Revealed 2025 Tesla Model Y 'Juniper' CUV Update Dwells Around Imagination Land

Well, it did happen in 2023 – the American EV automaker and energy company not only sparked a pricing war amidst rising inflation, not only conquered new heights in terms of EV sales but also premiered the eagerly-awaited Tesla Model 3 update called 'Highland' and recently started the first deliveries of its long-in-the-making Cybertruck full-size EV pickup truck disruptor.

What more could people want from a niche carmaker that only sells zero-emission vehicles and other sustainable products? If you ask the rumor mill, and especially the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, they need to move fast and start bringing up the hype for the best-selling Model Y's own refresh.

Currently, the Model 3 starts at $38,990 in America – Highland is not yet in the configurator, although some parts of the world, like Europe, already have it on the streets. As for the best-selling Model Y, the crossover SUV kicks off at $43,990 in RWD form with an EPA-estimated 260 miles of range, 6.6s sprint to 60 mph, and a top speed of 135 mph.

These deals are not too bad, right? However, that doesn't mean there isn't criticism around them. For example, certain trims (RWD and Long Range) of the Model 3 will be left without the full $7,500 federal tax credit at the end of the year, while the most common complaint about the Model Y concerns its bubbly, odd-shaped design.

Of course, the parallel universes of vehicular CGI can do nothing about taxes – they are as universal as stupidity if you ask us. Still, they can certainly do something about Model Y's styling. There is no need to take our word for granted, as we have a proper example. PoloTo is a distinctively named automotive news video channel on YouTube - and they also share visions of new models created with (some) assistance from AI. Now, in their latest feature, the focus is on the upcoming Tesla Model Y refresh.

If it looks almost like the Tesla Model 3 sedan, that's not just your impression – we also raised an eyebrow or two at the sight of this unofficial design project. Of course, we are not fans of Model Y's egg-like shape, so we quickly let it slide because the hypothetical renderings make the crossover SUV much sportier, at least at the front. Around back, the resident pixel master refrained from major changes – there are updated LED taillights, though.

Of course, it remains to be seen what really happens in the real world – Tesla could simply wait a year or so, until the fall of 2024, and introduce a refreshed Model Y 'Juniper' taking all the design cues directly from the Model 3 'Highland' and it would still sell like hot cakes. Hopefully, they will be a little more daring than that, though. As for powertrains, we do not expect significant differences compared to the current offer – RWD was just added alongside Long Range and Performance. One interesting thing could happen, though – the switch to 4680 cells in the battery packs could still bring various improvements.