Tesla's Upcoming Model Y, Project Juniper, Spotted with Front Bumper Camera; Coming in 2025 (2024)

While Elon Musk has previously mentioned that a refreshed Model Y, codenamed “Juniper”, would not be arriving in 2024, JacklJack on Reddit snapped a picture of a Model Y, which was covered up.

When Will It Be Released

The refresh, or Highland Model 3 began with engineering test vehicles being spotted near Giga Texas and the Fremont factory in California. Similarly, this covered-up Model Y was spotted near Pasadena, California.

Given the timelines we saw for the new Model 3, this prototype for the Model Y appears to be following a trajectory for an early to mid-2025 launch. Engineering test vehicles for the new Model 3 were first spotted in North America about 6-8 months prior to its introduction to China. After its initial release in Chinese, the vehicle was later released in North America just a few months later.

If timelines for Project Juniper are similar to what we saw for the Model 3, we should expect to see more engineering test vehicles on the road in North America soon.

The vehicle is expected to be released in China first, with a North American and European arrival following sometime after. While the Performance variant of the new Model 3 didn’t launch until April of 2024, several months after the Long Range version was available in North America, it’s not clear whether Tesla will follow a similar strategy and launch the Long Range version of the new Model Y before the Performance model.

Front Bumper Camera

There was a lot of speculation about the refreshed Model 3 coming with a front bumper camera, but so far the Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that includes a bumper camera and a camera washer (video). While updated versions of the Model S and Model X are also expected to add the lower-bumper camera, so also have yet to go on sale as well.

It’s not clear why Tesla didn’t launch the new camera with the new Model 3 since the bumper was already being redesigned and the factories were being retooled. However, according to the spy shot of the updated Model Y, it looks like it could be Tesla’s second vehicle to include the bumper camera. TeslaNewswire shared a photo of the Model Y with the brightness increased which appears to reveal the new front bumper camera. The location is exactly where you’d expect, very similar to the Cybertruck and similar to early shots of the prototype Model 3 that also contained the bumper camera.

It’s not clear whether this additional camera will make it into the production version, but it’s at least a sign that Tesla is considering adding this camera to another model.

Musk Asks People to Stop

Elon Musk replied to Sawyer Merritt on X (Twitter), not only reiterating that the refreshed Model Y will not be released this year. He also asked people to stop hinting that it will be since it damages Tesla’s sales of the current vehicle.

Potential Upgrades

While the release of the new Model Y may be about a year out in North America – there is a chance that the updated Model Y Juniper could show up with Hardware 5 sensors and computers. Elon Musk estimated that HW5, now dubbed AI5 was about 12-18 months away from production. The new Model Y could be the vehicle that debuts the new FSD package.

Of course, all of the rest of the upgrades that came with the updated Model 3 will all likely come to the Model Y – a new front and rear fascia, new adaptive headlights, increased range, ambient lighting, new colors, new speakers, and better dynamics in general. Package all of that up with what was already the best-selling car in 2023, and we’ve got a hit on our hands.

Tesla has several promotions running right now in the United States and a couple globally – so we’re here to help you by compiling a list of what’s available, and for how long.

Keep in mind that most promotions on this list are currently only available in the United States – not Canada, Europe, or China. We’re hoping Tesla pushes more promotions out to other markets in future quarters, but it doesn’t look like we’ll see anything else this financial quarter for other markets.

These offers are also not valid for customers purchasing a Foundation-series Cybertruck. We’d expect this to change once Tesla stops offering the Foundation Series next year.

3 Months of Free Supercharging (Global)

This specific promotion pops up often and is available globally. Tesla will offer buyers 3 months of free Supercharging – unlimited Supercharging during those 3 months. That’s quite a deal, especially for those who want to road-trip with their brand-new Tesla!

Teslas are absolutely fantastic to road trip with, and with Supercharger availability and up-time, you’ll almost never be at a loss when trying to find a place to charge. Plus, your vehicle navigation automatically suggests and calculates in for Supercharging stops.

Of note, in the United States specifically, this offer isn’t available to those who choose to do financing. Globally, this offer is for a certain number of free Supercharging kilometers rather than unlimited for three months. In Canada for example, Tesla is offering 5,000 – 10,000 free KM of Supercharging, rather than 3 months. These credits are valid for one year from the date of purchase.

