Tesla is revealing a rather substantial refresh of one of its bestselling cars, the Model Y electric SUV, now called ‘Juniper’. The upgrade in the model is set to offer a new look, new technology, and boosted performance once it is launched in 2025. The first thing that one immediately notices after a face lift is the exterior design. The Model Y shares some of the design features of the Model 3 but not some of the sharper details: Tesla has rounded the car to make it more streamlined. It comes with a larger version of Tesla’s familiar absence of a grille, with a longer, more sharply angled bonnet and reshaped headlights. At the rear, thin blades are applied to the lights giving an emphasis on the width of the car.

Performance and Range Upgrades

With the new Juniper update, there are improvements in Model Y’s performance and range enhancements across its range. The baseline Model Y with rear-wheel drive is now producing 300 horsepower and goes from standstill to 60mph in 5.2 seconds, half a second faster than before. In terms of the range that has been rated by EPA it has a range of 315miles.

The Long Range AWD variant of the Model Y sees the most gains, with the Standard Range AWD model also receiving a significant boost. Power increase up to 420 hp allowing for acceleration time of 3.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. Extended to 405 miles; aerodynamics, weight reduction, and improved efficiency are some of the improvements that have led to this change.

Last, but not least, the new seven-seaters have been introduced in the form of Model Y Performance with an astonishing power of 505 horsepower. It achieves 0-60mph in a mere 3.1 seconds – 0.2s faster than the previous model – and this is with an extra row of seating. Fuel efficiency is rated at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway while Range stands at 365 miles. 

Stability at High Speeds: 

Tesla says it has refined aerodynamics, with new Model Y’s drag coefficient of only 0.23 cd, 0.02 cd less than last year’s Model 3, which provides stability at high speed besides enhancing driving range. It suspends on new 20-inch aero wheels with caps that help reduce drag on the wheels.

Launching Pad For Tesla

On the inside, the Juniper Model Y is a launching pad for Tesla’s latest 17-inch horizontal infotainment touchscreen. The first time that the screen can track your gaze and follow your hand gestures is here as well. The entire instrument panel is less intrusive and is now an LCD display mounted on the dashboard. Other tech gizmos include Tesla Autopilot hardware version 3, OTA capability, a tri-zone climate control system, an amplified audio system, and multiple USB ports and wireless chargers.

The upgraded Model Y has been described by the CEO of Tesla as one of the most advanced electric vehicles in the market at the moment. 

What future is likely to be expected next

The minimal changes that are expected for the 2025 Model Y include improved headlamp assembly, reshaped rear vision lamp, and a slimmer front grill. We expect changes will also be the same as in Model 3 Highland such as better body fit and finish and better isolation glass to reduce noise level inside the car. Could the Model Y receive what the Model S and Model X got for 2021 release which are more range, a yoke steering wheel that may seem impressive but is rather frustrating and a Plaid model? We suppose it's possible.

In addition to that, Tesla has desired goals to partially eliminate differentiation in vehicle production. Perhaps buyers never come across the utilization of redundancies cut to minimize expenses, and, the fingers are crossed that, the expenses are preferably saved at the detriment of the shareholder and not the consumer.

Conclusion:

Tesla aims to begin production of Model Y Juniper in Q2 2024, while customers may receive vehicles from early 2025. The new edition of the electric SUV will put Tesla on a pedestal to face tough competition in the evolving global premium EV segment. Given that Model Y production reached more than half a million units worldwide to the present [1], the new Juniper model appears poised to further this success narrative.