We’ve been waiting for a few years now, and it’s finally here! This is the 2021 Tesla Model Y, the electric car company’s second SUV and its fifth production car ever.
Elon Musk pulled the covers off this compact crossover at an event held at Tesla’s Los Angeles design studio, and revealed specs and features of the new model.
The Model Y is the smaller companion to Tesla’s Model X SUV, built on the same platform as Tesla’s entry-level Model 3 saloon.
The Model Y has a similar fastback profile to the Model X, though the new crossover ditches the bigger SUV’s Falcon Wing doors. Those can draw a crowd anywhere, but they’re expensive and complicated, so they don’t make much sense on the more-affordable Model Y.
Like the X (and the S), the Model Y will be available as a seven-seater, though checking that box will cost you £3000.
Interestingly, Tesla will offer the Model Y in rear-wheel drive form, with a Long Range version coming fall 2020 and a “Standard” version arriving Spring 2021.
For all-wheel drive, there’s a base Dual Motor model and a top-spec Performance version, both of which will be available at launch in fall 2020. The Long Range version promises 300 miles of real world range, while the Performance will run from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Even the eventual Standard Y has impressive specs, with 230 miles of range and a sub-six-second 0-60 mph run.
Thanks to the low centre of gravity afforded by Tesla’s floorpan battery pack, Musk says the Model Y will handle like a sports car.
Musk expects the Model Y to outsell the Model S, X and 3 combined, which isn’t surprising given the popularity of compact luxury crossovers.
Pricing starts at £39,000 for the Standard version, the Long Range will cost £47,000, the Dual Motor AWD will cost £51,000, and the Performance will cost £60,000. As Musk promised, each of those base prices is about 10 percent higher than a comparable Model 3.
While deliveries won’t begin for more than a year, you can head to Tesla’s site and put in an order and a £1000 deposit now:
https://www.tesla.com/modely
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