Technologies

The New Tesla Model Y Performance Upgrades My Favorite Electric SUV to Supercar Speeds

Tesla’s new Model Y is the best electric car I’ve driven, but this new Performance spec takes the family SUV and gives it the power of a supercar.

It’s hard to overstate how much I already liked the new Tesla Model Y. I drove it earlier this year, and it struck me as Tesla’s most complete car yet. It’s sharper to look at, smoother to drive, and smarter inside without trying too hard to be clever. In fact, I’d go as far as saying its the best electric car I’ve ever driven.

But today Tesla unveiled the Model Y Performance. It’s the power-packed specification of this already great electric SUV — and it has the potential to be the best car Tesla’s ever made.

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The new Model Y Performance isn’t just the regular Model Y with a faster 0 to 60 mph time — although, it’ll do that in a ridiculous 3.3 seconds. It’s a reworked machine, top to bottom, which takes the family-friendly EV and injects a dose of sports car mischief into every corner of it.

Aesthetically, it’s clear something’s different. The redesigned fascias on both the front and rear aren’t just for show. Together with a carbon-fiber spoiler and a new rear diffuser, they give the Performance variant a more aggressive stance, not to mention actual aerodynamic improvements. It achieves 10% less drag and a 27% improvement in front-to-rear lift balance. The 21-inch forged Arachnid 2.0 wheels are staggered for better grip and show off some seriously good-looking red brake calipers.

Inside, the upgrades are more than skin deep. Tesla’s fitted bolstered performance seats with powered thigh extenders that promise to make long drives feel like less of a compromise between comfort and support. They’re both heated and ventilated, so you’re set for any weather. There’s a new carbon-fiber dash trim too, so you can really make it look the part. The 16-inch center screen is now sharper and more pixel-packed than before — 80% more, to be exact — which adds a bit more polish to an already slick interface.

Performance, though, is the headline. The Model Y Performance inherits the beefy new drive unit introduced in last year’s Model 3 Performance, offering 460 horsepower, 32% more peak power, and 22% more sustained grunt than the last-gen Performance variant. Top speed is now 155 mph. Supercar numbers in a car that still has space for strollers, groceries, and whatever else life throws in the trunk.

Tesla has thrown in adaptive suspension that was tuned in-house and validated at the Nürburgring. It adjusts in real time to match your driving and the road conditions. In practice, that should mean buttery comfort when you want it, and spine-tingling sharpness when you don’t.

You get all of the excellent additions from the non-performance version of the new Model Y, which is the first major design change since the Model Y was unveiled in 2019 and made available in 2020. This includes the new rear touchscreen to keep passengers entertained, the new light bars on the front and area, an updated panoramic roof, electric folding rear seats, and LED styling throughout the interior.

In terms of range, Tesla promises 360 miles WLTP, which is nothing to scoff at. Thanks to a new high-density battery pack, it’s achieved without adding weight. Charging via Tesla’s ever-expanding Supercharger network remains about as easy as it gets for EVs.

Put simply, this new Model Y Performance is Tesla’s electric SUV turned up to 11. It still has the everyday usability I loved in the regular version, but adds track-tested speed and suspension tuning that would be at home in a supercar.

Orders are open now on Tesla’s website. Deliveries begin in Europe this September, with the UK and Ireland following in October. Pricing starts at £61,990 in the UK and 61,990 euros in Ireland. US pricing is yet to be announced, but will follow shortly, with deliveries slightly later this year.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, Oct. 20

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 20.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It was a tough one for a change! That 1-Across is going to slyly trick you as to what a mouse is. So if you need the answers, read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Sound from a mouse
Answer: CLICK

6A clue: Many-headed serpent killed by Hercules
Answer: HYDRA

7A clue: View from a cruise ship window
Answer: OCEAN

8A clue: «See ya later!»
Answer: PEACE

9A clue: Animal whose antlers can grow up to an inch per day
Answer: ELK

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Dice, e.g.
Answer: CHOP

2D clue: French for «high school»
Answer: LYCEE

3D clue: 10 out of 10
Answer: IDEAL

4D clue: Sound from a bat
Answer: CRACK

5D clue: «Citizen ___»
Answer: KANE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 20, #392

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 20, No. 392.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has a category for all the Windy City residents out there. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Deep-dish pizza, anyone?

Green group hint: Duke it out.

Blue group hint: College division.

Purple group hint: «Go to your ____!»

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Chicago teams.

Green group: With «weight,» combat sport divisions.

Blue group: American Conference teams.

Purple group: ____ room.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is Chicago teams. The four answers are Bears, Bulls, Cubs and Sky.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is with «weight,» combat sport divisions. The four answers are bantam, feather, fly and heavy.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is American Conference teams. The four answers are Blazers, Chanticleers, Green Wave and Pirates.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ room. The four answers are dressing, film, green and locker.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 20, #862

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Oct. 20, No. 862.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a tricky purple category, but that almost always goes without saying. If you need help, you’re in the right place. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: What’s the matter?

Green group hint: Stars at night.

Blue group hint: Science info.

Purple group hint: On the cob.