Tesla Model Y Rumors, Features, And How The EV Can Surprise Everyone

Tesla has made a name for itself as one of the most capable manufacturers of electric vehicles in the world. With the release of the Tesla Roadster and the Model S, the upstart EV-maker was able to make electric cars attractive to regular car enthusiasts. Now, with the company’s everyman car, the Model 3, reaching 400,000 pre-orders, it appears like Tesla is gearing up to reveal yet another vehicle. While very little is known about the carmaker’s new EV, it has so far been known in rumors as the rather cryptic Model Y.

Tesla Model Y – Where It All Started

The first mention of the Tesla Model Y came from CEO Elon Musk himself. Responding to a Twitter comment about whether the Model 3 would have the Model X’s iconic Falcon Wing doors, the CEO promptly responded. According to Musk’s response, Tesla would be releasing a Model 3 and a Model Y, with one of the vehicles being equipped with the Falcon Wing doors. The tweet was immediately deleted, but avid Tesla fans were quick to pounce on the new information.

While Musk has never commented on the deleted tweet, further announcements regarding Tesla’s future plans for its vehicles seemed to confirm the EV’s existence. Currently, the Model Y only exists in rumors and some creative renders from Tesla fans. Speculations about the Model Y reached a fever pitch last month, with rumors stating that Musk would reveal the new vehicle during the company’s October event. Unfortunately, those rumors were ultimately proven wrong when the vehicle was not mentioned at all.

Tesla Model Y – What The Rumors Are Saying So Far

The lack of official information about the vehicle has not stopped Tesla fans from providing speculations and predictions about the upcoming EV, however. Despite the vehicle’s absence in the October 2016 event, the Model Y lives on in rumors on the internet. Currently, it is speculated that Tesla has opted to not equip the Model Y with the Model X’s Falcon Wing doors anymore, allegedly due to the doors being one of the biggest culprits behind the Model X’s delivery delays as well as inherent flaws that were reported by Model X owners themselves.

As for the type of vehicle that Model Y would be, rumors are high that the EV would be some form of a crossover SUV version of the Model 3. Tesla has already done this in the past, with the Model X being based on the Model S’s platform. With this in mind, numerous Tesla fans are speculating that the carmaker would follow this pattern and base Model Y on the Model 3 platform as well. Considering Tesla’s master plan of integrating electric vehicles to mainstream drivers, this choice does seem to make a lot of sense, especially since the Model 3 is designed to be the most affordable EV from the carmaker yet.

Tesla Model Y – How It Could Surprise Everyone

What is particularly interesting about the Model Y is the fact that very little is known about the vehicle so far. While its platform is almost certainly going to be based on the Model 3, almost everything else about it is up for speculation. With Tesla not confirming that the Model Y is a crossover SUV, there is a chance that it might even be a completely different vehicle. In fact, there’s a chance that the Model Y would be Tesla’s most budget-friendly EV yet.

This particular possibility is actually rooted in the very words of Elon Musk himself. Earlier this year, the Tesla CEO spoke on the Future Transport Solutions conference in Oslo, Norway. While there, the CEO reiterated Tesla’s overall plan to make EVs affordable enough to the point where everyone can acquire the car.

“I’m super-excited about being able to produce a car that most people can afford. And there will be future cars that are even more affordable down the road. But, with something like the Model 3, it’s designed such that roughly half the people will be able to afford the car. Then, with fourth generation and smaller cars, we’ll ultimately be in the position where everyone will be able to afford the car.”

Tesla fans know that the Model 3 is part of Tesla’s third-generation of vehicles, with the Roadster being the first and the Model S and X being the second generation. The only question, of course, is if the Model Y would be a third-gen vehicle or if it would herald the beginning of the company’s fourth generation of EVs. Either way, the Tesla Model Y would most likely be a vehicle that is as revolutionary as it is unique. If it ever does get revealed as a crossover SUV with a comparable price point as the Model 3, Tesla would most likely have yet another Car of the Year in its hands.

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[Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]