Tesla has revealed some new features on the new Model Y “Juniper” through an interview conducted at one of the company’s Northern California showrooms.
Nathan Di Giusto, Tesla Vehicle Engineering Head for the 3/Y platform, and Emmanuel Lamacchia, the Model Y’s Program Manager, sat down with owners club Tesla Owners Silicon Valley to breakdown some of the new features and design changes that the company decided to make on the new Model Y.
Tesla implemented design and efficiency changes on the Model Y to make it even better than it was previously. The past iteration was the best-selling vehicle of any kind on Earth at one point, so Tesla is truly looking to improve on what many felt was an already close-to-perfect vehicle.
During the interview, Di Giusto and Lamacchia revealed some really interesting changes the company made to improve the Model Y, as well as some other things that could bleed over into other vehicles, like new paint colors and efficiency strategies.
Design Changes
- Tesla removed its ‘T’ logo from the vehicle, which was always the intention. The Chinese market required the ‘T’ logo, but the U.S. vehicle was meant to be left blank.
- The new rear power seats utilize a gearbox that was designed internally by Tesla
- Tesla chose to reintroduce the turn signal stalk because of customer feedback. When the automaker axed the stalk with past vehicles, they felt there was an overwhelming amount of drivers who would rather have it than the buttons. The buttons are still available.
- New paint colors will be heading to the North American market soon. Other markets have seen new paint colors be rolled out, but Tesla is planning to bring them to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico soon.
Efficiency Focus
- One of the biggest changes Tesla made to improve efficiency was a focus on the braking system. Tesla realized it could reduce drag from brake calipers to increase range and efficiency
- The glass roof on the new Model Y is metallically coated with two layers of silver. This not only improves cabin noise levels but also improves the cabin’s ability to maintain the heat level with better thermal performance.
- Tesla had the opportunity to implement a larger battery for more range, but it felt as if this would take the vehicle out of affordability for most consumers.
- The company examined everything from interior lighting, even in the center console, to help improve efficiency in any way possible
- HVAC fans now have a lower-speed operation
- EPA range figures will show more than the 2.8 percent estimated range bump from past Model Y
More Comfort
- Smoother and quieter closing door latches and trunk lids
- Interior materials have been wrapped to continue combatting excess cabin noise, a common issue for electric vehicles
- This includes carpeted cupholders, trunk lids, and side trim, all of which deaden the noise in the cabin and make for a quieter ride
- Vehicle sensors can now detect humans in the vehicle, along with their heartbeats and breathing patterns.
- Laminated rear glass for cabin noise reduction
Tesla’s new Model Y is set to start deliveries in March and is currently only available in the “Launch Edition” trim, which starts at $59,990 before any incentives.
The full interview with members of the Model Y program is available below.
via @teslaownersSV https://t.co/kFbP08KNVs
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 6, 2025
Need accessories for your Tesla? Check out the Teslarati Marketplace:
- https://shop.teslarati.com/collections/tesla-cybertruck-accessories
- https://shop.teslarati.com/collections/tesla-model-y-accessories
- https://shop.teslarati.com/collections/tesla-model-3-accessories
Please email me with questions and comments at joey@teslarati.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Ford is charging for a basic EV feature on the Mustang Mach-E
When ordering a new Ford Mustang Mach-E, you’ll now be hit with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
Ford is charging an additional fee for a basic EV feature on its Mustang Mach-E, its most popular electric vehicle offering.
Ford has shuttered its initial Model e program, but is venturing into a more controlled and refined effort, and it is abandoning the F-150 Lightning in favor of a new pickup that is currently under design, but appears to have some favorable features.
However, ordering a new Mustang Mach-E now comes with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
The frunk is the front trunk, and due to the lack of a large engine in the front of an electric vehicle, OEMs are able to offer additional storage space under the hood. There’s one problem, though, and that is that companies appear to be recognizing that they can remove it for free while offering the function for a fee.
