2026 Tesla Model Y Performance Has Blistering Acceleration Claims
The pinnacle Model Y trim has finally joined the current generation, and Tesla says it’ll hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
2026 tesla model y performance
Tesla
The Tesla Model Y Performance is officially making a comeback for the 2026 model year.
Tesla says it has 460 horsepower and that it will do zero-t0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds, making it three-tenths quicker than the previous MYP.
Tesla is choosing to launch the Model Y Performance in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa first, but we expect news for the North American model soon.
The zenith of the Model Y lineup is returning, with Tesla launching an updated version of the Model Y Performance for the current generation. Compared with the outgoing version, the new one has improved performance along with new front and rear fascias. A carbon-fiber spoiler at the rear reportedly adds more downforce and reduces drag.
Beyond the bodywork, the new Model Y Performance borrows the Model 3 Performance’s adaptive dampers that change based on driving style, speed, and road conditions. The track width is staggered, with the Model Y Performance riding on a new set of 21-inch wheels.
Tesla
The updated Model Y Performance arrives as a follow-up to last year’s overhaul of the Model 3 Performance. As with every Tesla that wears the Performance badge, the on-paper statistics are impressive. It’ll do zero-to-62 mph in 3.5 seconds; 60 mph arrives in a claimed 3.3 seconds. Find a long stretch of (closed) road and it’ll top out at 155 mph.
Tesla doesn’t like to give out specifics, so we don’t know the battery’s exact capacity, but the rather forgiving European WLTP range estimates put it at 360 miles, just four shy of the all-wheel-drive Long Range model. Tesla says the range figure is thanks to higher-density cells in the battery pack.
Tesla
Tesla
Inside the updated version, the Performance model gets a new 16-inch display, up from 15.4 inches. Tesla says the new screen has a higher pixel density and will remain exclusive to the Performance trim. The interior gets a bit sportier as well, thanks to a new set of front seats that come with additional bolstering.
Tesla is launching the updated Model Y Performance in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East first, with deliveries planned to start in September. There hasn’t been any news yet on what the North American version will look like or when we should expect it to arrive, but we don’t think we’ll have to wait long to see it.
More on the Tesla Model Y
2026 Tesla Model Y Review, Pricing, and Specs
New Tesla Model Y Performance Teased on Twitter
2026 Tesla Model Y Test: Appreciable Gains
Headshot of Jack Fitzgerald
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
