4TH Tesla Model Y
FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE NIGGLES OF FRUSTRATION BROUGHT IT HERE, BUT HELD IT FROM THE PODIUM
WHAT A TERRIBLE day to have eyes," chuntered editor Enright as he returned to the Car of the Year judges' shark tank. He was referring to the beluga-like, navy blue Tesla Model Y sitting all alone on the like a giant egg laid by some enormous prehistoric bird.
Luckily for the Model Y - currently Australia's favourite electric vehicle - Car of the Year isn't a motoring Miss, or Mister, Universe contest. Styling is for the market to judge.
Instead, the much-hyped Model Y was an instant invite having come effectively runner-up in our recent EV megatest (pipped only by the Kia EV6, our reigning COTY champ). Sharing about 75 percent of its parts with the Model 3 sedan, the Model Y is six centimetres longer, seven wider and 18cm higher. Intended to fill a smaller and more affordable niche below the larger (and older) Model X, the Model Y is built in Germany and the USA. Except for Australian ones - they're made in China.
Two variants are currently offered - a $68,900 Rear-Wheel Drive and a $102,000, traffic-light-stalking dual-motor Performance. Fronting up COTY was a sole Rear-Wheel Drive in the $1500 optional Deep Blue Metallic, with also optional $2400, 20-inch wheels in a light-sucking satin black. The Rear-Wheel Drive claims 455km of WLTP range and 0-100km/h potential in 6.9 seconds (verified by us). There's a Long Range version offered overseas, but it's not destined for Australia yet.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Wheels Australia Magazine.
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This story is from the March 2023 edition of Wheels Australia Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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