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Meet the most affordable Tesla yet

Meet’ Tesla’s contribution to Turtle on Stilts week — its cheapest car yet, the new 2020 Model Y compact SUV. Tesla’s fourth mainstream model takes design cues from both the Model 3 saloon and Model X large SUV, with a glass panoramic roof and optional seven-seat layout with pillarless doors.

10% larger than the Model 3, with which it shares a platform and three-quarters of its components, the BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe-sized machine allegedly offers the functionality of an SUV but rides like a sports car, with a low centre of gravity and drag coefficient of 0.23Cd.

Long Range, Dual Motor and Performance models arrive int he US next year (no news yet of SA release, but with Eskom as it is that may take a while), the Long Range model will get a 450km range, 5.5 seconds to 100kmh and 210km/h, but do not expect to get all three of those at the same time, while the Dual Motor model has a slightly lower 400km range, hit 220km’h and speed to 1000 in 4.8 seconds, while Performance gets to 100 in 3.5 sec and tops 245km/h. 

Model Y is compatible with Tesla’s third-generation Superchargers capable of 250kW charging to recover 120km of range in five minutes. Tesla now has more than 12,000 Superchargers globally across 36 countries.

Inside, the Model Y gets a single 15.0in touchscreen interface containing all controls, split-folding second-row seats and a front boot and a rear hatchback make for 1869 litres total load space.