The 2020 Tesla Model Y borrows among the identical underpinnings of the Mannequin 3 sedan, and marries it to what so many American households in the present day need: a crossover utility automobile form.
As such, the Mannequin Y has the potential to quantity to an excellent better gross sales success than the Model 3. The California carmaker could have been prescient in seeing a candy spot for electrical automobiles, however the Mannequin Y corrects what many see as a mistake made by Tesla (together with some full-line automakers) years in the past in selecting to prioritize sedans.
A meandering growth path
The Mannequin Y, which has been teased in varied methods since 2012, hasn’t been completely the identical challenge all alongside. Though the Mannequin 3 (or Model E) was initially to be have a complementary crossover within the Mannequin Y, the Mannequin 3 was given the push to manufacturing.
Then in 2015, CEO Elon Musk hinted that the Mannequin Y challenge was gaining complexity—partly, by confirming that it could have the same double-jointed “falcon wing” doors as the Model X. Musk deleted that tweet and later confirmed that the problematic door association received’t be used within the Mannequin Y.
Over a few quarterly calls in 2017, Musk revealed that the chief staff had introduced him “back from the cliffs of insanity,” and {that a} new philosophy was being adopted. It could have “most carryover,” from Mannequin 3, he stated, however the Mannequin Y will migrate to a next-generation electrical structure that can cut back the quantity (and weight) of wiring and finally purge 12-volt programs, which Musk stated have been “mistaken for every little thing.”
We’re nonetheless undecided if the Mannequin Y will get all or any of these electrical upgrades versus Mannequin 3; it is perhaps a part of the Mannequin Y story it is saving for someday nearer to the supply date.
Manufacturing specs
After some degree of obvious compromise, the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y find yourself sharing lots—about 75 p.c of their components, by early estimates, versus round 30 p.c for Mannequin S and Mannequin X.
Although the Mannequin Y has been revealed in manufacturing prototype type, and reservations are being taken, Tesla hasn’t but revealed most remaining manufacturing specs or dimensions.
Musk had tweeted previous to the introduction that the Model Y would be ten percent bigger. Whereas we’re nonetheless not clear on how that figures out, count on the Mannequin Y to have about the identical footprint because the Mannequin 3, which is about 185 inches lengthy and 76 inches vast, on a 113-inch wheelbase. However as a crossover SUV, the Mannequin Y will add a number of inches of total top, with the next roof and a slight improve in floor clearance seemingly.
Tesla Mannequin Y
The Mannequin Y will supply, at a value of $3,000, non-compulsory front-facing third-row seats that up the capability to seven. That configuration will not arrive till 2021, nevertheless, and the third-row lodging (from our in-person impression) are very, very small.
It should have the identical very low/steep entrance hoodline, so with the upper seating place it ought to promise nice outward visibility for a variety of drivers. Its interface will likely be very very like that of the Mannequin 3, with most automobile controls inside a 15-inch touchscreen system, supplemented by steering-wheel thumbwheels and voice controls.
The crossover is to be constructed on Tesla’s third automobile structure, which isn’t as aluminum-intensive because the Mannequin S and Mannequin X underpinnings. It’s anticipated to make use of the identical motors because the Mannequin 3 (permanent-magnet in again, induction in entrance), and the identical Panasonic 2170-format cells, produced on the Nevada Gigafactory.
Tesla does already embody efficiency numbers, nevertheless. Acceleration occasions are already famous to be as transient as 3.5 seconds to 60 mph, with a high pace of as much as 150 mph. Commonplace Vary variations take 5.9 seconds and get to 120 mph.
Battery and vary
Just like the Mannequin 3, the Mannequin Y will likely be accessible in Commonplace Vary and Lengthy Vary fashions, corresponding to 2 battery packs of roughly 50 kwh and 75 kwh—though it ought to be famous that Tesla doesn’t launch official battery capability numbers. Tesla is anticipating to hit an EPA-estimated 300 miles in Lengthy Vary rear-wheel-drive type, 280 miles in Twin Motor Lengthy Vary type, and 280 miles for the Efficiency mannequin. A Mannequin Y Commonplace Vary mannequin is due later for an estimated 230 miles of vary.
Manufacturing
Tesla will obtain Mannequin Y “quantity manufacturing by the top of 2020, almost certainly at Gigafactory 1,” it stated in a This fall 2018 monetary replace letter. Even on the launch occasion for the Mannequin Y, Tesla remained mum on any official resolution.
The corporate has additionally been a bit of bit intelligent about retaining some potentialities open, in saying that manufacturing of higher-cost variations of Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y will stay within the U.S. The one place Tesla has firmly dominated out for Mannequin Y quantity manufacturing (as just lately as final 12 months) is the carmaker’s overstretched Fremont, California, plant the place all the corporate’s different fashions are made.
Pricing
The Mannequin Y to start out at $48,200 (together with in the present day’s $1,200 vacation spot and paperwork payment) on the time of its introduction, with high Efficiency fashions in the present day beginning at $64,200, as much as $75,200 on in the present day’s order web site, should you go for $3,000 Autopilot and the $5,000 Full Self-Driving package deal. A Mannequin Y Commonplace Vary mannequin, beginning at $40,200, will arrive in early 2021.
Due date, and a altering market
Even earlier than its reveal, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had hinted that the Mannequin Y remained on a trajectory for first deliveries in mid-2020. Based mostly on the timelines supplied throughout Tesla’s official reveal of the Mannequin Y on March 14, 2019, it seems to be retaining near that schedule whereas accepting orders.
Underneath present timelines, Tesla expects the Mannequin Y Efficiency, Lengthy Vary rear-wheel drive, and Lengthy Vary Twin Motor variations to reach beginning in fall 2020, with an early-2021 arrival for the $40k Mannequin Y Commonplace Vary.
If Tesla can’t hold to that timeline—in its preliminary launch, or its manufacturing ramp—it might have a more durable time measuring as much as Mannequin 3 because of elevated competitors by way of anticipated automobiles from Ford, Volvo, and Nissan, amongst others, that can match into this identical measurement and value class.
It is unclear how the Mannequin Y will match into Tesla’s introduced online-only sales strategy, which might be taking have an effect on by then, after the automaker backtracked on the plan considerably (raising prices instead) and stated that it’ll hold “considerably extra shops open than beforehand introduced.” Because the shops have been hubs for displaying how its Supercharger community, house power, and Tesla’s complete “ecosystem” matches collectively, count on advertising and marketing—and the best way through which you reserve and purchase—to vary extensively between from time to time.
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This piece was initially printed on March 4, 2019. We’ll hold it usually up to date as extra is introduced about Mannequin Y. This is a listing of serious updates.
UPDATE 3/18/2019– Added details about automobile measurement, pricing, and due date. Clarified Tesla’s latest strikes relating to gross sales technique. Added ride-along video.
