Tesla has finally taken the wraps off the new Model Y, known as ‘Juniper’, in China and some markets in the Asia Pacific region. This new refresh model brings several design and feature improvements to one of Tesla’s favorite models, the crossover SUV. One of the latest design debates revolves around the new Model Y which notably diverges from its sibling, the updated Tesla Model 3 “Highland.”
While the Model 3 Highland has fully embraced a stalkless steering system, the Model Y Juniper retains the traditional stalk controls.
The evolution of the internal design of Tesla vehicles has gradually shifted to minimalism in recent years. The evolution of such a system continued to grow to its peak with the Model 3 Highland which fully does away with the known stalks and significantly reduces the usage of physical buttons and knobs instead of touch controls on and around the steering wheel and other features.
This is a part of full self-driving capability where Tesla envisions the cars of the future where human-driven controls are optional at best.
On the other hand, the revamped Model Y Juniper has chosen to retain the traditional stalk-based buttons for functions such as signal indicators, gears, and wipers. This design choice is considered important since Tesla is one company that claims to be innovative.
Tesla on the new Model Y steering wheel:
“The New Model Y provides effortless control with a precision-engineered indicator stalk, thoughtfully refined based on valuable customer feedback. We’ve introduced customizable steering wheel switches, allowing quick and intuitive operation of the most frequently used vehicle functions to better meet drivers’ needs.”
It may also explain why Tesla continues to implement stalk controls into the Model Y Juniper so that the car maintains a level of functionality that can be understood by a larger audience. New to Tesla’s ecosystem, families and drivers may prefer traditional controls, not as different from touch-sensitive buttons as those in the Model 3 Highland.
Tesla Model Y Juniper Key Details
Upon its release, the new Model Y quickly became the hottest EV in talk. There are several changes made in the new EV like:
Design and Exterior Updates
The Model Y Juniper has a more distinguished front end, with slim LED running coming from the Cybertruck, and a drag coefficient of 0.22 Cd tenth better than the earlier 0.23 Cd.
At the back, there’s a full-width light bar and a ducktail spoiler which makes the vehicle even more sportier. The wheels are now available in 19 and 20 inches and a new color – blue. The specifications of the changes are as follows – the vehicle is 4,797mm longer 1,920mm wide and 1,624mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,890mm which makes it slightly longer and narrower in comparison to the previous generation model.
Interior Enhancements
Musk’s Juniper Model Y is the internal match for the Model 3 redesign, boasting a modern interior design that focuses on a 15-inch central screen powered by an AMD Ryzen chip. In particular, the turn signals and the gear selection are located in the column stalks which are absent in the updated Model 3.
Other interior changes are; the rear touchscreen is upgraded to eight inches for backseat passengers, new ambient lighting, and upgraded new seats with more length and width for comfort. The rear seats have gained power controls, folding and reclining with the press of a button, the interior has a sunroof of which the roof is made of silver plating skin, and the head unit has a 16-speaker sound system.
Performance and Range
The Model Y Juniper is available in two configurations:
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Launch Edition: Powered by one electric motor with a capacity of 220 kW (295 hp) this model accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.9 s. Equipped with a 62.5 kWh battery which is provided by CATL and is an LFP type, the vehicle provides a range of up to 593 km according to CLTC.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Long-Range Launch Edition: This version has two motors with a total power of 331 kW (444 hp) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. It is equipped with a 78.4-kWh NMC battery from LG Chem, including the CLTC-tested range of up to 719 km.
It is equipped with a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) alongside a peak charging velocity of 250 kW.
The launch of Model Y Juniper reflects Tesla’s commitment to make constant modifications to meet the market needs while incorporating cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features to appeal to as many people as possible.
