advertisement

Behold Tesla's very smart, very fast and very pricey SUV

The room was packed and excited in Fremont, California, as Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's new all-electric Model X SUV, so excited after long production delays that the crowd rushed the stage afterward.

The Model X is one of the only all-electric cars - like its sister Teslas, it doesn't come cheap. According The Associated Press the fully loaded the luxury vehicle is priced at $142,000 - a little bit higher than the equivalent Model S at $93,000.

So what does this price tag get you? The X appears to provide unmatched performance with smart design. And its fast, very fast.

"My brain is basically unable to mathematically comprehend how a car of this width, height, and girth is able to hustle like that. " Chris Ziegler of The Verge wrote of his test drive. "I'm not exaggerating: with Ludicrous turned on, the X will hit 60 miles per hour as quickly as a Porsche 911 Turbo."

According to Tesla, the all-wheel drive vehicle can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, with what they call a "Ludicrous Speed Upgrade." The car tops out at 155 miles per hour and sports a battery that has a range of 250 miles between charging sessions.

What's most noticeable about the Model X is the rear doors, what Tesla calls "Falcon Wing" doors. Think Delorean or Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG. But those cars require more room on both sides of the car to open the door, Wired points out. Tesla's doors are double hinged and can open with only a foot of clearance. Another smart design feature is the ability of the second row or optional third row to move back and forth independently, so each passenger is able to adjust their seat and leg room.

Then there's the Model X's panoramic windshield, which Tesla claims to be "the largest windshield in production." Ziegler of the Verge writes:

"The enormous windshield in this car may not sound like a big deal, but it is: you look straight up from the driver's seat, and there's nothing but sky above you. It's like having a sunroof that blends directly into the windshield. Again, that doesn't sound life-changing, but the sense of being outdoors, of having the interior of the car basically disappear, is pretty incredible."

Want one? It may take 8 to 10 months for the car to be delivered. According to the Tesla Motors Club blog, 32,000 cars have already been ordered.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.