For the first time in the U.S., Tesla’s updated Model Y Performance has been seen completely uncovered. The sighting occurred in Austin, Texas, a short drive from the company’s Gigafactory. Until this point, Tesla had kept this refreshed Performance variant under tons of camouflage, which sparked a lot of speculation and debate amongst enthusiasts. With this development, the EV community has gotten its closest look yet of what Tesla’s intentions are.
While the Model Y Performance at the time looked pretty much ready for production, car companies usually do not let test vehicles drive uncovered until they are almost at the final design stage. For this reason, the sighting in Austin is important because it could mean Tesla is preparing to unveil the Model Y Performance soon.
Signs of Camouflage Remained
Although the fact that the Model Y Performance was uncovered does not mean all evidence of Tesla’s attempt to hide the vehicle, there were a couple of indications. Observers saw Velcro patches still on the body of the Prototype, which were leftover from the fabric camouflage that once covered the vehicle. These indicate that the Prototype was being run in the later phases of the test program, which included, above all else, a transition from the fully camouflaged mule runs to the runs in open-air validation.
🔥🔥 Tesla Model Y Performance spotted fully uncovered for the first time in the US!
➡️ Seen in the Austin area
➡️ Velcro from camouflage still visible
➡️ Using standard 20” Helix 2.0 wheels to stay incognito (didn’t work!) pic.twitter.com/SHeKOxTBlT— The Tesla Newswire (@TeslaNewswire) September 15, 2025
Tesla appears to be comfortable with its design in terms of peeling away most of the camouflage; however, they still took small steps to prevent attention, as we mentioned previously. For instance, the car’s wheels were fitted with standard 20-inch Helix 2.0 wheels instead of extra-flash Performance wheels. This strategy was likely employed to help the car blend in; however, that strategy was quickly discovered by eagle-eyed spotters in Austin.
Design Changes and Visual Differences
Although Tesla has yet to provide any formal information, enthusiasts and analysts have done an excellent job assembling the visible changes that we actually can confirm. Taking into account the overall silhouette of the car, which is nearly identical to the Model Y, we can see some changes to sections of the vehicle that indicate some small refinements were made.
One of the most notable changes is the rear of the vehicle. It seems that the rear diffuser and spoiler design have been revised, not only for visual differentiation, but also for aesthetic reasons. These enhancements could also potentially purposefully complement the other aerodynamic refinements made to the Model Y, and help improve overall high-speed stability as an SUV Performance vehicle.
With the front of the vehicle, any changes are hard to confirm at this time. Without the camouflage, the observers figured that small changes had been made to the bumper and air intakes, possibly to enhance cooling for the motors and battery pack.
What We Still Don’t Know
While the exterior is no longer a mystery, many of the more interesting details remain hidden. Tesla has not shared any news about what kind of powertrain or suspension updates the Performance model will have. The same is true for brakes: will it simply have larger rotors compared to the standard Model Y, or would they have swapped out the brake calipers as well?
The interior is still a mystery as well. Historically, Tesla has saved sportier seats, upgraded materials, or enhanced trim details for Performance vehicles. It is yet to be seen if this updated version will use that design blueprint or introduce something completely different.
Why This Timing Matters
Tesla allowing an uncovered prototype onto public roads is very telling. First, it means they must feel confident that development is near the end of the process and most of the design work is done. Second, it is a way for Tesla to start building some organic hype without having to make any official statements. Seeing prototypes out in the wild has been part of their game plan, flipping leaks into organic marketing buzz.
Secondly, the location of this sighting is significant. Testing in Austin, right next to Gigafactory Texas, could allow Tesla engineers to use real-life performance data to ultimately transition that back into engineering and Tesla’s development lifecycle.
