Tesla Model Y launch: where to watch and what to expect

The next car to join the Tesla line-up will be unveiled in a matter of hours as the new Model Y is about to launch in Los Angeles.

Based on the Model 3 saloon, currently the company’s cheapest car, the Model Y is a budget crossover that will sit below the £82,000 Model X SUV in the range.

As company chief Elon Musk has pointed out on numerous occasions, the budget SUV completes Tesla’s “S3XY” line-up.

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The South African-born billionaire has said he’d planned to name its entry-level saloon the Model E, but Ford owned the rights to that name. The company therefore chose Model 3 instead.

Musk revealed some of the car’s specs last week, confirming that the Model Y is 10% larger than the Model 3. Fans will be hoping that the many questions that have yet to be answered, such as how much the Model Y costs, will be discussed at the car’s launch.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s unveiling:

When does the launch start?

Tesla is due to kick off the reveal event at 8pm (3am UK time).

Where can you watch it?

Fans can watch a livestream of the launch directly from Tesla’s website.

Musk’s Twitter account may also be worth a follow, as he’s known for posting a few extra details during Tesla’s official events.

What will the Model Y look like?

Details of the Model Y’s design are scarce as Tesla has only released a couple of shadowy preview images of the vehicle so far.

What has been confirmed, however, is that the Model Y will be a compact crossover that sits below the company’s Model X SUV, reports Teslarati.

According to Autocar, the Model Y is expected to have “sleek styling closer to the Model 3’s than the Model X’s”.

The initial preview image (pictured above) revealed that the SUV wouldn’t have door mirrors, suggesting the company had instead opted for wing-mounted cameras, first seen on the Audi e-tron SUV last year.

However, the most recent teaser image (pictured top) indicates that the car will have wing mirrors. There is a chance, though, that the company may offer wing-mounted cameras as an optional extra.

What battery system will it have?

Musk confirmed last week that the Model Y, which shares around 75% of its components with the Model 3, would use the same battery technology as the budget EV.

But as the crossover will be slightly larger and heavier, its battery range will be slightly less than the Model 3’s.

An exact figure for the car’s range has not yet been announced, but the Daily Express predicts that drivers will be able to get somewhere between 190 and 290 miles of power on a single charge.

How much will it cost?

Given that the Model Y is larger than the Model 3 it’s based on, Musk says the budget SUV will therefore carry a 10% premium over the saloon.

With the latest entry-level Model 3 costing $35,000 (£26,440), Autocar predicts the Model Y will carry a price tag of around $38,500 (£29,080).