By ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR
Tesla has unveiled a souped-up version of its Model Y SUV that has enough grunt to put many supercars to shame.
The Model Y Performance has been unleashed with a staggering 460bhp electric drivetrain and a 0-to-62mph time quicker than a £160,000 Porsche 911 GT3.
Order books for the £61,990 SUV have already opened for UK customers, with first deliveries of the tuned-up Tesla set to arrive in October having been shipped from the company's Brandenburg factory near Berlin.
It uses the same 'Performance 4DU' e-motors - two of them - that are already deployed in the raciest Model 3 saloon and shifts the near-two-tonne family car from standstill to 62mph in just 3.3 seconds. The top speed is 155mph.
These are stats that put it on par with more expensive petrol super saloons and estates - namely BMW's iconic M5 and Audi's much-adorned RS6 - as well as a number of full-blooded sports cars.
But the Model Y Performance isn't merely a case of Elon Musk demanding his engineers wind up the wick on the electric motors to turn it into an incredibly potent school-run vehicle.
Tesla's supercar-beating SUV: The new Model Y Performance has been unleashed with a staggering 460bhp electric drivetrain and a 0-to-62mph time quicker than a £160k Porsche 911 GT3
There are suspension upgrades too, with it fitted with adaptive dampers, new springs, stabiliser bars and bushings.
It also gets 'optimised' wheels and tyres not before used on a Tesla vehicle.
The electric SUV has been 'extensively tested across a variety of road types, scenarios and surfaces', according to Tesla bods who promise it will 'deliver everyday usability while thrilling passengers with adrenaline-charged performance'.
The tuning upgrades have been pushed to the limit at the fabled performance car testing ground that is the Nürburgring track in Germany where other manufacturers hone their most powerful models.
The Model Y Performance battery pack has also been upgraded.
It now used an all-new 'high-density' battery cell that can deliver mind-melding performance without dramatically eating into the range. The size of the battery has not been confirmed, though.
Tesla claims it can still cover 360 miles on a full charge. This is just four miles shy of the existing Long Range model also using the all-wheel-drive system.
But given the Model Y Long Range AWD costs £51,990, the question is whether customers will see the performance upgrade of the latest arrival worthy of a £10,000 premium.
Order books for the £61,990 SUV have already opened for UK customers, with first deliveries of the tuned-up Tesla set to arrive in October having been shipped from the company's Brandenburg factory near Berlin
There are suspension upgrades too, with it fitted with adaptive dampers, new springs, stabiliser bars and bushings. Red painted brake callipers are also a unique feature to the Performance version
It uses the same 'Performance 4DU' e-motors - two of them - that are already deployed in the raciest Model 3 saloon and shifts its near-two-tonne mass from a standstill to 62mph in just 3.3 seconds. The top speed is 155mph
To put the new Model Y Performance's acceleration into context, the £158,200 Porsche 911 GT3 takes 3.4 seconds to reach 62mph
There are design tweaks too, with the Model Y Performance boasting a more aero-efficient front bumper, diffuser-style rear bumper and a carbon wing.
Lurking behind the redeisgned 21-inch alloy wheels are red-painted brake callipers. There's also new badging and lashings of glossy piano black accents, including the wing mirror covers.
In the cabin, the driver and front seat passenger are now treated to 'Performance' seats with more side support and powered thigh cushion extenders for additional comfort.
The dashboard panel and door trim inserts are also finished in carbon fibre, while the pedals are aluminium.
The cockpit also benefits from a larger 16-inch touchscreen display - which is also said to be Tesla's 'highest-resolution' panel yet.
The electric SUV has been 'extensively tested across a variety of road types, scenarios and surfaces', according to Tesla bods who promise it will 'deliver everyday usability while thrilling passengers with adrenaline-charged performance'
There are design tweaks too, with a more aero-efficient front bumper, diffuser-style rear bumper and a carbon rear wing
A new 'high-density' battery cell provides mind-melding performance without dramatically eating into the range. Tesla claims it can still cover 360 miles on a full charge. This is just four miles shy of the existing Long Range model also using the all-wheel-drive system
The cockpit also benefits from a larger 16-inch touchscreen - which is also said to be Tesla's 'highest-resolution' display yet. The dashboard and door inserts are finished in carbon fibre
In the cabin, the driver and front seat passenger are now treated to 'Performance' seats with more side support and powered thigh cushion extenders for additional comfort
The Model Y Performance's emergence comes just months after Tesla facelifted its best-selling car, which has been the volume-sold EV in the UK and Europe since it broke onto the market.
In fact, it was officially the world's most-bought new car across all fuel types in 2023.
Last year, Tesla launched a seven-seat version and is on the verge of announcing a cheaper entry-level model.
In China, it has already provided a six-seat variant with an extended wheelbase to appeal more to business-class vehicle buyers who prefer to be chauffeured than driven.
Tesla, like many of its established rivals, have been looking to diversify their ranges as part of efforts to stay competitive against cheaper brands arriving from China.
Elon Musk's unpopularity in recent months, triggered by his former ties to US President Donald Trump, have also seen Tesla sales take a hit.