Tesla Motors this week lifted the veil off its long-awaited (and repeatedly delayed) Model X. The all-electric crossover is Tesla’s third model—following the Model S sedan, and its small limited-run Roadster.
The Model X is instantly recognizable as a member of the Tesla lineup, because it borrows more than a few styling cues from the Model S. The arched roofline is carried over directly from the concept, which was released in 2012. The X is one of the most aerodynamic crossovers on the market today, with Tesla reporting a low drag coefficient of 0.24.
The second and third rows of seats are accessed via falcon doors, an innovative solution that the company has been showcasing for years. The big surprise is that the front doors detect the location of the approaching driver and front passenger, and open by themselves as the occupants walk up to the car. The doors close as soon as the front passengers are seated. Tesla calls this technology “invisible chauffeur.”
The dashboard is similar to the one found in the S, meaning it features a massive touch screen on the center console and a digital instrument cluster that can be configured by the driver to display a wide variety of data. A panoramic windshield gives the front occupants a nearly obstacle-free view of the world around them.
The primary cabin air filter is a medical-grade unit that’s 10 times larger than the one found in many competing models. The cockpit is, according to Tesla, as clean as an operating room in a hospital, and there is a cleverly named “bioweapon defense mode” button in the climate control menu.
Tesla has only detailed two models for the time being, the 90D and the P90D. The 90D can reach 60 mph from a stop in 4.8 seconds and drive for up to 257 miles on a single charge. The more powerful P model sprints from zero to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds—“Ludicrous Speed” in Tesla-speak—and its maximum driving range checks in at 250 miles. Both versions ship standard with a 90-kWh battery pack and all-wheel drive.
Properly configured, the Model X can tow up to 5,000 pounds, a record for an electric car, though Tesla hasn’t revealed what effect carrying a bulky trailer has on range. For those who don’t need Ludicrous Speed, less powerful variants will be added to the lineup a little later in the production run.
Tesla put a huge emphasis on safety when developing the X. The front trunk doubles as a large crumple zone, and the battery is located right below the passenger compartment, a setup that greatly lowers the center of gravity and reduces the risk of a rollover. Finally, the battery support structure protects the occupants in a side impact. Tesla predicts the X will get a five-star crash test rating in every category.
Six individuals close to Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, are the only ones so far that have taken delivery of a new Model X. Buyers who reserve the crossover right now won’t get their vehicle for at least eight to 12 months. While official pricing information hasn’t been published yet, Reuters reports the high-spec X Signature model starts at $132,000.
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