First-look at the new Tesla Model Y Juniper – plus everything you need to know

The Tesla Model Y was the world’s best-selling car last year, and we’re only weeks away from an all-new model being unveiled.

Codenamed Juniper, the new EV is still shrouded in secrecy, but insider rumours mean we’ve got the best idea yet of what to expect from the all-new Tesla Model Y. Thanks to our artist’s renders we have a better idea what it will look like, too.

New spy shots have emerged of camouflaged Tesla Model Y test cars in China, which gives more detail about the design of the car’s front and rear lights. These have been incorporated into our exclusive image showing what we think the new Tesla Model Y will look like.

There are also rumours that production is already underway at Tesla’s Gigafactory in China, starting with just a few cars before ramping up to full production. This hints at a possible unveiling later this year.

With production of the new Model Y rumoured to be underway and ramping up, we wouldn’t be surprised if the new car was unveiled in a matter of weeks – possibly even this side of Christmas.

An on-sale date with first deliveries is expected in the first quarter of 2025, with the seven seat and performance models joining the Standard and Long Range Model Y later in the year.

The Tesla Model 3 saw a small price rise when it was relaunched in early 2024, and the same would be expected for the new Tesla Model Y. Rumours of new tech on board would suggest an increase in price to cover manufacturing costs.

There currently isn’t a standard rear-drive Model Y on sale in the UK – as it stands the range starts at £46,990 for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive car. A standard rear-drive Model 3 costs £5,000 less than its Long Range Rear-Drive cousin, so allowing for a slight increase, we wouldn’t be surprised if a new standard Rear-Drive Model Y doesn’t kick off the new Model Y range at around £43,000, with a £5,000 increase again for a Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive car.

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Our exclusive renders show what to expect from the design of the new Model Y. The design is set to be an evolution of the current car, which won’t immediately date the existing model – following the lead of the latest Model 3 when it was launched in early 2024.

Proportionally the new Model Y will remain pretty much the same, but there will be plenty of detail changes to give the new car a whole different look. Most striking will be the new, more streamlined front end with improved aerodynamics and a slim light bar running the full width of the car. The Model Y’s new face takes inspiration from the Cybertruck and recently revealed Tesla Robotaxi, with the latest spy shots of the Model Y giving us a glimpse of the split headlight unit that sits beneath the light bar.

The deep front windscreen remains, flowing into a standard glass roof, while at the back another full-width light bar accentuates the car’s width – again, as it does in the Cybercab and Cybertruck. The Model Y will get slimmer LED rear lights than before – as the Model 3 did – while the Tesla name will be spelled out across the boot lid.

New wheel designs and maybe a new colour or two could also feature.

Tesla has made great strides on interior quality, so while the new Model Y interior will look very similar to the old Model Y it will be much better built with an improvement in material quality, too.

It will follow the Model 3’s lead with a similarly stripped-down interior. There will be no stalks for wipers, indicators or gear selection. Wipers will work automatically when the car detects rain – as they do on the current car – while indicating will be taken care of by buttons on the steering wheel, as will a flash of the headlights.

Gear selection will be via the touchscreen, and the car will intelligently detect which way the driver wants to go based on the parking position of the car. For example, if the car is parked facing a wall, the car will automatically select reverse.

With a seven-seat version of the Model Y for Europe unveiled at the recent Paris Motor Show, we’d expect a seven-seat version of the new Model Y to go on sale after the new car’s launch, possibly towards the end of next year.

The Model Y is likely to get the new Model 3’s super-comfortable front seats that are heated and ventilated, while the rear seats are also expected to get heating in them.

Tesla recently introduced new longer-range versions of the old Model Y to boost sales of the car in its final months, so we wouldn’t expect any less range than those models. With new technology under the skin of the new Model Y producing even greater efficiency, we’d expect the maximum claimed range of the new car to get close to the figures of the new Tesla Model 3.

The aerodynamics of the larger Model Y and extra weight mean the new SUV is unlikely to match its saloon sibling’s efficiency, so expect a new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y to claim around 430 miles of range, with the Long Range All-Wheel drive version cutting that to around 385 miles.

It has been rumoured that new, bigger batteries may debut in the Model Y, bringing further range, efficiency and performance boosts. Those improvements may later filter through to the Model 3, too.

A Performance version of the Model Y, wearing the same Tesla Performance badging as the new Model 3 with subtle spoilers front and rear, is expected to arrive later in 2025.

Elon Musk revealed at the recent Robotaxi event that the Model Y would have full self-driving capabilities where allowed. As with all Teslas, expect over-the-air updates to improve not only the tech on board, but efficiency, too.

The familiar 15.4-inch touchscreen will receive a makeover to accommodate the greater number of controls it will have to deal with, including gear selection. It should be joined by a small eight-inch screen for rear seat passengers to enable them to control climate functions and their infotainment.

Acoustic glass and changes to the suspension are expected to make the new Model Y quieter, while changes underneath the car should boost the ride comfort and handling. Expect the Performance version of the new Model Y to get adaptive dampers, as the Model 3 Performance does.

A new centre console will feature twin wireless phone chargers, while ambient lighting with multiple colour options is also expected to feature for the first time.