Pretty much all electric-car enthusiasts have been waiting for this moment for a long time: the official launch of the the latest Tesla Motors vehicle – the Model X crossover. After being delayed several times over the past two years, the Model X is finally here, with Tesla Motors CEO, Elon Musk, unveiling it at an event near the company’s factory in Fremont, California. This was the first chance for the public to take a good look at the production version of the highly-anticipated all-electric SUV, and for the first couple of owners to get their keys.
“The mission of Tesla is to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. As you guys know, it is incredibly important that we move to a sustainable world, sooner rather than later. The sooner we do it, the better it is. It is important to show that any type of car can go electric,” said Musk at the beginning of his speech.
During the event, the Model X was delivered to six customers, who put down a rather sizable deposit for the luxury vehicle a while ago and have been eagerly awaiting this moment for a long time.
The Model X is the third vehicle launched by Tesla, following the first ever serial-production all-electric sports car – the Tesla Roadster – and the extremely popular sedan Model S, which is now considered to be one of the best vehicles in the world.
During the introduction, Musk unveiled various details about the Model X, which is quite radical and revolutionary in many respects. For starters, there is the fact that it’s the first all-electric luxury SUV on the market, at least for now, with companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi expected to launch one in the near future.
Then, there is the rather unusual design that is far from typical for an SUV. Obviously, the most unique and distinctive feature are the “falcon-wing” rear doors, that open upwards and make it easier for passengers to access the second and third row seats.
The front doors are just as cool and innovative as the futuristic-looking dual-hinged falcon-wing doors. Musk said that the driver’s-side door can open automatically without being touched by the driver. When the driver approaches, sensors will detect him/her and the door will open itself. The door will then close automatically as soon as the driver sits behind the wheel.
Tesla Motors has put a lot of thought into the vehicle’s interior as well, which also comes with a first-of-its-kind feature. The company has installed a system it calls “Bioweapon Defense Mode”, which is basically a special filter that keeps bacteria and viruses away from the vehicle’s cabin.
On the performance front, the Model X does not lag too far behind the Model S sedan. Although an SUV, it’s incredibly fast, going from 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, which makes it the world’s fastest SUV, while reaching a top speed of 155 mph.
It goes without saying that it delivers an excellent range, being a Tesla car. According to the company, the Model X can travel up to 257 miles before recharging, which means that range anxiety will not be much of an issue for owners.
Tesla will offer two versions of the SUV, a 90D and a P90D, with both of them being equipped with a 90-kWh battery. The company says that the Model X will get the same autonomous features that were recently added to the Model S, including the Autopilot.
All in all, it seems that Tesla has did it again, with the Model X looking just as cool and as awesome as everyone expected. It’s fast, it’s powerful, it’s comfortable, it looks incredibly attractive, and it’s good for the environment. Having said that, it’s also pretty expensive. The cheapest version will start at $133,000, but most potential buyers are probably well aware that all that innovation and sophisticated technology doesn’t come cheap.