Heated seats have been around for at least five decades, featuring in the 1966 Cadillac de Ville as a $60.20 optional extra, and have since become a fairly standard feature on cars sold in the colder Northern Hemisphere. The ever-creative and forward-thinking folks at Tesla, who've already got their hands full building their mass-market Tesla Model 3, designing trucks that can sprint to sixty in five seconds, and challenging Porsche around the Nurburgring have decided that the tried and tested heated seat is due for a redesign.

The announcement comes mere weeks after Tesla patented a new window wiper system, which begs the question of where the California-based automaker's priorities lie? This comes at a time when the world's most prolific EV manufacturer is dealing with claims of poor build quality and malfunctioning software which has not only put its reputation on the line but also that of its celebrity CEO Elon Musk.

Despite the questionable priority of this project, Tesla has filed a patent application for a liquid-operated heating system that makes use of a multi-layered system that pumps liquid around a contained vessel, ensuring an even spread of heat. The traditional way of heating seats is to use electric resistors: the more electric current running through the resistor, the more heat is produced. This can be applied to seats, steering wheels or armrests, wherever the human body needs a little loving.

Tesla plans on using its new liquid system to heat and cool seats using a metallic element to heat the fluid and air conditioning refrigerant to cool things down. It is not known what type of liquid will be used, but we suspect it will be some sort of gel, similar to that used in cold packs. The benefits of a liquid-based system include an evenly heated or cooled surface area, and silent operation, unlike the fan-based ventilation currently in use. Despite all its current woes, it's reassuring to know that Tesla's covering your ass.