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By Jonathan Crouch

Tesla's Model Y Performance is at last a serious high speed contender. Jonathan Crouch briefs you on it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 50

Some very subtle styling cues continue to mark out the improved version of the ultimate mid-sized Tesla hatch, this one, the Model Y Performance. This top variant is now no longer just a very fast Model Y: it claims to be a proper EV junior super-SUV in its own right.

Backgroundword count: 153

You'll have seen many Tesla Model Ys on the roads; it's the brand's best seller. But very few of them will have been this top flagship 'Performance' version, which has only a few exterior detail changes to mark it out from any normal Dual Motor Long Range All-Wheel Drive Model Y. It goes a fair bit faster though, so it'll be the variant of choice for anyone seeking Model Y motoring to the max. To be frank, earlier versions of the Model Y Performance were a bit wild. Fast, yes, but lacking the really thorough R&D development that characterises similarly powerful mainstream rivals. The updated Model 3 Performance four-door design which arrived in 2024 though, was a much more complete super-saloon package. With a drivetrain that reappeared a year later in the bespoke form of the car we look at here, the updated Model Y Performance five-door crossover. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 342

Yes, to answer your question, this Model Y Performance is fast. Very. Think 0-60mph in just 3.3s, which means it's quicker than a Porsche 911 GT3, a BMW M5 or an Audi RS 6. And virtually as quick as a rival Hyundai IONIQ 5N (which offers much more power - up to 632hp). All of this Tesla's speed comes courtesy of the same pair of performance 4DU motors that you'll find in the brand's cheaper Model 3 Performance saloon (which is 0.4s faster). As there, these motors offer a chunk more power than you get in an ordinary Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Model Y variant (56hp) and generate a combined 460hp - which is actually 16hp less than the pre-facelift version of this car managed. Despite that, this facelifted design is 0.2s faster to 62mph. Unlike with earlier Performance-badged Teslas of this size, a lot of work has gone in to ensuring that the car can properly handle all that power in extremis. Adaptive damping (with 'Standard' and 'Sport' modes) works with bespoke suspension geometry and a lower ride height to improve body roll and steering feel. Within the various drive modes, you can individually set up the powertrain to give a rearward bias to the torque split and hence create a more engaging drive. Tesla has upgraded the twin motors so that they're now capable of repeated high-speed runs and have better thermal management. And the Stability Assist system has customisable traction and Vehicle Dynamics controls, creating more freedom and fun for experienced drivers. New springs, stabiliser bars and bushings result in a chassis that should feel more intuitive and responsive. The front suspension geometry is designed to minimize disturbances from road imperfections and provide more predictable steering. Plus improvements to the rear body structure increase torsional stiffness. Also useful is the powertrain's wider thermal operating window, which allows it to be more efficient more of the time. Hence the 83kWh battery's 360 mile driving range figure that isn't too much different from an ordinary Model Y Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive.

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