Tesla has introduced a new variant of the redesigned Model Y, launching sales of the Rear-Wheel Drive, but only in the United States.
Tesla launched the new Model Y earlier this year, first in the Launch Series trim, which was a fully-spec’d version of the Long Range All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variant. Later Tesla stopped production of the Launch Series, and debuted the standard Long Range AWD Model Y, leaving the RWD and Performance variants still missing from the lineup.
While we still wait for the Performance variant, which isn’t expected until later this year, customers in the U.S. can now order the RWD variant.
According to an update to the Design Studio on Tuesday night in the U.S., the RWD variant starts at US$44,990, or US$37,490 if you qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
For that price you will get 357 miles (575km) of range when equipped with the standard 19″ wheels, 30 miles (48km) more than the AWD version. Opting for the 20″ wheels drops the range down to a still respectable 344 miles (553km). Top speed is the same as the AWD variant at 125mph (201km/h), however it does come with a slower 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds, compared to 4.6s for the AWD.
The first deliveries of this new Model Y RWD are expected to begin in 3-5 weeks.
As we noted above, the new RWD variant is currently only available in the U.S.. There has been no indication of when it will arrive for the Canadian market, but hopefully it won’t be too long. A complicating matter could be the new sky-high prices, which were increased nearly 20% last month doe to the ongoing tariffs between Canada and the U.S.. This could mean Tesla is in no rush to bring it to Canada until the tariff situation is resolved.
