curve exit oversteering | Highway + sweeping roads |
| TR16 | Stronger | Harsh & Close-Follow | Exit ramp following, braking late | Long highway stretches |
Final Thoughts
The release of Le TR14, Le TR14h, and TR16 showcases the Openpilot community’s relentless experimentation. Each model represents progress—but none are flawless.
- If you value stable highway lane-keeping, Le TR14h or TR16 may be your best bet.
- For smoother braking and lead management, older models like TR15v2 might still be your safest option.
As always, hands on the wheel, eyes on the road—and feedback shared with the community can help steer future improvements.