Tesla unveils Model Y SUV

Electric vehicle specialist Tesla has unveiled its Model Y SUV.

And despite the company's rocky month, in which it first slashed prices and then rolled those prices back less than a fortnight later, the Model Y still promises to be Tesla's biggest seller to date.

The Model Y, which was teased two days ago will be the latest addition to the range, and is based on the Tesla Model 3 passenger car .

Introducing the Model Y, Musk highlighted the new vehicle's performance potential, citing a "3.5-second 0-60 [miles per hour time]". The slowest Model Y variant in the range will be the Standard model, with a 5.9-second 0-60mph time and a top speed of 120mph. But the Model Y also promises to be eco-friendly, with a drag coefficient of 0.23Cd.

Musk says that the Model Y will feature a panoramic glass sunroof and will be able to seat up to seven (as an option) and the long-range version will be capable of "a true, usable range of 300 miles".

Prices in the USA will range from US $39,000 for the Model Y Standard variant to as high as US $60,000 for the Model Y Performance variant. The Model Y Long Range – with a top speed of 130mph and a 0-60mph time of 5.5 seconds – will be priced at US $47,000 and the Model 3 Dual-Motor AWD variant will sell for US $51,000.

Tesla plans for the first Model Y variants to reach global markets from the northern-hemisphere autumn of 2020, which is springtime in Australia. Only the Model Y Standard will be later to market, due to arrive in the American spring of 2021 (our Autumn).

Musk anticipates that the Model Y will sell in larger numbers than Model S and Model 3 combined and told the crowd assembled for the presentation that "of any mid-size SUV [the Model Y] will be the one you want".

And he signed off with "we are bringing 'SEXY' back, quite literally".

Tesla live-streamed the reveal of the Model Y to the world from 2pm AEDST at livestream.tesla.com.