Tesla Model Y is what happens when the Model 3 taps into its full potential

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on March 15, 2020

With Tesla Model Y deliveries now starting, the first in-depth reviews of the all-electric crossover have surfaced. These reviews and walkthroughs of the Model Y show that the vehicle is very much like the Model 3, if the all-electric sedan’s utility and practicality were raised to 11. A lot of this has to do with the Y’s driving modes, its storage space, and its spacious interior.

The Model 3 is not a small car by any means, but it is a midsize sedan. It’s a stunning car that beats premium rivals like the BMW 3-Series in terms of performance, but it does lack some points in terms of utility compared to say, Tesla’s flagship sedan, the Model S. The Model 3 has 15 cubic feet of cargo space, which is great for its class, but it is far smaller than the 66 cubic feet of cargo space in a 5-seater Model Y.

Tesla’s vehicles are already optimized for space, but with the added height and size of the Model Y, owners can enjoy a cabin that’s could very well feel closer in proportion to the Model X SUV than its Model 3 sedan sibling. This is particularly evident in the second-row seats, as the all-electric crossover’s tall stance offers ample headroom even for tall passengers. It remains to be seen if the Y’s third-row seats could be usable for adult passengers, but its second-row seats provide a lot of headroom and legroom.

The Model Y even has a particularly unique feature that is not present in the Model 3, or any of Tesla’s current vehicles for that matter. A look at the all-electric crossover’s menus shows that the vehicle has a dedicated “Off-Road Assist” feature. The function allows drivers to gain more control of the vehicle, which would be invaluable when driving on forest trails. Among the Model Y’s features, from its combined cargo area that can fit seven carry-on suitcases to its comfortable cabin with USB-C ports, it is Off-Road Assist that is pretty much the most surprising.

Expectations for the Model Y, after all, have been quite conservative. While Elon Musk has mentioned that the Model Y will likely outsell the Model 3, Model S, and Model X combined, Tesla has been pretty restrained in terms of marketing its crossover. This is classic Tesla (the months of Model 3 anti-selling come to mind), but now that deliveries have begun, it is starting to become evident that the Model Y is designed to become an even bigger disruptor than its sedan sibling. As it turns out, the Model Y is really a vehicle that is designed to take on the best of the premium crossover market, even if it’s off paved roads.

It is fitting that Tesla is producing the Model Y at this point in the company’s history. Tesla has learned valuable lessons with each vehicle that it released so far. One could then argue that the company had to learn the knowledge it gained with the Model 3’s production challenges before it even attempted to ramp the Model Y. Tesla is a much different automaker today, and this is one of the key reasons why now is the perfect time for Tesla to enter the crossover segment. In a way, the Model Y is definitely a lot like the Model 3, only this time, it is disrupting a segment that’s far larger in the auto industry.

Following is an in-depth review of the Tesla Model Y, courtesy of owner-enthusiast Tesla Raj.

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Tesla Model Y is what happens when the Model 3 taps into its full potential

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Tesla’s new traffic light icons in Autopilot code hints at automatic stopping to come

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on March 14, 2020

A recent Tesla update appears to be hinting at the potential rollout of features that would allow one of the company’s electric cars to stop automatically when they encounter stoplights and stop signs. These features, provided that they are released soon, would be a valuable step for Tesla’s efforts at rolling out inner-city driving systems for its vehicles.

The potential stoplight and stop sign features were shared by the Tesla community’s resident hacker, @greentheonly, who was able to do a brief dive into the electric car maker’s 2020.12 update. The update is pretty nondescript, as its release notes were entirely identical to the 20.8 update. But hidden within its code are icons that strongly hint at the company’s efforts at introducing automatic stopping features.

The new icons found in the recent update showed a stop sign, a red stoplight, and a warning. It remains to be seen what these icons will specifically represent, though @greentheonly mentioned that the icons would likely be displayed when a Tesla activates its automatic stopping feature.

The capability to stop when encountering stop signs and stop lights is an invaluable function for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, which is aimed at allowing vehicles to travel through inner-city streets without driver input. Tesla’s FSD order page specifically refers to the feature, stating that the ability to “recognize and respond to traffic lights and stop signs” is coming later this year. The inclusion of these new icons, then, suggests that Tesla has gathered enough data from its fleet that its neural networks are now recognizing and learning how to react when encountering stop signs and stoplights.

Apart from the new icons for automatic stopping, 2020.12 also included what appeared to be preparations to display FSD visuals on vehicles equipped with Tesla’s older infotainment systems. This bodes well for cars that are equipped with the company’s older MCU1, some of which in vehicles whose owners have purchased the Full Self-Driving suite. Ultimately, the new visuals will likely be a welcome update for owners who do not wish to pay $2,500 for an MCU2 retrofit, as their electric vehicles will still display updated visualizations with the rollout of new FSD features.

Tesla is currently in a full-press initiative to roll out more features for its Full Self-Driving suite. While Elon Musk’s goal of rolling out a “feature complete” version of FSD before the end of 2019 was not met, the company seems to be on track to make a lot of headway this year. With automatic stopping features seemingly coming soon, mentions of “reverse summon,” and the multitude of other refinements being introduced to Autopilot, Tesla’s inner-city driving capabilities may be within reach sooner than expected.

Tesla’s new traffic light icons in Autopilot code hints at automatic stopping to come

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Tesla Model Y includes a wireless phone charger as standard feature

Randell Suba

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Posted on March 13, 2020

Tesla Model Y will come standard with a wireless inductive phone charger as seen in the newly published Model Y Owner’s Manual.

The inclusion of the wireless charging will be a welcomed addition for owners of Tesla owners who have historically resorted to buying it as an optional upgrade from the company’s online shop or an aftermarket manufacturer.

The latest detail, first revealed in an Instagram video highlighting Model Y’s power liftgate, corroborates earlier snapshots taken of the Model Y center console that clearly shows a wireless phone charger in the center console.

Tesla Model Y Wireless Phone Charger (Source: u/aflatness | Imgur)

Tesla Model Y Wireless Phone Charger (Source: u/aflatness | Imgur)
Tesla Model Y Front Port – USB-C, USB-A (Source: Tesla Model Y Facebook group)

Tesla’s inductive phone charger for Model Y can charge Qi-enabled phones at up to 15W of power.  The Owner’s Manual for Model Y indicates that the wireless charger can support two phones at once, although power will be split.

Model Y’s center console has a USB-C and a USB-A as its front ports. This comes in addition to the two USB-C connectors found near the rear passenger cabin air vents.

In comparison, the Model 3 originally came with a wired phone docking system but eventually, Tesla decided to offer its own Model 3 Wireless Phone Charger for $125. The Qi-enabled wireless charger has a non-slip surface and is very easy to install. It can also accommodate two smartphones on its tray. Prior to the Tesla-made wireless phone charger, there were popular aftermarket options from brands such as Nomad and Jeda.

Tesla Model Y includes a wireless phone charger as standard feature

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