- The prototype’s front and rear are covered, but there’s no hiding its identity.
- In addition to making exterior changes, Tesla will refresh the SUV’s interior.
- There’s a good chance the new Model Y will launch in 2025.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk confirmed in June that the long-awaited Model Y facelift will not debut this year. However, that doesn’t mean a new model isn’t in the works, and a Reddit user just snapped what appears to be one of the first prototypes of the refreshed EV.
The new Model Y is known as ‘Juniper’ and this prototype was snapped in Pasadena, California, by a Reddit user. Tesla has covered the front and rear of the test car with black cladding, limiting our ability to pinpoint the visual changes made to the world’s most popular EV. Nevertheless, it appears the front end has undergone a similar design refresh to the new Model 3, meaning it sits slightly lower than the outgoing model while also sporting narrower and sharper headlights.
Read: Elon Musk Confirms No Tesla Model Y Refresh Is Coming This Year
Given that the existing Model Y is essentially just a Model 3 with a slightly taller and more bulbous body, it’s reasonable to assume that the facelifted model will get at least some of the same styling tweaks as the Model 3. In addition to getting new headlights and taillights, the bumpers will be redesigned, and new wheel designs will be added.
Some updates are also expected on the interior of the Model Y. Like the Model 3, it will ditch traditional steering column stalks and shift important controls, including the turn signals, to the steering wheel. This change in the Model 3 generated plenty of controversy and has even prompted an aftermarket firm to start developing stalks for the new Model 3. Despite this, we do not expect Tesla to reverse course, retaining turn signals.
Possible New Model Y sighting
byu/JacklJack inTeslaModelY
Tesla doesn’t need to rush an update to the Model Y. Last year, it was the world’s best-selling EV, and while demand for it has slightly slowed this year, particularly in Europe, it remains a hugely popular choice.
When shooting down the possibility of the new Model Y premiering this year, Elon Musk noted that the carmaker “continuously improves its cars,” adding that a car “6 months newer will be a little better.” With that in mind, software updates will likely be pushed to the current Model Y while the world awaits the Juniper.
