Tesla has made a habit of letting its cars speak louder than its press releases. The latest example? The refreshed Model Y Performance, which arrives packing a party trick the company didn’t bother to highlight: launch control.
Like its Model 3 Performance sedan sibling, the Model Y Performance comes with a dual-motor setup and all-wheel drive. Tesla claims 0–100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, but owners now have a way to make that sprint feel even sharper thanks to a hidden-in-plain-sight Launch Mode.
The discovery didn’t come from Tesla’s own announcement, but from eagle-eyed fans on Reddit. Photos posted by a distributor show an in-car instruction screen that spells it out: with the left foot hard on the brake and the right foot burying the accelerator, the system flashes “Launch Mode enabled.” Release the brake, and the crossover catapults forward with maximum power.
Tesla does caution that this feature is for closed tracks and grippy surfaces only. That’s the official line, though we suspect many owners won’t resist testing it on the nearest stretch of asphalt.
For now, Launch Mode is exclusive to the Model Y Performance, but knowing Tesla’s tendency to add features over the air, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see the Model 3 Performance inherit the function down the road.
Whether you call it Launch Mode or launch control, the message is clear: Tesla’s most popular crossover just got even quicker off the line.
Tesla just turned up the heat on its best-selling crossover. The new Model Y Performance has been revealed as a 460-hp sports utility that accelerates quicker than a Porsche 911 GT3—yes, you read that right.
Available to order now from £61,990, with deliveries kicking off in October, the hot Model Y isn’t just a software tweak on the standard car. It gets a major redesign, a chunk of extra horsepower, and chassis hardware borrowed from the Model 3 Performance, making this the most serious driver’s Tesla crossover to date.
The Numbers That Matter
Power comes from the same pair of Performance 4DU motors used in the Model 3 Performance sedan. The result? 460 horsepower, a 0–60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, and a 155 mph top speed. That puts it in striking distance of super sedans like the BMW M5 and Audi RS6, while potentially embarrassing some far pricier exotics off the line.
For reference, the Model Y Long Range AWD, which previously sat at the top of the food chain, makes 375 horsepower. The Performance’s added punch is backed by a new generation of “high-density” battery cells, which help it maintain an impressive 360 miles of range per charge—nearly on par with the less powerful AWD model.
More Than a Straight-Line Monster
Tesla didn’t just focus on thrust. The Model Y Performance gets a thoroughly worked-over chassis, including adaptive dampers (with a bespoke tune), new suspension hardware, and staggered tires for sharper dynamics. If you’ve driven a standard Model Y, this should feel like an entirely different machine.
On the outside, the Performance model makes no secret of its intent. Up front, a reshaped bumper improves aerodynamics, while the rear gets a diffuser-style bumper and a carbon-fiber wing. Add in 21-inch alloys, red brake calipers, and sportier detailing all around, and this Y is clearly dressed for the Nürburgring, not the school run.
Inside the Performance Pack
Tesla has also sharpened the interior game. The touchscreen grows to 16 inches, now with the brand’s highest-resolution display yet. Front occupants are treated to heated and ventilated sports seats with deeper bolstering, designed to keep you pinned during cornering heroics.
Built in Berlin, Bound for the World
Production of the Model Y Performance will take place at Tesla’s Brandenburg factory near Berlin, with Europe and the Middle East first in line for deliveries. Other global markets will follow.
This addition rounds out the recently refreshed Model Y family, which now includes a budget-friendly entry model and a long-wheelbase, six-seat version for China. But it’s clear that the Performance is the halo car, designed to fend off an onslaught of rivals from BMW, Audi, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche in the increasingly crowded performance EV crossover space.
The takeaway? The Model Y Performance isn’t just another fast Tesla—it’s a statement. One that says family-hauling and supercar-baiting can, apparently, be the same thing.
Do you love the blistering acceleration of the Tesla Model 3 Performance but wish it came wrapped in a more family-friendly body? Tesla has you covered. The automaker has teased what appears to be the long-awaited Model Y Performance, set to debut tomorrow.
The announcement came via a cheeky “spoiler alert” post on X, showing a blurred rear wing. While Tesla hasn’t confirmed the name, the timing and teaser line up with spy shots of the hotter Model Y that surfaced earlier this year.
At first glance, the Model Y Performance won’t stray far from its mainstream siblings. Expect the same clean-sheet crossover shape, but sharper bumpers, a sportier diffuser, and a revised rear spoiler should add some visual aggression. Unique wheels—likely wrapped in stickier rubber—will hide behind a beefier brake package featuring signature red calipers.
Inside, changes are subtler. Tesla is expected to add bolstered sport seats and carbon-fiber trim to remind drivers they’re piloting something a little more serious. Otherwise, the cabin should mirror the regular Model Y, with its minimalist 15.4-inch central display and the newer 8-inch touchscreen for rear passengers.
The Muscle Behind the Badge
Power should come from the same upgraded dual-motor setup found in the new Model 3 Performance. If so, that means 510 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque, good for a 0–60 mph sprint in just 2.9 seconds (with rollout subtracted). That would make the Y Performance one of the quickest crossovers on the market, rivaling gas-burners like the Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Macan Turbo.
Backing up that straight-line pace is a reworked chassis. Expect adaptive dampers, high-strength steel springs, and stiffer suspension mounts, all tuned for sharper responses without sacrificing the Y’s trademark usability.
Availability and Price
Tesla hasn’t shared final details yet, but word is the Model Y Performance will debut first in Europe and the Middle East before making its way stateside. Pricing should land near $58,000—slotting it above the dual-motor Long Range but still undercutting most rivals that can’t match its speed.
We’ll know more when the wraps officially come off, but if Tesla’s teaser is anything to go by, the Model Y Performance could be the sweet spot for drivers who want supercar pace without giving up space.
