Model Y Plaid: Tesla’s response to Ferrari?
- Published on 02/06/2026 12:48
Tesla is considering a Plaid variant of the Model Y, capable of competing with much more exclusive and expensive electric sports cars.
Tesla could soon push the limits of its compact SUV. During a recent appearance on the Ride the Lightning podcast, Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at the American carmaker, confirmed that the idea of a Tesla Model Y Plaid is regularly discussed internally.
“I think about it all the time,” said the executive, suggesting that such a version would fit well within the lineup. Since the discontinuation of the Model S and Model X, Tesla’s most extreme technology has not been available on a production vehicle. Its return on the Model Y would therefore represent a logical evolution.
The main challenge, however, would be technical. According to Moravy, a potential Model Y Plaid would need to use the carbon-wrapped rotor motors introduced on the Model S Plaid. Their integration into a more compact platform would pose a real puzzle for the brand’s engineers.
Ferrari in Uncharted Territory
Even though no production project is currently validated, the potential performance of such a model is already enticing. The current Model Y Performance boasts a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed limited to 250 km/h. A Plaid version could further improve these figures while benefiting from significant advancements in chassis, suspension, and aerodynamics.
Thanks to its mastery of electric powertrains and software performance management, Tesla could easily compete with much more exclusive models, like the upcoming Ferrari Luce, whose expected price of 550,000 euros could be up to five times that of a Model Y Plaid! It’s worth noting that the Model Y Performance is currently priced at 62,990 euros.
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Meanwhile, the hypothetical arrival of the Xiaomi YU7 GT in Europe could mean that a Tesla Model Y Plaid might become the new benchmark for sporty electric SUVs, combining supercar performance with a relatively accessible price. A significant thorn in the side of the prancing horse…
This page is translated from the original post "Model Y Plaid : la réponse de Tesla à Ferrari ?" in French.
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