Time period: To qualify for this offer, you must take delivery by August 15th, 2024.

Free FSD Transfer (Global)

As part of a promise made by Elon Musk during the Shareholder Meeting this year, Tesla is offering a free FSD transfer for customers who have purchased FSD (FSD price history) in one of their vehicles and wish to transfer it to a new Tesla.

You’ll move your FSD license from one vehicle to another during the purchase process – and you aren’t required to trade in your older Tesla. The vehicle will simply lose access to FSD, but you can always subscribe to FSD on that vehicle at any point.

For those who have Hardware 2.5 or Hardware 3 vehicles – this could be an excellent opportunity to jump into a Hardware 4 vehicle ahead of the upcoming Hardware Divergence.

Time period: To take advantage of this promo you must take delivery by September 30th, 2024.

1.99% Model Y Financing (U.S. Only)

Tesla is offering – for customers who meet the credit check requirements – 1.99% financing on any variant of the Model Y, presuming you take delivery before September 30^th. This is an excellent deal, considering that average financing rates in the US are currently sitting around 5-6%. That’s a huge difference for people interested in upgrading their current vehicle or purchasing another vehicle, as it’ll drastically drop the monthly financing rate. This is probably one of Tesla’s best promotions in terms of a deal for customers, and we’d love to see similar deals rolled out globally!

Time period: The promotional rate is valid for financing terms between 36 to 72 months, and orders need to be placed before August 31, 2024. You must take delivery of your new Tesla by September 30th, 2024

Free Paint for Model 3 Performance & Free Seat Layouts for Model X

This is one of the most unique promotions – and one we haven’t seen Tesla offer before. If you purchase FSD in the United States on a Model 3 Performance or a Model X Long Range AWD, you’ll get certain options for free.

For the Model 3 Performance, with the purchase of FSD, you can add any color option for free, which is up to a $2,000 value.

For the Model X, you’ll be able to select the six-seat or seven-seat interior config instead of the standard five-seats for free. This is a savings of $6,500 or $3,500 respectively.

If you were already thinking about getting the Model X six-seat layout, this essentially brings down the cost of FSD to $1,500.

Since FSD doesn’t count toward the total price of the car regarding the federal rebate, it also means that the Model 3 Performance (with any color) and Model X LR (with 6 or 7 seats) are now also eligible for the $7,500 US Federal EV Rebate.

Overall, an excellent deal – you get FSD, a paint option of your choice for the Model 3, and – if you’re buying the Model X LR – you can grab the six-seat config, which is the best seating option in our opinion.

Time period: Tesla hasn’t provided a timeline for this promo, but it could change at any time.

Siddhant Awasthi, the Cybertruck Vehicle Program Manager, confirmed today on X that the offroad lightbar is coming soon.

Awasthi also pointed out that Cyberbeast customers will receive it first, most likely followed by dual-motor AWD owners. While he didn’t specify a date, soon is as good news as any.

Lightbar

While the Cybertruck’s original renders and pre-production model showed off in November 2019 included a built-in lightbar at the top of the windshield, it unfortunately never made it to the production build. There was even talk of a laser lightbar at the time – the current lightbar is an LED lightbar – but still extremely powerful.

Instead, the off-road lightbar lives on as an optional accessory, installed on the outside, at the top of the windshield. The off-road lightbar uses the top-mounted 48V auxiliary power tap to get power.

Soon for Foundation series Cyberbeast customers. They will receive it first

— Siddhant Awasthi (@siddawa) July 17, 2024

It is installed by Tesla Service and is a permanent install. The off-road lightbar is installed using urethane glue – the same automotive grade glue used for Tesla’s spoilers – and a lot of it. It won’t be coming off easily.

The lightbar is extremely bright – and actually ships with a blackout film already attached, which is optionally removable by the user. Tesla, however, doesn’t recommend removing the blackout film, and employees will not remove it after the installation.

Cybertruck in Action

Tesla also recently showed off the Cybertruck in action offroad, including with the upcoming lightbar.

Off-Road Mode pic.twitter.com/39Dh5dX8CO

— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) July 17, 2024