Tesla Model Y Preview

Nearly five years ago, the first Model Y units were delivered to their owners, marking the debut of a global best-seller. Today, Tesla is introducing the new Model Y. The new Model Y features extensive reengineering, maximizing efficiency, comfort, connectivity, and safety, with a completely redesigned interior and exterior.  Model Y has been produced in over 3.5 million units at Tesla’s Gigafactories across three continents. Since day one, Model Y has been praised globally for its versatility, ease of use, practicality, safety, and efficiency, all at an accessible price point. In 2023, Model Y made history by becoming the first-ever electric vehicle to top the global best-selling vehicle list, across all powertrains and energy types. This is further proof that electric vehicles appeal to a broad audience and are suitable for a wide range of scenarios. Europe was no exception, with Model Y topping regional registration lists and becoming the best-selling vehicle of any kind in the region in 2023, along with numerous local successes. Produced in Europe for Europeans at the Tesla Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory since 2022, Model Y has already had a significant impact on transitioning the local fleet to sustainable transport, in line with Tesla’s mission. 

With the introduction of the new Model Y, Tesla builds on a global best-selling platform to bring a new benchmark to the market.  Considering the feedback from owners, Tesla’s engineering and design teams have developed the new Model Y incorporating significant improvements in refinement, premium-ness and ergonomics in every area, while not departing from what made it a global bestseller. The new Model Y is designed with a focus on ride comfort while retaining the agility and connection Tesla is known for. Building on the improvements brought to Upgraded Model 3, new chassis settings and attributes provide a high-level of comfort to all passengers, without compromising handling. The new Model Y features a fully redesigned exterior that offers exceptional aerodynamic efficiency, high-speed stability, crash safety, and build quality. Differentiating from Model 3, the front and rear lightbars draw on Cybertruck and Cybercab designs. The front lightbar introduces a new distinctive look and supports adaptive headlights. The rear light bar spans across the vehicle, making it not only one of the largest lightbars in the industry, but also the world-first production application of an indirect, externally reflected lighting system that projects the rear lamp function onto a custom applique.  

The exterior redesign has reduced the overall drag and combined with new wheels featuring improved aerodynamics and low-resistance tires, it leads to enhanced range. Model Y was already the most efficient SUV in its class. By carefully reworking every energy-consuming subsystem, Tesla has unlocked significant improvements in energy efficiency, resulting in real-world gains for owners without additional costs. A new front camera is now available, located in the front fascia. It offers drivers an expanded view of the surroundings on the center screen and is equipped with a fluid washer and integrated heating to prevent fogging and defrost in cold weather conditions. Excellence in interior refinement and ambience has been a key focus with the new Model Y. The cabin is enveloped in premium yet durable materials, including aluminum and textile, while customizable ambient lighting is dynamically integrated for both day and night. Additionally, new manufacturing processes provide an elevated level of craftsmanship. 

With the introduction of acoustic glass on every surface, paired with new sound-dampening materials, the new Model Y offers a whisper quiet ride. Road noise is reduced by 22%, impact noise by 20% and wind noise by 20%. New low-E glass also reflects 26% more solar energy, helping maintain the perfect temperature when combined with a quieter, more efficient air-conditioning system. The two front seats have been redesigned for improved comfort and are now ventilated. The second-row seats also offer enhanced comfort and convenience with easier-to-access buckles, longer cushions, deeper bolsters, with powered recline and fold-flat operation. Both first and second rows are heated, and all are working seamlessly with integrated climate controls. The new center console now features sliding doors with precise, smooth movement, and is covered in genuine aluminum revealing both a cupholder and extra storage. Additional aluminum accents adorn the steering wheel, door trims, and instrument panels. True to its original uncluttered driving experience, the new Model Y includes both haptic switches and physical buttons. Ergonomics and usability are enhanced with customizable steering wheel switches for quick access to frequently used vehicle functions. A new precision-engineered indicator stalk ensures effortless control while driving. 

Second-row passengers can now enjoy their own 8” touchscreen, featuring integrated climate controls and entertainment options, including gaming, audio, and video streaming. Fast-charge laptops and other portable devices is convenient, with one front and two rear USB-C charging ports, with up to 65W of power. The audio system has been redesigned to offer an even more immersive music listening experience. Some speakers are invisible thanks to an acoustically transparent textile material developed in-house, which compliments the sleek aesthetic of the interior and enhances audio performance. Improvements have also been made to the microphones, for better call quality.  Connectivity has reached the next generation with redesigned hardware, delivering a significant boost to cellular performance: 50% faster download speeds and a 30% greater range. Wi-Fi connectivity has also been greatly improved, with download speeds up to 300% faster for smoother video streaming and software updates, and a range extension of up to 200%, ensuring sustained connectivity in areas like garages and driveways. Phone key performance and reliability have seen a 10X improvement, thanks to the addition of Ultra-Wideband and other enhancements, which also enable automatic trunk opening when paired with the Tesla app. 

As with all Tesla vehicles, these hardware improvements will enable additional features via over-the-air software updates, free of charge for owners, in the future.  Starting with a limited edition - new Model Y Launch Series, Long Range All-Wheel Drive, offering 568 km of range, 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 4.3s, 201 km/h top speed, and specific attributes with custom finishes. The new Model Y will be on display in Ireland, starting 31st January and is already avaialble to order.