Tesla’s over-the-air software upgrades offer instant access to increased performance
- Tesla just released a new “Acceleration Boost” performance upgrade for Model Y owners.
- The upgrade boosts horsepower by about 100, making the Model Y quicker than rivals.
- The Acceleration Boost is seen as a bridge to the future Model Y Performance.
Tesla is once again leveraging over-the-air magic to launch a new feature. Named the Acceleration Boost, this new $2,000 upgrade is available directly through the Tesla app and unlocks an extra jolt of power for the refreshed Model Y ‘Juniper’. It’ll drop the 0-60 mph sprint time (with a rollout) from 4.6 seconds down to just 4.2 seconds. This upgrade was also available for the previous Model Y and was standard on the new Launch Edition.
That’s a notable improvement, even if it is just under half a second. Drivers should have no issue feeling the difference, especially during highway merging or spirited driving. The upgrade adds around 100 horsepower, according to Tesla fan and follower Matthew Donegan-Ryan. The shift in performance takes the Model Y from being equally as quick as a rival like the Volvo EX40 to considerably quicker. It’s already far quicker than cars like the Nissan Ariya Nismo.
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The move comes as Tesla expands availability of the new Model Y following the limited Launch Series run. Currently, US buyers can only spec the Long Range AWD version. For now, previous versions like the Rear-Wheel Drive and Performance trims are nowhere to be seen. That’s left speed-hungry customers with few options, at least for now.
Enter the $2,000 Speed Boost
This is a familiar tactic for Tesla as it is with other automakers in a similar situation. The brand has long monetized untapped performance via software upgrades, letting buyers unlock more performance or range after the initial purchase. It provided this same exact option to the older version of the Model Y as well and it’s believed that the take rate is reasonably high on upgrades like this.
That said, it’s hard to see this offering as much more than a placeholder: a digital bridge between the Long Range AWD and the future Model Y Performance. It’s also a way to potentially speed up Model Y adoption in a time when Tesla needs every sale it can get.
