by Tesla has introduced a more affordable rear-wheel-drive version of the Model Y with an increased range.
The new configuration is four thousand dollars cheaper while offering an additional 30 miles of range on a single charge.
The car is already available for order with the same features as the all-wheel-drive Long Range modification.
Just a few days after the announcement of the updated Model Y under the codename ‘Juniper’, Tesla has surprised again with a new product – the Long Range Rear Wheel Drive version. As the name implies, this model has lost one motor, gained a greater range, and, as expected, has become four thousand dollars cheaper than the all-wheel-drive variant.
The base price of the Model Y now starts at $33,990 for buyers eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. Without this credit, the car will cost $44,990. Including additional delivery and order processing fees, the total amount increases to $46,630. This makes it competitive with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6, but somewhat more expensive than the Mustang Mach-E. However, buyers get an additional 30 miles of range – 357 miles instead of the 327 miles of the all-wheel-drive version.
However, there are compromises – the rear-wheel-drive model is less dynamic. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes 5.4 seconds compared to 4.6 seconds for the all-wheel-drive variant (if the owner has not purchased the Acceleration Boost option). In the future, Tesla may offer a similar option for the base Model Y.
Among the good news is that the new base version has received the same standard options as the all-wheel-drive car. These include 19-inch ‘Crossflow’ wheels, Stealth Grey paint, and a black interior. Additional body colors or a white interior are available for an extra charge.
For autonomous driving enthusiasts, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) option is offered for eight thousand dollars. The first deliveries of the new model are expected within 3-5 weeks, although these timelines may change.
The all-wheel-drive version of the Model Y remains unchanged with a starting price of $48,990 excluding incentives and additional fees. So for those who value power and dynamics, they will have to pay extra.
More to Come
In addition to the base version of the updated Model Y, Tesla is preparing to launch its most affordable model. Although the exact release date is unknown (2025 or 2026), by the end of this year, we can expect the debut of the most powerful version of the Model Y in the Performance trim.
