The world's best-selling electric car is getting a facelift. The facelift of the Tesla Model Y, known as Project Juniper, has been revealed in China. For now, the battery-powered SUV is only available in the Land of the Dragon (the first deliveries are expected in March), but in the coming months it will also arrive in the rest of the world, including Europe.
This is a really important update when we know that the model has been on the market since 2019 and that over the years it has had to face increasingly fierce competition in all markets, while remaining at the top of sales all this time.
Compared to the outgoing Tesla, which is still available in our market, there are significant differences, and not only from an aesthetic point of view.
Inspired by the Cybertruck and Model 3
A glance at Tesla's Chinese site allows you to see the various changes to which the Model Y has been subjected.
The crossover's new design focuses even more on efficiency and aerodynamics. The length increased from 4,751 mm to 4,797 mm, while the width and height remained virtually unchanged at 1,921 mm and 1,624 mm.
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y (2025): the new Glacier Blue color
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y restyling, the new LED bar at the rear
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y (2025), side view
The front end has been redesigned with a Cybertruck-inspired lighting signature, with slim LED headlights connected by a light strip. The bumper has also been revised, with a new front camera to make maneuvering easier and improve Autopilot. At the rear, the “C”-shaped light clusters are joined by a light bar bearing the Tesla logo.
Five colors: Stealth Grey, Pearl White Multi-Coat, Quicksilver and Ultra Red, as well as the new Glacier Blue.
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y (2025), interior
The interior reflects innovations already introduced with the facelifted Model 3, including thicker windows for better soundproofing, customizable ambient lighting, ventilated front seats and power-folding rear seats, and new cloth upholstery for the dashboard.
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y (2025), the screen dedicated to rear passengers
The 15.4-inch main screen has been improved, as has the 8-inch screen for the rear passenger. The steering wheel is similar to that of the Model 3, although images from the Chinese site show a small additional lever, perhaps to operate the turn signals (a function that, until now, could be activated directly from the controls on the steering wheel). flying).
Engines and prices for China
As for the engines, the facelifted Model Y is sold in China in a RWD version (with a single rear engine) and a Long Range version with two engines and all-wheel drive.
The RWD version goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, with an announced range of 593 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle (which tends to be more optimistic than the WLTP), while the Long Range version reaches 100 km /h in 4.3 seconds and has a range of 719 km.
Photo : Tesla
Tesla Model Y (2025), rear three-quarter view of the car.
Both variants are equipped with LFP batteries, the capacity of which is not specified, and allow rapid charging, with maximum powers of 170 kW for the RWD and 250 kW for the Long Range.
Naturally, we are waiting to see if these figures will be confirmed on the European model. For the moment, the Chinese configurator does not offer a Performance version, which should be introduced later.
In the meantime, in China, the new Model Y is priced from 263,500 yuan (a little less than 35,000 euros), or around 5% more than the price of the previous model. Although we do not yet know the planned price list for Europe, it is likely that the restyled Model Y in France will cost a few thousand euros more than the current 43,675 euros.
Let us also remember that the car will also be produced in Europe in the Berlin Gigafactory, unlike the Model 3 which is assembled in Shanghai and the United States.
