This Kit Will Turn Your Tesla Model Y Into an Off-Roader
Located near Tesla’s Shanghai Giga factory in China, PoPup Motor takes Elon’s creations to the extreme. The company recently came up with a lift kit for the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y to turn the popular electric cars into what looks like somewhat capable off-roaders.
Off-road variants are quite popular nowadays in the industry. And although they might not look like it, EVs are good candidates because of the torque their electric motors provide and the absence of a mechanical link between the front and rear motor, making for a responsive, adaptable ride when the terrain gets rough.
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The kit you see on the pictures is a five-inch lift with a maximum wheel travel of 8 inches for the Model Y, which is a pretty considerable bump from what you’ll find on the market today for these cars. And it isn’t just about making the car ride higher, it brings extensive changes and enhancements to the chassis. It includes 25 separate components like control arms, spindle gussets, etc. You'll also get 2.5-inch diameter coil-over shocks and springs which are fully adjustable.
Teslas aren’t made to be tossed around in the trails, and PoPup Motor’s extensive R&D testing showed that the subframes needed to go. The kit includes new subframes made of 4130 chromoly steel tubing for increased strength.
All this gear adds weight. But the company insists that the increase is minimal thanks to the use of 7075 aviation-grade aluminum for technical hardware and chromoly steel tubing for the more solicited parts. However, if you’re concerned about range, you should be. Big and heavy wheels and tires come with more unsprung weight, not to mention their “unaerodynamic” character.
However, if you’re willing to sacrifice some of those road miles for muddy trail miles, this kit looks like its up to the task. The price tag is $15,000 (20,000 $ in Canadian dollars), which is a bit steep. But considering the hardware included and the fact that you’ll have a pretty unique Tesla, it could be just what you need!