- New Performance version sees the 0-60mph sprint dispatched in 3.3 seconds
- Fresh alloy wheels and sporty design touches feature throughout
- Model Y Performance also boasts an all-new infotainment display
After a not-so subtle spoiler on social media earlier this week, Tesla has revealed a new Model Y Performance trim that will be available in the UK and select European markets, with first deliveries expected in September and October.
Priced at £61,990 UK or €61,990 in Ireland (around $83,500 / AU$128,000), the Model Y Performance delivers potent straight-line, erm, performance, with an official 0-60mph sprint time of just 3.3 seconds.
But rather than simply excelling in the traffic light Olympics, Tesla says the latest addition to the line-up has undergone rigorous validation and tuning, confirming that those spy shots from the Nurburgring were correct.
Thanks to a revised suspension system, including new springs, stabilizer bars, bushings and adaptive dampers, Tesla has been able to introduce a new selection of drive modes, with a dedicated Sport setting stiffening the ride to give the vehicle a more dynamic feel through corners.
Owners will also have more control over stability and traction control settings too, with the option to reduce traction control interventions when hitting the race circuit after the weekly shop.
Alongside the dramatic increase in performance (the powertrain now delivers 460bhp, compared to the 375bhp of the previous dual motor Model Y), Tesla has also introduced 21-inch ‘Arachnid’ forged alloy wheels, performance red brake calipers, a carbon fibre spoiler at the rear and aluminum pedals inside.
This is in addition to the new front and rear fascias that give it a more purposeful overall look — a massive improvement over the Model Y of old, we think you’ll agree.
Getting Europe back on track
Seeing as the new Model Y Performance will be assembled at the company’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, the UK and Europe will be among the first markets to receive the quickest accelerating Model Y.
It comes at a time when Tesla sales in those regions have started to slide at a rapid rate, with Chinese rivals making a huge and lightning fast impact on the overall market.
The likes of BYD, Zeekr, XPeng, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor and more have gained the attention of European buyers with excellent value propositions.
Although Tesla’s asking price isn’t exactly on the budget side of the spectrum, it’s still easier on the wallet than, say, a Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron or BMW i5 M60 xDrive, all of which offer similarly brutal acceleration figures.
What’s more, Tesla still offers the everyday practicality that made the Model Y the best selling car on the planet in the first place.
The front seats might have been replaced by more bolstered sports offerings, but they will still be fantastically comfortable over big distances. The official WLTP range is pegged at an impressive 360-miles, with Tesla’s renowned efficiencies remaining baked into the package.
Finally, Tesla says an all-new 16-inch touchscreen with thinner bezels and higher resolution have been added to the Performance model, packing nearly 80% more pixels and a “smoother more immersive” experience than the one found on the 15.4-inch display on other Model Y variants.
