Elon Musk Unveils Tesla’s Newest Compact SUV- Model Y

At the Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, California Tesla’s Model Y was unveiled by Elon Musk. Model Y is the electric carmaker’s new compact SUV and is due out in 2020, the base model SUV price starts from $39,000(Rs 27 Lakhs).

The long-range version will travel 300 miles on a single charge and will sell for $47,000(Rs 32.5 Lakhs), while the $60,000(Rs 41.5Lakhs) performance version will be capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. It’s Elon Musk’s fifth car ever to hit the road, and the company’s second attempt at a mass-market electric vehicle.

The $47,000 long-range Model Y will come first in the fall of 2020, Musk said. Tesla will also sell an all-wheel-drive dual motor version for $51,000, and a performance version for $60,000— both of which will also be available in fall 2020. The cheaper, standard range version with a range of 230 miles won’t be available until 2021, Musk added.

Roomier than a Model 3 but not as imposing as a Model X, the Model Y can seat seven, as demonstrated during the event Thursday evening.

Features

The new Model Y will have an exterior design that is similar to the Model X. However, it will be a smaller and more compact SUV.

Tesla’s Model Y will have a grille-free front fascia. This will give the compact SUV a more  sporty yet a futuristic design. In addition to that, the new SUV has a choice to not having any side mirrors. Instead, it will have a pair of High Definition cameras discreetly hidden upon its exterior body. This is a nice touch by the Tesla automobile designers.

An iconic feature of the new Tesla Model Y is that its doors open up in a Falcon-Style. By doing so, they allow for entry and exit in tight spaces. Moreover, the doors also give access to the second and third row of the car’s seats. The new SUV’s body style sweeps from the front to the back in an aerodynamic way. Furthermore, the SUV will be available only with a short wheelbase. In doing so, it will be compact in nature.

Upon entry, the car has a multi-functional steering wheel. It has a three-spoke design. In addition to that, there are touch-sensitive buttons on it that assist the driver to manipulate various features of the car without taking his hands off the wheel.

Other features includes:

• 12-way power adjustable front and rear heated seats
• Three independently folding 2nd row seats
• Premium audio – 14 speakers, 1 subwoofer, 2 amps, and immersive sound
• Satellite-view maps with live traffic visualization and navigation
• In-car internet streaming music & media
• Internet browser
• Location-aware automatic garage door opener
• LED fog lamps
• Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
• Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
• Music and media over Bluetooth
• Custom driver profiles
• Center console with storage, 4 USB ports and docking for 2 smartphones

Picture credit: Tesla