Cheapest Model Y S to lack comfort features and come with suspension downgrades

The cheapest Model Y to date is already in production in the US and will be released after the federal EV tax credit expires on September 30, according to Tesla's chief engineer Lars Moravy.

There are already plenty of firmware code references to the E41 project of Tesla that denotes the most affordable Model Y so far, indicating that its release date is nearing.

From the E41 code strings, however, it seems that what future buyers of the cheaper Model Y will gain in terms of lower pricing, they may lose in specs and design features.

First off, alleged sightings of the cheaper Model Y infer that it might have a slightly shorter wheelbase than the current version, a Model Y S of sorts, just like Tesla released a larger, more expensive Model Y L earlier this year.

Model Y S specs and features

There are references to both a RWD Model Y S, which should be priced as the cheapest Model Y ever, as well as an AWD version.

Just as speculated before about the E41 project, the new Model Y won't come with a panoramic glass roof, light bar, rear seat display, and even clothing hooks on the inside.

According to the code strings, it should also lack powered mirror folding, while the powered seats will only move back and forth, and the suspension may lose some of its current specifications.

While these Model Y S deficiencies can be expected given what Tesla has done with similar stripped down trim adaptations, like the Model 3 for Mexico with cloth seats, or the RWD Cybertruck in the US that was quietly deprecated, two feature cuts raise some eyebrows over where will this E41 model be released.

One is the rear camera heating, meaning that the Model Y S won't be destined for cold climates like Canada, and the other is the lack of tire pressure sensors. In the US, a TPMS system monitoring tire pressure has been obligatory in a new vehicle for a good while, even though some have managed to skirt around that regulation using the ABS system sensors. It is not clear how much would Tesla save by removing such options, given that a set of Model Y TPMS sensors goes for less than $100 when discounted over at Amazon.

Lacking both of these features, however, could mean that this particular base Model Y trim may be destined for other markets like Mexico. In any case, September 30 is fast approaching, and Tesla should be releasing both the cheapest Model Y's specs and its retail pricing shortly thereafter.

Cheapest Model Y S price

The rumored price for the most affordable Model Y was previously pegged at around $30,000 after the federal tax is applied.

The US government has since yanked this subsidy, and even if Tesla compensates somewhat when it cuts a number of specs and features, the cheapest Model Y version should be priced from at least $35,000.

Whether or not will the upcoming base Model Y be worth it at this price level with cloth seats, without rear display or lighting accoutrements, and with watered down suspension specs, remains to be seen.