Tesla Space #96: The new Tesla Standard Model Y and Model 3

Welcome to the Tesla Space newsletter, our 96^th issue.

We went to this weird timing for this week’s newsletter for one reason only — I waited until Tesla dropped whatever it is they had been teasing for the whole week!

We saw that some Tesla influencers visited Giga Texas for it. We saw teaser videos that nobody knew exactly what they were about. We saw some leaked code and a prototype shot of a vehicle we weren’t sure if they were decoys or not.

And here it is.

In today’s issue:

• Today: Tesla launched Model 3 & Model Y Standard in US.

• Tesla also launched Model Y Performance in the US;

• Optimus fights Jared Leto;

• Tesla record production & delivery numbers for Q3 went way beyond expectations.

• FSD V14 is rolling out.

The issue goes quite deep into the new models today, so I had to cut some other topics out. Enjoy!

— Jaan

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MODEL 3 & Y “STANDARD”

As I expected, Tesla launched the affordable versions for both Model Y and Model 3 today. Let’s see them one by one.

Model Y Standard — what’s different?

It costs ~$5k less; starting price: $39,990.

• Up to 321 miles of range, 5% more efficient than the Model Y RWD Premium.

• 0-60 mph: 6.8s; 300hp;

• Efficiency: Kyle Conner said he got over 4 miles / kWh at 70mph.

• Available in the U.S. only (for now?);

• The usual outstanding Tesla software (including Grok AI integration);

• Three colors: Stealth Grey (free), Pearl Multi-Coat White ($1k) and Diamond Black ($1.5k). A Midnight Deep Blue color was supposed to be offered, but was cut from the launch in the last minute (says Sawyer) — it is also on images but not in the configurator.

• New front and rear facia (you can see it, lightbars are gone)

• New open concept center console, similar to Cybertruck:

• 8 exterior cameras, including a front bumper camera with a washer (needs it for FSD, eventually doesn’t it);

• Touchscreen still 15.4’’, no rear screen:

• Heated first-row seats — dual-tone, with textile & vegan leather, plus a heated steering wheel; textile dashboard and door trims;

• Manual second-row folding seats; manual-folding mirrors (but you can still, of course, tilt them from the screen);

• No front or rear light bar.

• Standard multilink suspension, similar to legacy Model Y. Interesting choice

• Similar cargo room: 75 cubic feet of cargo capacity (1 less than Y Premium)

• Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs; tow hitch is a $1,000 option.

• Peak charging speed: 225kW (Up to 165 miles in 15 mins). Glad they didn’t go lower than that. Kyle did a proper Charging Analysis here.

• LED headlights with Auto Adaptive High Beams; One-piece taillights on the liftgate. No matrix LEDs.

• Curb weight: 4,061 lbs (123 lbs lighter than Model Y Premium RWD)

• Ground clearance: 6.4” (vs 6.6” on Model Y Premium)

• Tesla expects to have the same safety ratings as their other Model Y trims.

• Smaller battery pack, same cells, but sized ~69.5 kWh usable (down from ~80 kWh). Sawyer said in a subscriber-only Spaces that Tesla wanted to keep it over 300 miles of range.

• Glass roof is still there… but covered up from the inside? Tesla has said it makes it quieter, less vibrating, and improves HVAC performance. But this really does not sound like Tesla — adding another cost for an affordable model for a differentiator over more premium trims?

However, Joe Tegtmeyer said in his video that Tesla used a different kind of glass on the Standard version, no acoustic, just tempered glass, which would perhaps make this more understandable.

• No Autopilot. You get adaptive cruise control, or have to buy FSD for $8k, no middle ground. (a bit of a weird move tbh considering this is nothing but a software unlock). It does have HW4. Might that be because they plan to ditch Autopilot fully and maybe go FSD only eventually?

• Steering rack now manually adjustable; manual second row air vents too;

• Frunk is not waterproof (way less sealed) as you can see from Kyle’s video I pulled; no drain either:

Here’s another look on the blue one from Everyday Chris:

• Seat control switches are removed (adjustable from screen); 10-way driver and 4-way passenger seat controls.

• No light bar on Model Y Standard. No adaptive high beam. You have to fold the side mirrors yourself, and they're not auto-dimming.

• No ventilated seats for first row on Model Y Standard. No heated seats for second row.

• No HEPA filter;

• No Ambient Lighting;

• No AM/FM Radio;

• New 18” wheel size (321 miles range). 19” wheels ($1,500 option) give 303 miles of range. 18" wheel cover completely covers the wheel, similar to Cybertruck’s wheel covers.

• New tires with the 18” wheels have the lowest rolling resistance ever from Tesla

• 7 speakers instead of 15, and no subwoofer;

Review videos: Sawyer Merritt’s; Kim Java

Some of my thoughts:

• I’m surprised the price isn’t lower. A lot of people expected it to be, including myself.

• Might it be that this is kind of like a ‘launch’ version of the affordable vehicle, and Tesla plans to bring the price further down after the first demand is exhausted?

• Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD and AWD have been renamed to Model Y Premium RWD and AWD;

• The Model 3 Standard would have been $29,190 and MY Standard $32,490 with the Federal Tax Credit... that would have caused a massive rush to buy 'em

• The core of the Tesla experience is still there — the software, the usual Tesla innovations.

