Tesla Motors Reveals the Model X SUV: Fast, Big and Clean

The Fremont-based EV maker says the Model X is the safest SUV ever. Easy, now, you may upset some folks in Sweden, you know how much they love their Volvo crossover.

Why is it the best? Well, according to Musk, it received five stars in every category - that is, in NHTSA’s testings.

One of the main reason the SUV is safer than other currently on the market is the fact there’s no big engine in the front. Since everything is electric, the motor running things is smaller and sits next to the batteries. The side intrusion rate is half from the next best-rated SUV, Tesla Motors CEO said during the Tuesday evening event.

Due to its low center of mass with the battery sitting in the floor pan, the new all-electric SUV has half the rollover tendency of any other SUV or minivan currently on the market. Together with all these features, Active Safety will make sure prevention comes first.

Musk hints at dieselgate: Model X comes with bio-weapon defense button

The design of this distinctive feature was sketched before the Volkswagen diesel emission cheat happened. However, Musk made sure he subtly pointed out the scandal when he explained the Model X’s “first true Hepa filter.” Not only is the SUV’s air filter 10x larger than any other vehicle's, thus improving air filtration “several hundred times,” but it was also designed to be a lot more efficient.

In other words, you shouldn’t worry about getting fresh air in the cabin, Tesla’s big boy takes care of that. How fresh? Well, according to the South-African-born inventor, it’s similar to the air you’d find in a hospital operation room. Apparently, you’re covered even if an apocalyptic event happens.

Further gizmo-toys include features such as self-opening, -closing doors based on sensors and a helicopter-like cockpit visibility enhancement. You've probably already heard of the falcon wing doors in the back, but we have to admit they look rather futuristic in real life. We’ll leave the rest of the small bits for you to discover. Meanwhile, we’d like to mention a couple of the fundamentals.

Only one battery option

First and foremost, even if the Model X is sharing its platform and motor with the Model S sedan, the Tesla SUV only has a 90 kilowatt-hour battery and only comes with all-wheel drive. The 90D comes with a 257 miles per charge while the performance version reaches 250 miles. Speed remains a stunner, with the “ludicrous mode” being offered on the P90D. In other words, this bad boy hits the 60 mph from a standstill in an alleged 3.2 seconds.

So far, Tesla’s freshly unveiled SUV looks like a dream come true to all the eco-conscious EV lovers out there, but we haven’t discussed the price yet. The government may give you $7,500 federal tax credit, but a fully loaded performance model still is $142,000. And we don't even want to think how that price transforms in markets like China.

The exact price of the stock model is still to be announced, but it’s safe to say this is yet another premium vehicle that seems to target only a fraction of car buyers.

P.S.: Elon Musk just tweeted that the price of the Model X is actually only $5,000 more than the Model S.

Tesla Model X in specs:

P90D Performance All-Wheel Drive

-250 miles range (EPA est.)
-3.8 seconds 0-60 mph
-3.2 seconds with Ludicrous Speed Upgrade
-259 hp front, 503 rear motor power
-155 mph top speed

90D All-Wheel Drive

-257 miles range (EPA est.)
-4.8 seconds 0-60 mph
-259 hp front and rear motor power
-155 mph top speed

Btw, price of Model X is actually only $5k more than S. Lower cost versions coming later.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 30, 2015