Here’s Your First Look At Tesla’s New Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world; despite its starting price of $44,990, buyers just can’t get enough of the strong performance, impressive range, and crossover body style. It’s no wonder Tesla sold more than 1.2 million units globally last year. But the brand can’t rest on its laurels, and an update is needed to keep the Model Y appealing.

A prototype Model Y facelift (codenamed Juniper) has been spotted testing in the US with heavily disguised front and rear fascias. This suggests the updated model will receive new styling at either end, and our guess is that it will borrow styling cues from the new Model 3 sedan. While it’s difficult to tell, the front end appears slimmer than before, with the bulky headlights making way for slimmer, more streamlined clusters. Based on the slits in the camo, the lights will be positioned similarly to the smaller Model 3. The rear fascia will likely receive the boomerang-style lights seen on the updated Model 3 (codenamed Highland) as well.

Model Y Refresh Isn’t Coming In 2024… Or Is It?

Not much is known about Juniper, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed earlier this year that the updated model will not be introduced in 2024. The chief executive said via X (formerly Twitter), “No Model Y ‘refresh’ is coming out this year.” Musk added that the automaker “continuously improves its cars, so even a car that is [six] months newer will be a little better,” he remarked. This contradicts previous reports that suggested the new Model Y would debut this year.

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That said, there’s a possibility it will be revealed towards the end of the year and only made available in early 2025. This is just speculation, though, as Tesla has yet to make any announcements about the Model Y. However, a Reddit user who claims to know former well-connected Tesla employees shared that the Model Y Juniper update may “come out sooner than expected to counter poor numbers” from Model 3 sales.

Model Y ‘Juniper’ Likely To Borrow Interior Updates From Model 3

Even though the Tesla Model 3 facelift improved the electric sedan in several aspects, some revisions haven’t gone down well with customers. To start with, Tesla removed the physical gear selector from Model 3, along with the indicator stalk. The cumbersome arrangement has infuriated some who have searched for EVs with conventional controls.

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As such, seeing if the Model Y Juniper arrives with similar updates will be interesting. The current model (introduced in 2020) maintains its traditional controls, but the likelihood of a new model arriving without mimicking the Model 3’s interior updates is slim. If the Juniper Model Y follows in the new Model 3’s footsteps, we can expect improved acceleration, range, and a much-improved Performance variant. The upcoming revisions will undoubtedly keep it at the top of the EV pack – until rival manufacturers introduce truly affordable electric cars, at least.

Source:
Reddit