THE WORLD’s best selling car is set to receive its first major update since being launched in 2019.
Tesla’s Model Y began production in 2020 and quickly became popular among electric car drivers.
Now five years on from its first announcement, the car is set to receive a major facelift and upgrades.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk had previously said the Model Y would not be updated in 2024, with the firm prioritising other product launches.
However, the first pictures of the updated SUV – codenamed Project Juniper – have been published online.
The first of the hastily-taken snaps show a new full-width light bar embossed with the Tesla name running along the sleek black boot, with a small camera hidden within.
A second shot, this time of the interior, only shows the edge of the dash and the new door design, which is similar to that of the Model 3.
The Model Y has not been updated since its 2020 launch, which means it has struggled to differentiate any usability or performance advantage over its rivals.
The SUV’s maximum 331-mile range, for example – seen as a headline attribute at its launch – has now been surpassed by cheaper rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq and Peugeot e-3008.
Addressing that shortcoming will be a focus of the Model Y’s facelift, as it was for the Model 3, which can now travel up to 8% further on a charge than it did previously, thanks to extensive revisions to its aerodynamics and electronics, according to Autocar.
The Model Y will follow its hatchback sibling in gaining a revised front end, with the headlights and bumper reshaped to cut through the air more efficiently and boost range while also reducing wind noise at a cruise.
This treatment lowered the Model 3’s drag coefficient from 0.23 to 0.219, making it one of the slipperiest cars on sale.
A similar treatment for the SUV could contribute to a range of more than 350 miles in its most efficient form.
Another focus of the refresh will be to improve the Model Y’s usability and quality credentials.
To that end, the Model 3’s redesigned centre console, new upmarket textiles and 8.0in rear touchscreen are expected to be carried over.
One of the more controversial elements of the Model 3’s facelift was the migration of the indicator controls from a stalk to the steering wheel and it remains to be seen whether Tesla will react to criticism of that by retaining the Model Y’s traditional controls.
The latest images of the new Model Y suggest it will be differentiated most obviously from the current car by a new rear light bar that is notably different from the C-shaped clusters added to the back of the Model 3.
These were the top 10 best selling cars globally in 2023, according to car intelligence firm JATO Dynamics.
Tesla is not expected to make drastic changes to the powertrain and charging system – the Model Y’s 250kW maximum charge speed is still one of its strong suits – but the top-rung Performance version is likely to receive a significant increase in power to take the fight to the new electric Porsche Macan Turbo.
As an indication, the 453bhp Model 3 Performance cracks 0-62mph in just 3.1sec and achieves a top speed of 163mph.
Assuming the Model Y gets close to those figures, it will be one of the fastest crossovers on the market.
In 2023, the Model Y became the best selling car globally, with over 1.2 million units being purchased according to analysis by JATO Dynamics.
The automotive intelligence firm said it was a result achieved by no other manufacturer before.
Earlier this year, a glitch on Tesla’s website meant customers could order a brand new Tesla Model Y for just £66 a month – before the EV maker back-tracked and cancelled all affected orders.
