At the end of January, the updated Model Y was introduced to the American market, starting with a limited Launch Series edition. This version was available for only a few months, after which the standard all-wheel-drive Long Range variant from the updated lineup appeared.
If you missed the chance to order it, there is still an opportunity – at the time of publication, at least 18 such vehicles remain in Tesla’s US inventory. Observing the quantity, one can notice that the company periodically adds new units. Obviously, not all special Launch Series versions were sold, which is not surprising against the backdrop of the brand’s overall sales decline.
A detailed analysis of current offers on Tesla-Info shows 117 available 2026 Model Ys ready for delivery without waiting for a custom order. Among them, 18 belong to the Launch Series with a starting price of $59,990. After the tax credit, the cost is reduced to $52,490.
Buyers can choose between Quicksilver with 20-inch Helix wheels or Pearl White with standard 19-inch Crossflow wheels. Although the Launch Series included all main options, customers had the choice of color, wheels, and some other features. However, every vehicle in this series comes standard with Acceleration Boost and full self-driving capability.
These models are distributed across various states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Washington.
All Launch Series models are equipped with all-wheel drive featuring two motors and provide a range of up to 327 miles (526 km) with 19-inch wheels or 303 miles (488 km) with 20-inch wheels. With the Acceleration Boost feature, the car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, and the top speed is 125 mph (201 km/h).
Does the updated Model Y surpass the previous version? Reviews from owners and journalists indicate that it does. The new model is quieter, more comfortable to drive, and looks more refined. Regardless of one’s attitude towards Tesla, the update is acknowledged as a significant step forward.
Whether it’s worth paying extra for the Launch Edition depends on how important the included options are to you. Technically, it allows you to save several thousand dollars compared to the standard all-wheel-drive Long Range version, which would require adding extra features. If that is not critical, the regular LR offers a better price-to-quality ratio, even without Acceleration Boost, which is not yet available separately.