Tesla’s Top EV Inches Ever Closer to the Wagon It Was Always Meant to Be

Since its introduction in 2019, the Model Y has proven to be one of Tesla’s most popular vehicles. According to a report conducted by JATO, it even managed to dethrone the Toyota RAV4 in 2023 as the best-selling car in the world.

In an effort to keep that momentum going, Tesla rolled out a refreshed version of its the Model Y earlier this year, tweaking the styling, improving the aerodynamics and upgrading the cabin for a quieter ride.

Not content to stop there, the automaker will release an even nicer version of the Model Y, and it will introduce a couple changes that improve upon the existing vehicle in two key ways.

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More space, more power

Tesla teased the new EV — dubbed the “Model YL” — through a Weibo post on Wednesday, announcing that it would be hitting production starting this autumn, with its initial rollout exclusive to China.

Moreover, as first reported by Car News China, Tesla has applied for a sales license with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

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As you can probably guess from the name, the Model YL is a long wheelbase version of its standard Model Y sibling, pushing the nameplate into bona fide wagon territory. It measures 195 inches long and 66 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 119 inches, according to the filing.

While the overall width remains consistent at 75.6 inches, the changes result in an extra six inches of wheelbase, an extra eight inches of overall length and an extra inch in height. 

In practice, this gives it enough room to become a full -fledged, family-hauling six-seater, and it even makes it comparable in footprint to the Model X. For perspective, the gull-winged EV measures roughly 199 inches from tip to tail, and its wheelbase comes in slightly shorter at 116 inches.

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Of course, the larger size of the Model YL means that it tips the scales at 4,603 pounds, putting it 211 pounds heavier than the standard-length model.

For this reason, Tesla has fitted it with a dual-motor AWD powertrain, including a 142-kW motor at the front axle and a 198-kW motor at the rear.

On the road, this results in a combined peak power output of 340 kW (456 horsepower) — more powerful than the current Long Range Model Y and similar to the outgoing Model Y Performance.

Availability and pricing

At this stage, Tesla is nearly ready to begin production of the Model YL in China, as the filing with the MIIT is one of the last steps required to be clear for public sale.

While the automaker has yet to announce any plans to bring the EV stateside, there’s good cause for an extended Model Y to make its way to other markets around the world.

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China’s electric car landscape has only become increasingly competitive over the last few years, so Tesla needs more options to appeal to a wider pool of buyers. In addition to demonstrating clear dominance in their home market, Chinese brands are also starting to challenge Tesla’s share in Europe.

Through the beginning of the year, BYD posted a 359 percent growth, while Tesla was down 49 percent during the same period.

What’s more, Tesla’s flagship Model X is long overdue for an update, so an intermediary option like the Model YL could serve as a viable stopgap until the automaker is ready to refresh its flagship.

Assuming it does eventually land here in the United States, its will likely command a similar premium to Tesla’s 6- and 7-seat Model X variants, which tack on a further $6,500 and $3,500, respectively.

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