This video review and interview focus on the updated Tesla Model Y, assessing whether it deserves to remain the world's best-selling car in the face of increasing competition. The presenter begins in Berlin, near Tesla's Gigafactory, highlighting that the new Model Y is already in production there. He notes that orders are already open for the new cars in Europe, as they are primarily supplied by the Gigafactory in Berlin, but China and Australia would be seeing the new model before the U.S.
The exterior changes are the first topic. It has a new nose and rear design, featuring slim headlights, a full-width light bar at the front, and a lower nose without a badge. A front-facing camera has been relocated for improved autonomous driving capabilities. While the car looks sleeker, the presenter feels it's become more generic, resembling other electric SUVs with similar light bar designs. The sides feature optional 20-inch wheels, and the overall profile is improved with a lower nose and a subtle rear spoiler. The rear bumper has been redesigned to protrude further, offering better protection in rear-end collisions and potentially lowering insurance costs. The rear also has a full-width reflective light bar, reportedly one of the largest in the world.
The presenter then discusses the driving experience, emphasizing that the new Model Y is significantly improved compared to the previous version. The suspension has been completely redesigned with different kinematics, making it more mature. The rear of the car is now a single-piece casting, reducing the component count and providing a more solid base for the suspension. Acoustic glazing and improved sound deadening contribute to a more refined and quieter ride. While the car remains heavy and fast, the changes have made it calmer and more predictable, making it a better family SUV.
The interior has also been upgraded without being revolutionary. The materials, particularly on the dashboard, are of higher quality. Ambient lighting has been added. The car has an indicator stalk, which the presenter felt that it could do some other tasks given the multifunctional usage of these features in many cars these days. It also has a 15-inch touchscreen that controls most functions, which the presenter found functional but suggested that physical buttons would be more practical. Connectivity, especially Wi-Fi and wireless charging pads, has been significantly improved. Heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are now standard. The review car is a long-range edition with a 16-speaker stereo and subwoofer for an enhanced audio experience. The backseat passengers have reclining seats and an 18-inch screen for entertainment. The boot space is slightly smaller but doesn't noticeably affect practicality.
The UK launch edition will feature 507 brake horsepower, all-wheel drive, and cost £60,990. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and offers a range of up to 353 miles. A standard version is expected to cost around £52,000. The car supports 250kW DC charging, reaching 10-80% charge in 27 minutes, and 11kW AC charging. Rear-wheel drive and standard range versions will also be available, with rumors of a super-range version with a 95kW battery potentially offering 500 miles of range.
The presenter interviews Lars Moravy, a Tesla executive, to discuss the challenges of improving the world's best-selling car. Lars explains the difficulties of balancing improvements with maintaining the aspects that customers already love. The primary focus was on improving the comfort, particularly for second-row passengers, while retaining Tesla's agility and responsiveness. This required first-principles engineering to improve ride quality without sacrificing handling. Acoustic performance was also prioritized through noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) improvements.
Lars details specific changes, starting with new tires designed for better compliance and reduced rolling resistance. The body stiffness has been increased, allowing the suspension to function more effectively. Kinematic adjustments have been made for more compliance, and the steering ratio has been slightly slowed for better predictability. Noise suppression has been improved through acoustic glass and other measures. Incremental improvements across various components, such as bearings, brakes, and fluids, have contributed to enhanced efficiency. Lars emphasizes that they changed over all four factories worldwide at the same time, while facing supply-chain challenges.
Regarding the future of EVs, Lars sees autonomy as a key area, aiming to make the car a better space for autonomous driving. He stresses the importance of continuous incremental improvements in efficiency, focusing on factors beyond battery technology, such as tires, aerodynamics, and brake drag. He claims the new model has a drag coefficient as low as 0.22.
In conclusion, the presenter acknowledges that the new Model Y addresses the previous model's issues and is a significant improvement. However, its design has become less distinctive, resembling other electric SUVs. The driving experience is superior, with improved efficiency, quieter operation, better steering, and a more comfortable ride. Despite these improvements, the presenter believes that Tesla needs to make a revolution rather than an evolution in the next iteration, as competition in the electric SUV market is rapidly increasing.