It’s been over two weeks since Tesla unexpectedly unveiled the heavily revised version of its Model Y crossover known as project Juniper. The manufacturer never put out a press release outlining the changes it made to the Model Y, but it has now released a video showcasing the new features, and, unsurprisingly, there were some things we missed.
The big thing everybody was talking about when the Model Y Juniper was revealed online was the design changes. It looks completely different with full-width front and rear light bars and redone fascias. What we didn’t know, though, is that Tesla managed to make the trunk opening larger on the Juniper than on the pre-refresh model.
We did spot some new things when we saw a made-in-Germany Model Y in the metal earlier this month, like the new drain plug in the revised frunk, the new electric folding rear bench or the general improvement in interior materials and assembly quality. What we couldn’t have known (since we’ve not driven one yet) is that the revised cabin is also 20% quieter, which was achieved through the use of acoustic glass all around the vehicle.
The video also shows what appears to be a tailored cool box that fits perfectly inside the frunk. They also mention that a line of dedicated Model Y accessories will be revealed soon, and this is one of them, but they don’t hint at what the others are.
17
InsideEVs/Andrei Nedelea
The Juniper gets around 3% more EPA range (up from 311 miles to 320 miles in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant), most of which comes from improved efficiency. In the video, Tesla VP for Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy notes that real-world driving efficiency has increased by “almost 10%,” which doesn’t quite match the state range gain, but it’s still a welcome improvement.
This was achieved by “revisiting every single component,” although the new wheels and tires that the car ships with likely play a significant part in the efficiency gain.
Like the Model 3 Highland, the Model Y gets a completely overhauled suspension system, which is more geared toward comfort than before. As we’ve seen in the Model 3, this does away with some handling sharpness and engagement, but the comfort gains are so significant that we can forgive it. We’re sure the Performance variant will have stiffer suspension, which driving enthusiasts prefer, not regular drivers.
Tesla design boss Franz von Holzhausen revealed his favorite part of the redesigned Model Y. It’s not the new reflective rear light bar, which is an industry first, but rather the light this emits onto the ground behind the vehicle. Von Holzhausen likens this to the afterburner glow of a jet airplane, and we agree that it looks really cool and unique.
We will soon be driving the Model Y Juniper in Europe. The car needs to deliver and then some to counteract falling Tesla sales worldwide, partly caused by Elon Musk’s pivot into politics and his support of Preisdent Donald Trump, who is openly anti-EV. It would be wild if the Model Y ceased be the world’s best-selling vehicle in the same year when it received a significant update that made it better in every single way after two years straight as the global best-seller. With all that’s happening at Tesla these days, trying to predict how this year will pan out for the manufacturer is virtually impossible.
