The waiting is almost over - because the Tesla Model Y SUV crossover is now available to order in the UK, with prices starting at £54,990.
The Model Y could be another game changer for the US firm that greased the wheels of the electric revolution.
It’s a full-on, all-wheel-drive, all-electric SUV crossover that is configured with 5 seats in the UK at the moment, but which might be available as a 7-seater in the future.
But it’s also cheaper than the coveted Model X super-SUV, with prices for the X beginning at around £90,000.
There are two variants up for grabs - the base ‘Long Range’ and the more powerful ‘Performance’. Yet both versions use the same powertrain and a 82kWh battery pack, they just differ in how that power is actually used.
The Long Range has 346 bhp and 510Nm of torque, which translates to a 0-60mph time of 4.8 seconds and means the Y can sprint on to a top speed of 135mph. The maximum range for the Long Range is around 315 miles.
The quicker Performance, meanwhile, takes the power up to a not-inconsiderable 483 bhp and brings the 0-60 mph acceleration time down to just 3.5 seconds.
Even with all that extra oomph, you can still expect to get around 298 miles between charges, which stacks up really well against the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Volkswagen ID.4.
The interior - as you’d expect from a Tesla - is all singing, all dancing.
The cabin boasts an enormous 15-inch touch screen, an immersive sound system and a glass roof to give those panoramic views.
Fold the seats down right and you’ll also unlock a whopping 2,100 litres of luggage space, which should be plenty for those big trips away.
The Model Y should also be the safest car in its class, coming with a ‘low center of gravity, rigid body structure and large crumple zones’ which ‘provide unparalleled protection’, says Tesla.
In terms of other driver safety features, all Model Y’s will come with emergency braking, collision warning and blind-spot monitoring as standard.
And the Model Y will also have Full Self-Driving capability - ‘enabling automatic driving on city streets and highways’ - should such tech ever be allowed on UK roads.
A Tesla spokesperson adds:
“Model Y will have Full Self-Driving capability, enabling automatic driving on city streets and highways pending regulatory approval, as well as the ability to come find you anywhere in a parking lot.”
That homing pigeon-like ability comes courtesy of an app. A simple tap of an icon and your Tesla can be parked next to you, ready and waiting.
And when it comes to extras, if you want, you can also opt for 21 inch alloys, uprated brakes, lowered sports suspension and swanky aluminium pedals.
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