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.
Source: Tesla; Photos: Autocar
