Tesla Drops 1st Real Image Of The Model Y As Event Invites Go Out

Published on March 9th, 2019 | by Kyle Field

March 9th, 2019 by Kyle Field

Tesla casually dropped a new teaser image into the invites for the Tesla Model Y reveal event that went out last night, several hours and thousands of email refreshes after CEO Elon Musk tweeted to confirm that invites would be sent out that day. The reveal event is set for March 14th at 8pm at the Tesla Design Studio in Hawthorne, California, which is also where Tesla revealed the Model 3 nearly 3 years ago (click that link for completely exclusive video footage of the test track on that night).

The new image gives us the first look at the actual exterior of the car (sort of) and shows off similar headlight accent lights to those used in the Model 3. It also previews the higher ride height of the Model Y compared to the Model 3, while still maintaining the wide, stable posture of a Tesla.

We expect the Model Y to follow in the same footsteps as the Model X did compared to the Model S, in this case building a higher SUV body on top of the existing Model 3 platform. However, this product addition will come without all the one-off, headache-inducing innovations Tesla crammed into the X (like the falcon-wing doors). In fact, we know those are definitely out of scope for the Model Y, which will instead have normal doors — presumably, doors just like the Model 3 but a bit taller. For example, look for the manual door handles from the Model 3 to make another appearance as lower cost, functional alternatives to the electrified versions used on the S and X. (To chat all about these possibilities, jump over to our brand new Tesla Model Y Club forum.)

Elon has previously said that the Model Y will have 76% of parts in common with the Model 3. The new Model Y teaser image gives us the first real insight into where the sharing might come from. Actually, at ~76%, the question is what is not shared. Being taller, the doors will be taller and a different shape, but otherwise, the burning question is what Tesla will need to change for the body type and perhaps as an improvement over the current Model 3.

The rEVolutionary event will be televised (er, livestreamed) on Tesla’s newly minted Model Y page. There has been no mention of the reservation process for the Model Y to date, but there are expectations that will go live for $1,000 per reservation just before the event as hundreds of thousands of customers look to get their own next-generation electric crossover. That said, CleanTechnica Director Zach Shahan asked Elon Musk in the middle of last year if the reservation process would be the same as with the Model 3 and Elon indicated they hadn’t thought much about it yet and weren’t sure.

As a CUV, the expectation is that the Model Y will be in higher demand than the Model 3. Add onto that the increased awareness of Tesla’s brand thanks to the success of the Model 3 and Tesla could have another powerful storm on its hands as hundreds of thousands (or even millions?) of reservations flood the Tesla website. We should find out soon.

If you want to jump into wild speculation about what we’ll find out in 5 days, here’s a reminder that we have a brand new Tesla Model Y Club forum online, and it uses the new Model Y teaser image now as well. 😀

Update: Here’s a nice little photo shop from a reader putting the Model 3 nose on the Model Y teaser image:

Update: Marques Brownlee found that playing with the dark image Tesla sent revealed a license plate on the teaser image that reads “NICE TRY.” Classic Tesla Easter Egg on a trick they knew people would pursue in the quest to learn as much as possible about Tesla’s latest automotive creation.

About the Author

Kyle Field I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. TSLA investor.