Tesla Model Y Standard seen ahead of debut – more affordable variant with wheel covers, no front light bar
The Tesla Model Y Standard appears to have been leaked ahead of its official debut, according to a post on X by the Tesla Newswire fan account.
This has been said to start from US$39,990 (RM168,457) in the United States, and the Standard is positioned as a more affordable option in the Model Y line-up. The leaked image shows a front fascia without the front light bar joining both headlamps, as on the latest “Juniper” iteration of the Model Y.
According to the Tesla Newswire fan account, the revisions to appear on the more affordable variant of the Model Y include a “closed glass roof”, smaller, 18-inch wheels, a more basic interior specification including textile upholstery and a manually adjustable steering wheel.
Further claimed specifications on the Model Y Standard include a 15.4-inch touchscreen, omission of the second-row touchscreen, manually adjustable second-row air vents, a particulate filter in place of a HEPA filter, and a slightly smaller luggage compartment.
The exterior changes as claimed for the Model Y Standard appear to be confirmed by an on-road sighting of a Model Y fitting that description, posted to X by Ryan Mable.
In September, the budget variant of the Model Y was tipped to bear the codename E41, and X user ‘Green’ indicated that this variant would feature side mirrors without power folding and puddle lamps, no tyre pressure monitoring system and a simplified fibreglass headliner.
‘Green’ also claimed that the upcoming budget Model Y variant would be offered with two audio specifications; an “essential” and an “essential with commodity”, while the reversing camera would do without a heating element that is meant to prevent fogging. An “Airwave” system for the climate control has also been removed in this variant, according to ‘Green’.
Further details uncovered, according to ‘Green’, include rear- and all-wheel-drive powertrains for the E41, or Model Y Standard, while suspension has been said to take a downgrade in this budget form.
More recently, Tesla released teaser footage on X of what appears to be a spinning wheel or device, followed by “10/7” alluding to the October 7 date when more will be revealed.
The spinning object with the Tesla logo on its centre would appear to be a wheel, however this seems to be without any wheel lugs, which leads to speculation that the object could be something other than a wheel, or more likely, a wheel cover.
This was followed by another short video on X, this time of a set of headlamps appearing to be those of the Model Y, but without the central strip joining the headlamp units on each side, indicative of the new Model Y variant.
simplified fiberglass headliner
simplified cabin lighting (footwell only)
simplified seat controls (single axis)
no power mirror folding
no puddle lamps
no glass roof
no second row display
no tpms
simplified 18" wheels— green (@greentheonly) September 20, 2025
@SawyerMerritt spotted an uncovered cheaper Model Y variant driving near Giga Texas pic.twitter.com/Fy6devXree
— Ryan Mable (@RyanMable) October 2, 2025
pic.twitter.com/KsXDaJgMcJ
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 5, 2025
pic.twitter.com/WscJ610E7n
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 6, 2025
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