Image: Riz Akhtar
Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has dashed hopes that the car maker will release a “refreshed” version of its best-selling Model Y following the success of the update on the Model 3 sedan.
Many existing owners and prospective buyers have been expecting a refresh for the Model Y, which would elevate the overall comfort and quietness of the world’s best-selling car. According to initial rumours, this refresh of the Model Y was expected to be later this year.
Musk, however, has quashed that rumour by saying that the Model Y will not be getting any major upgrades this year. “No Model Y “refresh” is coming out this year,” he wrote on X, his social media platform.
Musk goes on to say that Tesla cars get better all the time so buying a newer Tesla will be better than one that rolled off the line 6 months ago.
Tesla’s Model 3 refresh brought a lot of new changes to the previous model which had been in production for the Australian market since 2019.
Many of these happen to be much-requested changes in terms of the comfort levels of the car along with a focus on design and efficiency by Tesla.
On the inside, the comfort levels in the new Model 3 have been improved significantly via the introduction of various cabin noise reduction elements, including the back glass roof materials made up of acoustic glass as well as the rear windows.
The seats on the refreshed Model 3 add to that comfort by providing heated and cooling functionality.
The interior now also includes new ambient lighting along with the removal of the indicator and gear selector stalk. Tesla has also been offering smart shift functionality in these vehicles instead of the gear shifter it offered previously.
Both of Tesla’s vehicles are industry-leading when it comes to efficiency thanks to the aerodynamics of the vehicles. The refreshed Model 3 improved on that and hence saw an improvement in range.
Now the range on the most popular single-motor model is rated at up to 513 km. That’s up from the previous generation which offers up to 491 km of WLTP range.
While adding all those features on the refreshed Model 3, Tesla cut prices in a big way last month, making the more premium Model 3 as well as the current Model Y the cheapest they’ve ever been.
This has also pushed other manufacturers to follow suit which is a good sign for drivers looking at an EV.
Similar upgrades to the Model Y could certainly help boost sales but as it stands today, the locally delivered Tesla Model Y with upgraded cameras and styling update at $55,900 before on-roads is arguably the best electric vehicle on the market.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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