Tesla has confirmed that two highly anticipated variants of the new Model Y—the Performance trim and a seven-seat configuration—will be arriving later this year. The announcements were made during a new episode of Jay Leno’s Garage highlighting the new 2026 Model Y.
Model Y Performance
Although Tesla has yet to reveal full specifications, it is expected Tesla will include improvements similar to those seen in the refreshed Model 3 Performance, including a more powerful rear motor, increased torque, and upgraded adaptive suspension. If these changes carry over, the new Model Y Performance could see its 0-100 km/h time reduced from 3.7 seconds to around 3.4 seconds, making it one of the fastest SUVs in its class.
Tesla’s Performance trims have historically delivered blistering acceleration, sharper handling, and premium upgrades that set them apart from other variants. The updated Model Y Performance is expected to follow suit, offering significant power boosts and potential enhancements borrowed from the latest Model 3 Performance.
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Beyond sheer speed, Tesla is likely to refine the Model Y Performance’s handling with a reworked suspension system for better cornering dynamics, a wider tire setup for improved grip, and upgraded brake pads for enhanced stopping power. The inclusion of track mode, a feature seen in previous Performance models, is also expected.
Seven-Seat Model Y
Tesla first introduced the seven-seat Model Y in early 2021, offering a compact third-row seating option for families who needed extra passenger capacity.
With the refreshed Model Y’s rollout only including the standard five-seat configuration, Tesla has confirmed that the seven-seat option will return later this year. Since the overall shape of the Model Y has remained unchanged, it’s expected that the seating layout will mirror the previous seven-seat Model Y, which featured a third row only suitable for children or small adults.
Expected Availability and Pricing
Tesla has not provided an exact launch date for either variant but has stated that both the Performance trim and the seven-seat configuration will be available before the end of 2025. If Tesla follows the same timeline as they did when they launched the new Model 3 Performance, which first appeared about 8 months after the debut of the redesigned Model 3, we could see the new Model Y Performance debut in about September or October.
Pricing for the Performance trim remains unannounced, and the amount will depend if Tesla offers it as part of the Launch Series, which would increase the price further. As for the seven-seat option, previous iterations of the Model Y’s third-row seating upgrade cost an additional C$4,000/US$3,000. It’s expected that the pricing for this option will remain the same.
