Tesla Model Y Updated With More Power And Better Looks

Tesla has given the Model Y minor updates in its biggest market, China. The world's current best-selling vehicle receives aesthetic updates inside and out, plus performance improvements - all while keeping its price tag intact in the People's Republic.

One of the most noticeable updates is the improvement in acceleration, with the base rear-wheel-drive Model Y now boasting a quicker 0-62 mph time of 5.9 seconds - up by a full second from its previous rating. The top speed stays at 135 mph. Meanwhile, the dual-motor versions' acceleration rates and top speed are the same as the pre-update models.

The Model Y has gotten a slight boost in CLTC-estimated ranges, with the base RWD variant reaching an impressive 344 miles on a single charge - a gain of 5 miles from the previous rating.

Meanwhile, the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Long Range version in the People's Republic has received a 17-mile increase, now rated at 428 miles. Despite these updates to the other Model Y variants, the top-of-the-line Performance version was untouched.

It's unclear what's changed in the drive units to improve the acceleration in the RWD Model Y and achieve longer range. Still, reports from China also indicate an update in Hardware 4.0 (HW4) self-driving computer and NVH insulation.

Additionally, Tesla has enhanced the aesthetics by painting the base Gemini Wheels black, adding a touch of sophistication to the vehicle's exterior even with the default set of wheels.

Inside, the update introduces ambient lighting as an LED strip that spans the dashboard, mimicking the lighting update on the facelifted Tesla Model 3. Notably, the wood trim on the black interior Model Y dash has been replaced with a different material.

Despite these enhancements, Tesla has kept the price of the base Model Y in China unchanged at RMB 263,900 or around $36,785 at the current exchange rates.

Of note, this isn't a major update like the one employed on the Tesla Model 3 (except in the US). That will come at a later date, with a heavy revamp, known internally as the Project Juniper, expected to arrive on the electric crossover next year.