Thursday 1st October 2015

Model X marks the spot

Tesla's long-awaited Model X launched with 257-mile range, "Ludicrous" acceleration and gullwing doors.

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It's not hard to see some pretty big similarities between Tesla and Apple, with the all-electric car company's unveilings having acquired many of the trappings of the technology giant's product announcements. There's the visionary company boss front and centre, in Tesla's case Elon Musk, the guy who seemed to be the model for Tony Stark in the Iron Man films. There's the same claims for newness and that now everything is different. And there are the same baying crowds of fans apparently wanting nothing more than to buy the thing. Indeed the first six owners for the new Tesla Model X were given their "Founder's Edition" cars at the unveiling itself.

Insert 'set to fly off the shelves' line here...

The Tesla Model S has already been a huge hit in the 'States, or at least those parts where the ultra-wealthy want to both show off their green credentials and get free use of carpool lanes while driving solo, and there's little to suggest the Model X won't continue the trend, especially with the attention-grabbing ability of its enormous top-hinged rear doors.

Although officially pitched as Tesla's first SUV it looks as much like a big MPV to us, an impression reinforced by the fact it will come in both six- and seven-seat configurations. With the rear doors closed it looks pretty modest; like a slightly blinged-down BMW X6 from the side. But with them open it's going to attract attention like a DeLorean in 1955.

Technology is everywhere - there are a battery of sensors that will automatically open the right door as you approach the car, while the rear doors won't motor themselves up unless there's enough space to do so without touching any obstacles. A variable hinge system means they can still work even if there's only a foot of clearance to the side of the car. The vast windscreen, which extends all the way back to the B-pillar, is claimed to be the largest piece of automotive glass in the world. (The last generation Vauxhall Astra sporthatch had a similar option - remember that?)

Supercar acceleration, SUV accommodation

The powertrain is effectively identical to that of the four-wheel drive Model S, with the same battery pack and twin-motor system to provide power to both ends. The fastest version will be the P90D, which features the so-called "Ludicrous" acceleration mode that delivers 0-60mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds and has a total output across both motors equivalent to 762hp; impressive considering a 2,470kg kerbweight. Range on the US EPA standard is claimed to be 257 miles.

Below the P90D are less powerful 90D and 70D variants. There's no confirmation on European pricing but the P90D Signature costs $132,000 in the U.S and American media is reporting that the basic version will be around $80,000.

Oh, and like every Tesla model, the audio system volume goes up to 11, in proof that somebody there likes Spinal Tap.

We've got a long way to go before Tesla gets close to matching its US success in the UK, but we'll be seeing early adopters in some Model Xes some times next year.

Watch the video here.

 

[bencollins]

If i had the money, couldnt imagine buying anything else.
Used Vauxhall Ampera next for me as a dadwagon, bit more accessible pricewise.

[PhantomPH]

I'm a big fan of what Tesla are doing. The styling is a little...erm...yeah, but this and the Model S (particularly the model S) are two cars I would genuinely consider owning (if I had that kind of money to spend).

Fair play to Elon Stark...sorry Musk. He is living the dream with most of his ideas. Bring on the Hyperlopp!

[ajhmini]

And the prize for the worst car launch presentation of 2015 goes to... How does someone have the success that he does with so little presentation skills?

Awesome car though, some fantastic ideas gone in to it, even if the execution is a bit dubious.

[PhantomPH]

ajhmini said:

How does someone have the success that he does with so little presentation skills?

I don't think one is the requirement of the other.

What often replaces good presentation skills, is being a smart mofo who has a mega-fat wallet.

[J4CKO]

I am becoming a Tesla Fanboy I think, the packaging, performance, safety and efficiency benefits of this are clear to see, even allowing for a bit of scepticism, it just doesnt have a massive lump of an engine in the front like a normal SUV.

I was a little sceptical of the fancy doors, ok, you are close to something and can open the rear doors, the front ones still require the normal clearance.

I think the parallel with Apple is a good one, they seem to have emerged from almost nowhere and caught the old guard napping, remember when the Iphone came out, Nokia were basking in the glory of the N95 and other rather fancy traditional phones, then the Iphone arrived and kicked the living st out of them.

There seems to be an IT startup company vibe rather than a car company one, a bit more of a sense of humour.

[Guvernator]

Ok so two things immediately, the Tesla wasn't bad if not truly ground-breaking in the looks department but this looks like a Prius!! Of all the things they could have made it look like, just why? The BMW i8 is tasty but it costs £100k.

