Miniscule new feature on the Tesla Model Y Juniper is actually the biggest addition
Published on Jan 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jan 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The new Tesla Model Y Juniper is here and everyone’s focusing on one feature.
Everyone noticed, and pointed out, that the headlamps and taillights look very Cybertruck-esque.
But there’s another, admittedly much smaller feature that’s making a big difference.
It’s a new camera at the front.
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Why the Tesla Model Y Juniper is fitted with a new camera
Tesla fitted the new Model Y Juniper with an extra camera at the front, located right below where the front grille would be if the Model Y had one.
The new front bumper camera is designed to provide a wider field of view Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Advanced Smart Summon, which is Tesla’s self-parking system.
This is because, unlike almost every other brand, Tesla is building its self-driving system using nothing but cameras.
No lidars, no radars, nothing – just cameras.
According to Tesla, the new camera should help the company as it prepares to roll out unsupervised FSD.
Here’s why Tesla believes cameras, not lidars, are the way to go
Tesla is not the only leader when it comes to self-driving, the company is sharing the limelight with Waymo.
Having said that, Musk is convinced robotics and AI will make Tesla a $25 trillion company, and potentially make Musk a trillionaire in the process.
We’ll see.
But what is certain is that Tesla has made a huge bet, and it’ll take a few years to see whether it’ll pay off or not.
Put simply, every company in the world, apart from Tesla and Xpeng (below), is using lidars for their self-driving vehicles.
For reference, lidars are basically radars with built-in thermal imagining capable of detecting light and distance.
But Tesla says lidars are a stopgap measure, and sooner or later their technology will reach its limit.
By contrast, Tesla says that, especially with AI, there’s no limit to what cameras can do.
And, as many people point out, we’ve already been driving using nothing but cameras, our eyes, for about a century at this point.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
