It is estimated that Tesla is also not satisfied with the redesign of the Model 3, as the Model Y, another sales driver on the same platform, has not yet received a new model. Musk has even stated explicitly that there will be no new Tesla Model Y this year (2024). Of course, all-in on FSD is one reason. However, for new energy vehicles that can be upgraded OTA, this is clearly not the only reason. Tesla must bring more highlights to the new Model Y. With the exposure of another wave of spy photos of the new car, it can be found that the new Tesla Model Y indeed has many differences from the Model 3.

Eliminate the panoramic sunroof and replace it with ambient lighting and ventilated seats?

Judging from the latest unretouched spy photos, the new Tesla Model Y has adopted a full-width taillight with a gradual style. This is considered a popular element in current automotive design, with similar styles adopted by high-end models from Toyota and the Volkswagen Group. However, the Tesla Model Y offers more than that. Limited by its size and to ensure rear headroom, the current Model Y's tail section appears somewhat rushed. Compared to the earlier Model 3, the Model Y has low visibility aside from its height. Therefore, the new taillight design undoubtedly enhances the vehicle's visibility and visual appeal.

In terms of interior design, the new Tesla Model Y also seems to rely on lighting to enhance its quality. For example, there are ambient lighting wraps and imitation carbon fiber trim that matches the contours. However, the quality enhancement stops there, as the rest of the interior is largely copied from the Model 3. Features like the steering wheel turn signals and screen-based gear shifting are present. Even the panoramic sunroof, which Tesla popularized, is rumored to be eliminated in the new Model Y. However, this elimination of the panoramic sunroof should be considered an upgrade. While the panoramic sunroof undoubtedly enhances the vehicle's appearance and sophistication, many users express dissatisfaction by holding umbrellas inside the car.

Thus, the elimination of the panoramic sunroof is a mutually beneficial decision. Compared to changes in lighting design, eliminating the panoramic sunroof saves significantly more costs. However, considering the more "minimalist" design of the new Tesla Model Y's interior, losing the transparent panoramic sunroof undoubtedly increases the suspicion of a "rough interior." Of course, losing the "face" can be compensated for in the "substance," such as the ventilated seats that users also anticipate. Combining the perforated seat design in the spy photos and similar operations in the new Model 3, it is highly likely that the Tesla Model Y will include this feature through an upgrade.

Will FSD upgrades lead to reduced range in the new car?

Tesla's scrimping on traditional in-car hardware is largely related to its investment in intelligent driving. For example, the current Model Y already features Tesla's latest HW4.0 hardware, following a similar pace as the redesigned Model 3. After the upgrade, the new car's perception cameras have been upgraded from 1.2 megapixels to 5 megapixels. And the chip's computing power is theoretically five times more powerful than the previous HW3.0. Although this hardware cost is invisible, FSD, as Tesla's core technology moat, cannot be compromised.

However, despite the hardware advancements in intelligent driving, the current FSD version has not yet fully leveraged the potential of HW4.0. Even with Tesla's recently released FSD V12.5, Musk stated that HW3.0 hardware can still meet future update requirements through code optimization. In other words, FSD V12.5 appears to be the power consumption limit for HW3.0 hardware. Based on previously exposed information, the power consumption of the HW3.0 chip is approximately 72W, not a significant increase from the earlier HW2.5 version (approximately 57W).

However, the power consumption of the HW4.0 chip, calculated based on the exposed 16V, 10A operating voltage and current, has reached 160W, more than double that of HW3.0. Assuming 10 hours of full power consumption, just the chip alone would consume approximately 1.6 kWh, not including other perception hardware. Considering that the current Tesla Model Y's low-end model has a battery capacity of approximately 60 kWh, the power consumption of the intelligent driving system is not negligible.

Following the previous calculations on the maximum computing power of the HW3.0 chip, the effects of the HW4.0 chip will gradually become apparent after the FSD V12.5 version, with corresponding increases in energy consumption. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the new Tesla Model Y is to some extent waiting for Tesla's end-to-end large model to be refined. Therefore, the energy consumption increase due to intelligent driving is an issue that the new Tesla Model Y must face. Its most direct impact is the potential reduction in vehicle range.

Reduced range for mid-range models, price cuts for low-end models?

However, this potential impact on range may only affect specific versions. The primary power consumers in electric vehicles are still the drive systems. Considering the current configuration of the Tesla Model Y, the low-end rear-wheel-drive version and the high-performance all-wheel-drive version still use the 3D6 motor. The long-range all-wheel-drive version, the mid-range model, is the only one to use the 3D7 motor. Following the upgrade path of the Tesla Model 3, excluding the low-volume high-performance all-wheel-drive version, the rear motors of the other two models may switch to the 3D7.

The question then comes down to the performance characteristics of the 3D6 and 3D7 motors. From their names, the 3D7 seems more advanced. However, in practice, the 3D7 motor behaves more like a "low-power version" of the 3D6. Nevertheless, the 3D7 motor excels in craftsmanship, energy consumption, and weight. Therefore, when the lowest-end rear-wheel-drive version switches to the 3D7 motor, the overall range may not change significantly.

Furthermore, the cost advantage of the new motor, combined with the elimination of the panoramic sunroof mentioned earlier, is likely to start with the low-end models. The entry-level price of the new Tesla Model Y may bring more surprises. Regarding concerns about energy consumption, refer to the performance of the new long-range all-wheel-drive version. However, in practical terms, this configuration offers the longest range in the entire lineup. Therefore, even if there is an impact, it should not affect daily use.