Secondly I could be mistaken but wasn't this supposed to be the "affordable" model to bring EV to the masses? I don't really see 80-130k as being affordable.

Why oh why can't somebody make a GOOD looking, affordable EV. Surely it can't be that f*ckin hard can it?

[PhantomPH]

Guvernator said:

Secondly I could be mistaken but wasn't this supposed to be the "affordable" model to bring EV to the masses? I don't really see 80-130k as being affordable.

No - that model is still to come.

[Mr Will]

Guvernator said:

Secondly I could be mistaken but wasn't this supposed to be the "affordable" model to bring EV to the masses? I don't really see 80-130k as being affordable.

You are mistaken. The Tesla Model III will be the "affordable" model. Coming some time in 2017 and aiming to compete with the BMW 3-series etc.

[Guvernator]

PhantomPH said:

No - that model is still to come.

Ah my bad then, I thought it was this one. Looks like that's going to be announced next March. Let's hope they get some better designers in for that one!

[TWPC]

Mr Will said:

Guvernator said:

Secondly I could be mistaken but wasn't this supposed to be the "affordable" model to bring EV to the masses? I don't really see 80-130k as being affordable.

You are mistaken. The Tesla Model III will be the "affordable" model. Coming some time in 2017 and aiming to compete with the BMW 3-series etc.

The Model III was meant to be the Model E, completing the 3 model range, but someone chickened out.

[menguin]

Err, if anyone watched the launch for long enough, they'd discover the reason this car is the future.

It has a button called "Bioweapon defence mode"

[Uncle John]

Gullwing doors useful in multi storey car parks.....

Not sure they thought that one through.

[fatboy b]

Still the same comedy interior then...

[menguin]

TWPC said:

The Model III was meant to be the Model E, completing the 3 model range, but someone chickened out.

I believe it was Ford who decided they had rights to model E since they released the model T just under 100 years ago. The idea was to have the three car range as "S", "E" and "X". Yeah - you don't get that with normal car manufacturers

[kambites]

fatboy b said:

Still the same comedy interior then...

It looks weird in pictures, but having sat in a few of them I actually rather like the Model-S's interior from an aesthetic point of view. I still hate the idea of a touch screen or menu system for major functions in a car on principle, though. I'd far rather have lots of buttons.

[menguin]

Uncle John said:

Gullwing doors useful in multi storey car parks.....

Not sure they thought that one through.

The doors have two hinges - and detect the height and width of the space available. They open to within the limits of the height and width using the two pivot points. Pretty clever.

[Uncle John]

menguin said:

Uncle John said:

Gullwing doors useful in multi storey car parks.....

Not sure they thought that one through.

The doors have two hinges - and detect the height and width of the space available. They open to within the limits of the height and width using the two pivot points. Pretty clever.

Fairy muff.

[TWPC]

kambites said:

fatboy b said:

Still the same comedy interior then...

It looks weird in pictures, but having sat in a few of them I actually rather like the Model-S's interior from an aesthetic point of view. I still hate the idea of a touch screen or menu system for major functions in a car on principle, though. I'd far rather have lots of buttons.

+1

...and ideally a properly engineered car which doesn't need to be reconfigured by the driver so doesn't have a multitude of functions that require buttons.

I want a Rolls Royce Phantom dash - shame I'm just Mondeo Man.

[bertie]

Uncle John said:

menguin said:

Uncle John said:

Gullwing doors useful in multi storey car parks.....

Not sure they thought that one through.

The doors have two hinges - and detect the height and width of the space available. They open to within the limits of the height and width using the two pivot points. Pretty clever.

Fairy muff.

What about when it's been sat in the rain, surely those doors are going to dump a lot of water inside the car when they open?

[bodhi]

I watched on of the Motor Trend videos last night comparing the Model S to the Charger Hellcat, and he summed it up quite well.

The Tesla is like a vegetarian meal cooked by the world's greatest chef, no doubt very tasty with all the best ingredients and presentation, and no doubt very good for you, however the Charger was a big massive steak, served with lobster and french fries (well, he was American). Pretty sure if I had the choice, it would be a steak every single time

Was interesting to see that in the Tesla he was clearly enjoying himself, and giggling whenever he put his foot down, in the Charger he was grinning so much all the time his face was hurting. I think the quote was "The Tesla has Insane Mode, the Charger IS Insane mode".

No doubt very worthy cars, but as a petrolhead they interest me as much as magnolia wallpaper. Add in autonomous mode, and they interest me even less.