The latest addition to the Model Y family is a rear-wheel-drive crossover that runs on a more expensive nickel-cobalt-manganese (NMC) battery sourced from its AWD cousin. With this superior battery, the SUV can travel 821 kilometers (510 miles) per charge – its best result so far.
Up until recently, the RWD variant of the China-spec Model Y had to make do with a simpler lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) power pack. The cheapest trim got no more than 593 km (368 miles) out of it according to the forgiving CLTC measurement standard. On the upside, it starts from just 263,500 Yuan.
The standard AWD version does 750 km (435 miles) per charge and costs 313,500 Yuan. The new RWD spec with the long-range battery slots in between the two with a starting price of 288,500 Yuan.
Replacing the battery enabled the motor to output more power as long as the voltage stays high enough. Tesla normally doesn’t disclose many performance numbers, but it did reveal that the new RWD spec can go 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.6 seconds – considerably faster than its usual 5.9 seconds. Top speed remains capped at 201 km/h (131 mph).
If the company’s official online configurator app is to be trusted, the new RWD Model Y is identical to the old version in everything except the battery. The 15.4-nch infotainment display, the 8-inch touchscreen for the rear row, a 9-channel audio system, heated seats and eight video cameras are still listed under standard equipment.
