Tesla has finally revealed the Model X SUV at a demonstration held within the Freemont Factory earlier today.
The Tesla Model X will be the first fully electric SUV to go into mass production with its primary focus being on driver and passenger safety. With its in-house examinations the Model X aims to achieve a five-star rating in every crash test category. Should this be true it will make the Model X the first SUV to ever do so.
Tesla claim to have achieved this through the absence of a gasoline engine. The extra room allows the Model X to have a larger crumple zone that can deal with a high speed impact with more composure. A lower centre of gravity thanks to the battery placement and aluminum pillars reinforced with steel rails also means that the Model X will have a rigid and stiffer suspension which should reduce its risk of rollover.
A key feature of the Model X is the falcon wing door design which Tesla claims to have implemented in order to provide more maneuverability for its passengers. Tesla also firmly state that knocking your child’s head against the roof-line while placing them in a car seat will also become a thing of the past.
Seeing that these doors only take up 30 centimetres of horizontal space when opened, it will allow the Model X to fit into tight parking spots and if you are not a fan of touching door handles, there is an option that will allow the doors to open when the car senses you to be in close proximity.
Owing to the addition of these falcon doors the Model X will not be able to make use of a roof rack which is why it has been given a tow capacity of almost 2 300 kg.
As expected the Model X will be fast. It’s 90 kW motor will power all four wheels with a bias to the rear and deliver an impressive 967 N.m allowing it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3,2 seconds. The Model X will weigh in at almost 2 500 kg and have a claimed range of over 400 km.
The Model X is set to be released in the third quarter of 2016. However, the American brand still have no intentions of expanding into the Southern Africa region.