Ford is now charging $495 on the Mustang Mach-E frunk (front trunk). What are your thoughts on that? pic.twitter.com/EOzZe3z9ZQ
— Alan of TesCalendar 📆⚡️ (@TesCalendar1) February 24, 2026
Ford is charging $495 for the frunk.
Interestingly, the frunk size varies by vehicle, but the Mustang Mach-E features a 4.7 to 4.8 cubic-foot-sized frunk, which measures approximately 9 inches deep, 26 inches wide, and 14 inches high.
When the vehicle was first released, Ford marketed the frunk as the ultimate tailgating feature, showing it off as a perfect place to store and serve cold shrimp cocktail.
Ford Mach-E frunk is perfect for chowders and chicken wings, and we’re not even joking
It appears the decision to charge for what is a simple advantage of an EV is not going over well, as even Ford loyal customers say the frunk is a “basic expectation” of an EV. Without it, it seems as if fans feel the company is nickel-and-diming its customers.
It will be pretty interesting to see the Mach-E without a frunk, and while it should not be enough to turn people away from potentially buying the vehicle, it seems the decision to add an additional charge to include one will definitely annoy some customers.
News
Tesla to improve one of its best features, coding shows
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Tesla is looking to upgrade its Matrix Headlights, a unique and high-tech feature that is available on several of its vehicles. The headlights aim to maximize visibility for Tesla drivers while being considerate of oncoming traffic.
The Matrix Headlights Tesla offers utilize dimming of individual light pixels to ensure that visibility stays high for those behind the wheel, while also being considerate of other cars by decreasing the brightness in areas where other cars are traveling.
Here’s what they look like in action:
-
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
-
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
As you can see, the Matrix headlight system intentionally dims the area where oncoming cars would be impacted by high beams. This keeps visibility at a maximum for everyone on the road, including those who could be hit with bright lights in their eyes.
There are still a handful of complaints from owners, however, but Tesla appears to be looking to resolve these with the coming updates in a Software Version that is currently labeled 2026.2.xxx. The coding was spotted by X user BERKANT:
🚨 Tesla is quietly upgrading Matrix headlights.
Software https://t.co/pXEklQiXSq reveals a hidden feature:
matrix_two_stage_reflection_dip
This is a major step beyond current adaptive high beams.
What it means:
• The car detects highly reflective objects
Road signs,… pic.twitter.com/m5UpQJFA2n— BERKANT (@Tesla_NL_TR) February 24, 2026
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Finally, the new system will prevent the high beams from glaring back at the driver. The system is made to dim when it recognizes oncoming cars, but not necessarily objects that could produce glaring issues back at the driver.
Tesla’s revolutionary Matrix headlights are coming to the U.S.
This upgrade is software-focused, so there will not need to be any physical changes or upgrades made to Tesla vehicles that utilize the Matrix headlights currently.
Elon Musk
xAI’s Grok approved for Pentagon classified systems: report
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
Elon Musk’s xAI has signed an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to allow Grok to be used in classified military systems.
Previously, Anthropic’s Claude had been the only AI system approved for the most sensitive military work, but a dispute over usage safeguards has reportedly prompted the Pentagon to broaden its options, as noted in a report from Axios.
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
The publication reported that xAI agreed to the Pentagon’s requirement that its technology be usable for “all lawful purposes,” a standard Anthropic has reportedly resisted due to alleged ethical restrictions tied to mass surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in what sources expect to be a tense meeting, with the publication hinting that the Pentagon could designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” if the company does not lift its safeguards.
Axios stated that replacing Claude fully might be technically challenging even if xAI or other alternative AI systems take its place. That being said, other AI systems are already in use by the DoD.
Grok already operates in the Pentagon’s unclassified systems alongside Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google is reportedly close to an agreement that will result in Gemini being used for classified use, while OpenAI’s progress toward classified deployment is described as slower but still feasible.
The publication noted that the Pentagon continues talks with several AI companies as it prepares for potential changes in classified AI sourcing.
Ford is charging for a basic EV feature on the Mustang Mach-E
Tesla to improve one of its best features, coding shows