• Tesla went so far with its cuts for affordable vehicles that it just cut the word "Range" out of the Standard Range and moved the word Standard to the back 😂 

• I personally think that this launch means that the long-awaited “$25k Tesla” might not ever come in terms of these private

• The Model 3 Standard seems the better deal, to be hones,t out of the two:

Model 3 Standard — what’s different?

M3 Standard looks very much like the regular M3 (which is now called Premium).

• Starting price: $36,990;

• 321 Miles of Range, also the 69 kWh battery.

• 0-60 mph in 5.8s, 286hp;

• Adaptive LED high beams; no matrix;

• All New Black Badging;

• Keeps the glass roof! Sawyer mentioned on his Space that the Tesla team didn’t want to remove it here because of less headroom in the sedan format.

• This also means acoustic front door glass. Tempered glass on rear doors;

• Powered Trunk;

• 225 kW charging (vs 250 kW);

• 8 exterior cameras. All Model 3s in the U.S. (including Model 3 Standard) now come with a front bumper camera & washer

• Same thing with no Autopilot, only adaptive cruise control and no FSD included.

• Textile seats, interior; seat controls in the infotainment; also HW4.

• Manual second-row folding seats & manual-adjust steering wheel;

• No ventilated seats. Heated seats in front (no heated rear seats);

• Manual folding mirrors (but you can still, of course, tilt them from the screen); Standard center console (not the open concept like Y), uncovered cupholders:

• Textile door and dashboard trim; no pockets in the back of the front seats;

• Suspension is the standard multilink;

• 7-speakers;

• No multi-color ambient lights. Footwell and door pocket lights.

• The usual main screen, no rear screen.

• Curb weight: 3,759 lbs (132 lbs lighter than Model 3 Premium RWD); ground clearance: 5.4”;

Review videos: from Kyle of Out of Spec; Everyday Chris

Tesla expects to have the same safety ratings as their other Model Y and Model 3 trims

Now, in case you are wondering if these cars are affordable, here’s a relevant statistic by ARK for you:

And if you want to easily compare these Tesla models and trims, go through tesla.com/compare.

OPTIMUS FIGHTS JARED LETO

…kind of.

Tesla and xAI have partnered with Disney to combine xAI’s advanced AI technology and X’s real-time platform with Disney’s TRON universe. At the premier of the Tron: Ares, “Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots engaged guests with dynamic human-AI interactions and distribute theater concessions."

Here's an article from the official X’s X account about the partnership.

And here is the video of Optimus making kung-fu moves at Jared Leto.

This follows the same rhythm that we saw from a video Elon posted last week, going through these moves in a lab. It looks like trained on RL rather than fully working as AI (doubt Jared’s insurance agents would’ve loved that anyway), but Elon also confirmed it is not tele-operated.

MODEL Y PERFORMANCE LAUNCHES IN US

And it comes with Vehicle-to-Home support!

Model Y Performance was launched in the US, literally on the same day federal credit ended. Also, Tesla has confirmed that the new Model Y Performance offers Vehicle to Load (120V 20A AC) with Tesla Outlet Adapter.

• Starting price: $57,490 (excluding incentives)

• 0-60mph: 3.3s (vs 3.5s in old version)

• Range: 308-mile EPA range

• More range thanks to new high-density battery cells with increased charge capacity;

• Top Speed: 155 mph

• Carbon fibre decor

• 16'' first-row QHD Touchscreen (vs 15.4" in non-performance)

• First-row sport seats with power recline, power tilt, heating, ventilation, thigh extension

• Adaptive Suspension and Unique Drive Modes

• 8 exterior cameras (includes a new front facing camera)

• New front + rear fascia & carbon spoiler for better aerodynamics

• Staggered wheel + tire fitment provides better grip and steering

• High-Performance Brakes: Enhanced pedal feel and improved heat management.

• Weight: 4,466 lbs

• Ground clearance: 6.0" (vs 6.6" in Long Range)

• Deliveries begin in December 2025.

So the ones that acted within the ~6 hours between Tesla launching this and the federal incentives ending got the deal for ~$49k 🤯 .

More Tesla news:

Tesla Q3 deliveries ended up an all-time record!
(note that the federal tax credit ending was certainly one key factor here):

Energy deployments at 12.5 GWh was a record too, as well as 4k Superchargers deployed (more on the latter next week)

• The IIHS has released a new video comparing the crash test ratings of the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 Lightning. The Cybertruck outperformed the F-150 Lightning in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, Rear passenger injury measures (head/neck and thigh), Driver injury measures (leg/foot), Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics, and Seat belts & child restraints (LATCH ease of use).

• Tesla released a new video of Gigacasting in Giga Berlin, and Tesla China released a Model Y L manufacturing video.

PS! If you enjoy our newsletters and want to support us, consider becoming a Tesla Space Insider — it will also level up your knowledge in all things Tesla, and we’ve got something big coming up.

FSD & ROBOTAXI & SOFTWARE

TESLA LAUNCHED FSD V14 TODAY

Reports coming in are noting a lot of positive changes, but we’ll keep reporting on it for next week!

Elon: “Many more Tesla self-driving V14 improvements still to come, but wide rollout of V14.1 has begun. 14.2 rolls out in a few weeks and then 14.3 a few weeks later, depending on safety testing. There is so much change that we are carefully confirming each one.”