Coud Tesla offer an "AWD Lite" CT in 4Q 2025?

[SCTesla]

I know you’re right, but I hate the 3 in comparison. Please don’t be offended 3 people. It’s small, doesn’t feel as safe and the suspension as well as the seats are a huge downgrade. The steering feels twitchy by comparison, the cargo space is way inferior and so on. Plus, what’s wrong with a 500 plus mile range car? Are they afraid of kicking the goalposts too far away from themselves?
Not with the kids but a car I could climb into and drive to Vegas from Phoenix on one charge would be giant win for me.

Elon said no one really needs 500 miles and batteries are randomly hard to get.

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[hemiarch]

Elon said no one really needs 500 miles and batteries are randomly hard to get.

But it’s 410 miles now. Shrink the wheels and make it lighter and you get pretty close. 500 is just a hypothetical number I’m throwing out but even slightly more and less features, I would buy.

 

[SCTesla]

But it’s 410 miles now. Shrink the wheels and make it lighter and you get pretty close. 500 is just a hypothetical number I’m throwing out but even slightly more and less features, I would buy.

Again, I don't think that's realistic.

 

[hemiarch]

I agree. I just wish it were. For now I think I’ll buy a used s to accomplish the same goal.
3 just doesn’t do it for me personally.
I respect it and it was an inedibly important car for Tesla. It’s just not for me.

 

[Mini2nut]

A $40k Model Y? They apparently didn’t learn a lesson from the $70k RWD CT.

 

[YDR37]

I agree. I just wish it were. For now I think I’ll buy a used s to accomplish the same goal.
3 just doesn’t do it for me personally.
I respect it and it was an inedibly important car for Tesla. It’s just not for me.

Just out of curiosity, if you like the Model S, what are your thoughts on the Lucid Air? I've never driven one myself, but Lucid makes no secret that they are targeting Model S customers. They claim 480 - 512 miles of range in the Grand Touring trim.

In California, the Model S was the top seller in the "Luxury and High End Sports Cars" category (including both EV and ICE vehicles) in 2024. But through the first half of 2025, the Air has taken that spot.

 

[hemiarch]

Just out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the Lucid Air? I've never driven one myself, but Lucid makes no secret that they are targeting Model S customers.

In California, the Model S was the top seller in the "Luxury and High End Sports Cars" category (both EV and ICE) in 2024. But through the first half of 2025, the Air has taken that spot.

My thoughts on anything non-Tesla unfortunately are that it doesn’t drive itself or use the trip planner Tesla offfers and right now can benefit from teslas enormous head start charger network for relatively cheap but I’m not sure that will always be the case.
Yeah, taycans are cool, Lucids are cool, the hummer probably has benefits, the ev9 is a cool family car, so is the r1s but in the end…they are not teslas and they don’t have FSD. Sinple as that.
I have owned others and it’s probably at least somewhat better now than my “PlugShare” experience but as it stands, no contest.
Tesla every time for me.

 

[Mini2nut]

“I think eventually we will see a decontented AWD CT. It makes too much sense from a parts, R&D, cost, and volume standpoint. My guess is they announce mid to late Q4 with deliveries being Q1.”



Thats my feeling as well. A lower price point AWD “lite” model would be a welcome addition to the CT lineup.

Tesla could use all of the components from the RWD model that they already developed and tooled up for but apply them to the AWD model to achieve a lower price point. Steel 18” wheels, textile seats, no smugglers bay, de-contented sound system, no rear display, etc.

 

[SCTesla]

“I think eventually we will see a decontented AWD CT. It makes too much sense from a parts, R&D, cost, and volume standpoint. My guess is they announce mid to late Q4 with deliveries being Q1.”



Thats my feeling as well. A lower price point AWD “lite” model would be a welcome addition to the CT lineup.

Tesla could use all of the components from the RWD model that they already developed and tooled up for but apply them to the AWD model to achieve a lower price point. Steel 18” wheels, textile seats, no smugglers bay, de-contented sound system, no rear display, etc.

All for $5,000 less than the AWD.

 

[YDR37]

All for $5,000 less than the AWD.

As per the original post in this thread, the hope was that an AWD-Lite could go for $72,490, or for $7,500 less than the sticker price of the traditional AWD. So basically taking the place of the $7,500 tax credit, and keeping the effective entry-level price unchanged.

Obviously it would be great if the price could go even lower. But the stripped-down "Long Range" Cybertruck was priced at $69,990 with only one motor and RWD. So it seems unlikely that a hypothetical AWD-Lite, which would have two motors and AWD, would match that price.

If an AWD-Lite was priced only $5,000 less than the traditional AWD, it might not be worth the trouble to develop.

 

[SCTesla]

As per the original post in this thread, the hope was that an AWD-Lite could go for $72,490, or for $7,500 less than the sticker price of the traditional AWD. So basically taking the place of the $7,500 tax credit, and keeping the effective entry-level price unchanged.

Obviously it would be great if the price could go even lower. But the stripped-down "Long Range" Cybertruck was priced at $69,990 with only one motor and RWD. So it seems unlikely that a hypothetical AWD-Lite, which would have two motors and AWD, would match that price.

If an AWD-Lite was priced only $5,000 less than the traditional AWD, it might not be worth the trouble to develop.

It was a joke because the stripped down MY is $5,000 less than the MY RWD with all the features.

 

[YDR37]

It was a joke because the stripped down MY is $5,000 less than the MY RWD with all the features.

OK I get it now. Still skeptical about the leaked MY pricing/specs, although I wouldn't be totally shocked if they are accurate.

 

[hemiarch]

All for $5,000 less than the AWD.

Seriously though. I’m pretty impressed with the new performance package as a value. Free color and interior? If I had a FSD in another car to trade in, I’d jump on that.

 

[SCTesla]

OK I get it now. Still skeptical about the leaked MY pricing/specs, although I wouldn't be totally shocked if they are accurate.

It's 100% on tesla.com...just go to the model Y page and go to developer tools, then sources, then Model Y, then Design and it's after the RWD

 

[hemiarch]

It's 100% on tesla.com...just go to the model Y page and go to developer tools, then sources, then Model Y, then Design and it's after the RWD

I’d rather get a slightly used Y. Weak sauce Tesla if this is for real.

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