Tesla is up for the "SUV fever"

Monday, 18 march 2019 | Redacción CEU

Before the presentation of its last car, Tesla launched a "teaser" with a hidden message. It consisted of a darkened image in which the silhouette of the front of a car was barely visible. Being aware of the fact that there would be many users who encouraged by curiosity will try to make the image clearer by means of an editing program, the manufacturer of electric vehicles decided to make a small joke. The designers of the ad hid an "easter egg" in the image to add a touch of humor to the countdown. When some insightful users tried to retouch the image, they only managed to discover a small phrase in the bottom of the car: "nice try". Luckily for these impatient followers, the wait is over. The company has already presented its "low cost" proposal of SUV: Model Y. What are the characteristics of the SUV that completes the S3XY series?

New Model Y uses the same basic structure as Model 3. In fact, Elon Musk has recognized that  both vehicles share 75% of their components. Thanks to this aspect, Tesla will be able to reduce production costs and the uncertainty about the viability of the project. It is not a secret that the presentation of the Model 3 was held in an important moment for the company. The US firm faced different problems related to the production and the deliveries of its cars in 2018. In January, the company was forced to change its strategy, a fact that led to the dismissal of 7% of its staff. Therefore, the automotive brand needs more than ever to reclaim its place in the market and show that this situation is water under the bridge.

What does Tesla's Model Y look like?

Elon Musk likes word games. With the arrival of this vehicle, Tesla has managed to complete the S3XY range. It is a series of vehicles that integrates the acronym which is formed by the initials "S", of the Model S, "3", of the Model 3, "X", of the Model X, and "Y", of Model Y. Although the manufacturer of electric vehicles tried it, it was not be able to name it the way they wanted originally. Ford registered Model E before the Californian company, so the brand had to give up and find a creative solution: it replaced the "E" with a "3".

With the launch of the fourth member of this unique family, Tesla aims to win over the lovers of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV). These vehicles are the ones that register the most sales in the USA.  However, they also constitute a category of cars that generates great competition. The proposal with which Tesla wants to win the favor of the public is based on a familiar, medium-sized and completely electric SUV. Although it takes the Model 3 as a prototype, it has a slightly larger size and a maximum capacity of seven passengers. In all of its versions, the vehicle integrates a panoramic glass roof and its doors are conventional. They are not inspired by the futuristic falcon wings of Model X.

Tesla offers four versions of this model: Standard Range, Long Range, Dual Motor ADW and Performance. The first one is the most affordable and also the one that will arrive later: as of 2021. It has an autonomy of 370 kilometers, a maximum speed of 193km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km in 6.3 seconds. The autonomy of the rest of the models ranges between 450 and 485 kilometers and, in the highest version, the acceleration speed is reduced to 2.6 seconds. The Californian firm points out that these different versions of the vehicles will be available as of the autumn of 2020.