Tesla is offering a new performance version of its Model Y crossover for the European market. The new variant is aimed at boosting the company’s sales on the continent, which have been in free fall for most of the year thanks to growing competition from China and brand damage from Elon Musk’s fascist antics.
The Model Y Performance, which will go on sale in September, looks to be a step above the base model in most categories. It will be quicker, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, as compared to 4.8 seconds for the regular Model Y. It will have longer range, with an estimated 580 km (360 miles) based on the more generous WLTP standard. And it will have 460 horsepower, up from the 265 hp available in the rear-wheel drive model.
The improved performance hasn’t come at the expense of efficiency, which Tesla cites as thanks to “new, high-density battery cells.” The Model Y Performance will be able to add 243 km (151 miles) of range in 15 minutes. And the battery should consume power at a rate of 16.2 kWh/100 km.
Tesla has also made some tweaks to the look of the Model Y, adding new front and rear fascia and a carbon-fiber spoiler for improved aerodynamics. And the wheels are new 21-inchers, as compared to the 19- and 20-inch ones for the RWD and Long Range versions of the Model Y.
Inside the vehicle, Tesla has added some badging that looks similar to the Plaid themes used in its other performance vehicles. It also slightly increased the size of the center touchscreen to 16 inches from 15.4. The drive quality should be better thanks to adaptive damping adjustments and new drive modes for “high-speed driving.” This could be similar to the Tesla Model Y L upgrade that was just released in China, which has been praised for its improved road handling.
But the big question hanging over this new variant is whether it will help turn around Tesla’s fortunes in Europe. The automaker’s sales plunged a staggering 42 percent in July as buyers flocked to Chinese brands like BYD. This continued a trend we’ve been seeing over the course of the year, with Tesla’s sales dropping each month in the EU since January. Meanwhile, BYD’s July sales were up 225 percent. The drop in sales coincided with Musk’s move to the right, including his support for Germany’s right-wing AfD party.
Tesla has pinned its hopes on robotics and self-driving cars to help turn things around. But the automaker hasn’t received regulatory approval to sell its Full Self-Driving feature in the EU, limiting the company’s efforts to push that particular narrative on the continent.
The Model Y Performance starts at €62,000 (approximately $73,000) in Germany — though prices will vary country by country.
