Tesla Model Y L gets a stronger front motor in China: 176 kW and 776 km of CLTC range, at the same price
The six-seat Model Y switches to the new TL2 front motor, with 34 kW more than before. CLTC range rises by 25 km, consumption drops, and the price stays at 339,000 yuan.
Tesla has updated the Model Y L in China, the long-wheelbase, six-seat version of the Model Y. The main change is under the skin: the SUV gets the new TL2 front electric motor, which is both more powerful and more efficient, and its official range rises to 776 km on China's CLTC cycle, 25 km more than before.
The news was posted on X on the morning of October 1 by Ming (@tslaming), an account Tesla fans follow for news out of China. We checked his claims: the figures appear in Tesla China's official configurator, in Tesla's owner's manual and in the homologation documents published by Chinese authorities.
What changes
According to the filings Tesla submitted to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), reported in August by Sina and confirmed now by Drive Tesla Canada and EVSHIFT:
| Model Y L (China) | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Front motor | 3D3, 142 kW | TL2, 176 kW |
| Rear motor | 198 kW | 198 kW (unchanged) |
| CLTC range | 751 km | 776 km |
| Consumption | 12.8 kWh/100 km | 12.4 kWh/100 km |
| Curb weight | 2,088 kg | 2,088 kg |
In short: 34 kW more at the front motor, and yet lower consumption. Because the car's weight doesn't change, outlets that analysed the filing believe the extra range doesn't come from a bigger battery but from technical optimisation, including the new motor.
What we know about the TL2 motor
In his post, Ming describes the TL2 as an induction motor rated at 176 kW (236 hp) and 238 Nm. Those numbers match the Model 3 owner's manual on Tesla China's website, which already lists the TL2 at 176 kW, 238 Nm and 330 V. The same manual states that on all-wheel-drive versions the front motor is an AC induction motor with liquid cooling. For comparison, the Model Y L's previous front motor was rated at 142 kW and 227 Nm.
The TL2 isn't entirely new to the market. According to Chinese outlet 电动内参, it's the same motor used in the new Model Y Performance, which launched in China about 20 days earlier.
Launched without an event, at the same price
The updated Model Y L appeared directly on Tesla's official website on October 1, the first day of China's National Day holiday, with no presentation. In the Tesla China configurator, the car is listed with 776 km CLTC and the same starting price of 339,000 yuan. Tesla still quotes 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and a 201 km/h top speed, so, officially at least, the extra power doesn't change the acceleration figures.
On the same day, Tesla also updated the Model 3 in China with a 16-inch center screen, and added V2L to the Model 3 and Model Y. We covered that here.
What it means for drivers
For drivers in Europe, this is China-only news for now. The latest public information about Europe dates from July, when Not a Tesla App reported that the Model Y L had been spotted testing in Germany and already had European type approval. It isn't known yet whether the European version will get the TL2 motor straight away.
Keep in mind, too, that the CLTC cycle is far more optimistic than the WLTP cycle used in Europe. As a reference, in Australia, where Tesla publishes WLTP figures, the previous Model Y L was listed at 681 km, according to EVSHIFT. And on the motorway, especially in winter, real-world range will be lower than both. Still, the direction is right: the same battery, more power and lower consumption, at the same price. And if the TL2 becomes standard on all-wheel-drive cars from Shanghai, which also builds some of the Teslas sold in Europe, the upgrade could eventually reach us too.
