I would imagine you can adopt the front mega-cast without doing anything different with the battery if you want.
They added the rear without needing a structural battery so assume the front is the same. If they do switch over to 2170 structural packs, then it would be seamless to switch to 4680 further down the line assuming they make the 2170 packs the same physical size as the 4680 ones.
No it was a white Model Y. The back had no badging on it which is what caught my eye.
Pictures of the rear and the vin? You said you have only seen 4 new cars (all Model S) in the lot in the last 12 days? So the Austin Model Y was there in March?
I'm one of the group with an ordered MY LR at substantial discount from current prices. My only thought at the moment is that this probably means I'll get production from Fremont, unless Tesla manages a really rapid ramp at Austin.
This makes sense (I think) from Tesla's POV: those who have locked in lower prices will get the older technology, while the 4680 Model Y SR has justification to have a price premium.
If it works out this way, I'll look into flipping the Fremont car and then waiting for the (future) XLR MIA Model Y next year.
This scenario occurred to me some time ago so I don't feel any particular angst over it playing out this way.
Please stop perpetuating the hype that the 4680 cells are much more advanced/better than 2170. And that they will have longer range than 2170 packs of the same size. Whatever gains they have in terms of cell density, they lose in extra weight. Look at the current SR AWD MY. 15% range loss which should lead to 15% less weight in battery plus weight savings from front megacast. 400kg 2170 LR battery would be 60kg or 132lbs plus 30-40 from megacast or 150+ lbs weight savings. We only saw 50 and a higher 0-60 time. So if you factor the majority of the weight savings as megacast, a 82kwh LR pack would increase weight to 470kg or 1034 lb, a 154# increase in pack weight from the 2170 LR pack. So unless they can unlock some more energy density in 4680 production, there won't be any weight reduction with 4680 so no range increase.
For those wanting XLR MY with 400+ miles, you'd need a 99kwh battery pack based on the 69kwh doing 279 miles. And that doesn't take into account the extra weight of the much larger battery so probably need over 100kwh of 4680.
Please look at the data and numbers that are in front of you.
TESLA WILL NOT MAKE A 400 MILE 4680 MODEL Y.
Hell, they will struggle to make a 330 mile LR. 69kwh from 828 cells is 80kwh from 960 cells (or 984 cells is 82 kwh). That is the same capacity as current LR but with likely extra weight so likely reduced range from 4680 cells. It really looks like this SR AWD from Austin is here to stay along with 2170 LR from Fremont until they can figure out a way to get more energy density in 4680 cells without the extra weight hit. If you want the longest range MY available for the next year or two (or longer) take a Fremont Model Y.