It seems like every other day arrives with some big news about Tesla and its incorrigible CEO, Elon Musk. The latest is the release of a sub-two-minute video showing off the California automaker’s various products in the making and on the road, and it includes a brief glimpse of what can only be a rough Model Y prototype.
Continue reading for the full story.
The Full Story
First, a brief synopsis of what the video portrays. It opens with a drone shot of Tesla’s enormous factory in Fremont, California, before getting to interior shots of busy production line workers churning out Model 3’s.
Later, the video shows an array of solar panels and complementary battery packs, as well as shots of Tesla’s power restoration project in Puerto Rico. Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria last year, Tesla pledged to help bring electricity back to the island by establishing a new green energy grid.
The video also shows the Tesla Semi and the new Tesla Roadster 2.0, including shots of the Roadster 2.0 interior as it leaps off the line in an insane display of torque and traction, reaching 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds. The cabin includes a rectangular steering wheel, a large touchscreen, and a streamlined layout. The video ends with passengers losing their minds over the Roadster’s incredible quickness.
It’s all rather engaging stuff, and pure fan boy fuel for those of you crushing on the Musk. However, we’re most interested in what’s shown at the 15-second mark.
Look closely, and you’ll see what appears to be a shrouded prototype, leading many to speculate that this is our first glimpse at the highly anticipated Model Y all-electric compact crossover. Although the video doesn’t provide much in terms of details, it does look as through the Y will have a similar door line and overall length as the Model 3 sedan, which makes sense considering it’s based on the same platform as the affordable four-door. What’s more, it looks as though the Y will rock a similar rounded rear design as the Model X.
Elon Musk recently revealed that the Y will most likely be built at the company’s various Gigafactory battery plants, possibly including one in China, as opposed to the overburdened plant in Fremont that’s currently working overtime to pump out Model 3’s. In terms of the timeline, Musk also said that Y production could ramp up around early 2020.
As a reminder, the Model Y will offer a more affordable option to Tesla customers looking to get into an all-electric crossover or SUV, slotting in under the already-released Model X. It’s believed the Y will come with a variety of options for the powertrain, including both RWD and AWD, as well as a slew of battery packs ranging between 75 kWh and 100 kWh.
References
Read our full review on the 2020 Tesla Model Y.
Read more Tesla news.