(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – These are tough times for Tesla as well: The US manufacturer, which stands for the electric car like almost no other, is struggling in Europe with declining sales figures, falling profit margins, and competition – especially from China – that continues to take market share away from Elon Musk’s electric cars.
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Even the model range limited to five models (soon only three: Model S and X are facing the end) does not help Tesla in a market that offers more and more – including cheap – alternatives. The solution seems to be only one: a radical change in strategy. A step that many manufacturers have already taken, but which was long considered almost unimaginable at Tesla.
Specifically, Tesla could follow the path of Chinese rivals and diversify its offering – with a focus also on hybrid drives, especially on range extender technology. Persistent rumors support this thesis and hold out the prospect of a Tesla Model Y REEV for late 2026 to early 2027 – a historic model for the brand, which we are exclusively classifying for you in advance.
New air intakes for cooling the internal combustion engine
This variant of the SUV is intended to pick up the look of the Tesla Model Y in the Performance version and be supplemented by exterior details that distinguish it from the pure electric vehicle. First and foremost is a newly designed, large air intake in the lower area of the front apron – necessary to cool the gasoline engine, which provides energy for the battery and the rear electric drive.
Photo gallery: Tesla Model Y Performance (2025)
Additional, generously dimensioned air intakes are also planned for the lower sides of the front bumper. The fuel filler cap for refueling with gasoline is also located on the right rear fender. The rest of the exterior remains unchanged and confirms the lines of the Model Y, which has long been Tesla’s best-selling model.
Range extender hybrid, Tesla style
Technical details about the drive of the Tesla Model Y Range Extender have not yet leaked. Until new information is available, however, it is possible to estimate how Tesla could interpret the principle of an electric car with an additional gasoline generator (also called Range Extender, EREV or REEV) – starting from the Premium Long Range with rear-wheel drive.
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The most plausible scenario is that instead of the small front storage space (the so-called “frunk”), a compact gasoline engine will be housed – presumably a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that exclusively recharges the battery as a generator. BYD could be considered as a supplier for the internal combustion engine: The Chinese manufacturer has already cooperated with Tesla on batteries and uses a similar concept in its “Super Hybrid” models such as the BYD Seal U DM-i.
The gasoline tank with a 50-liter capacity could be housed in the vehicle floor – in the installation space that becomes free due to a battery reduced to 45 kWh. The result: an electric range of almost 350 km and a total range of 1.400 km thanks to the additional gasoline tank. Until a possible premiere in 2027, initial assumptions can also be made about the price.
Based on the 49.990 euros for the Premium Long Range with rear-wheel drive, a list price of around 52.000 euros for the “Model Y REEV” seems realistic – this would put it very close in price to the variant with all-wheel drive.
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