Interesting how its all about 0-60 times
I sort of agree - while I think the whole "P" and "D" range of Teslas are fun in respect of outright powah, I'd be perfectly happy (in fact, I'd prefer!) if I could get a Tesla Model X 90R (range? regular? reasonable?) for $110,000 with the same 90 kWh battery, but range up to 600km and 0-60 time down to the mid 5-6 seconds. That'd still be hella fast, and the range would be better appreciated IMO. Now, I don't know what the effect would be of decreasing the power - would a 5-6 second 90kWh Model X be 600km instead of 413? Or would it be closer to 425km? If increasing the power output only affects range by a few percentage points, it's likely worth the tradeoff to make it unreasonably fast.
...still - imagine even a 500km Model X that's as fast as a X5 M. Nobody would complain about the loss of "ludicrous mode" - especially if it remains an option at the expense of range (i.e. those who would complain could just shell out the extra $ to get the 3.2s version).
What happens if you're upside down with these gull doors? Can you get out?
; however, given the low CG and highly improbable chance of flipping (and then the more improbable chance of landing on the roof), I'm guessing it was a calculated choice. Even I, who am very concerned about car safety, would not really find the doors' operation in a rollover to be a concern. With all that glass, just crawl out through the front
The odd-looking egg-shaped...
...the Model X can tow up to 2,000 kg – this is huge but I wonder at what cost to the overall range of the EV.
...I can’t wait to see how they manage to fit a canoe rack on those falcon doors.
I also thought it looked like an egg
...but also, thought it looked an awful lot like:
That it can tow is huge, and I'm sure the range (on the highway especially) will drop more like to 150-200km. With that being said, the Supercharger network is growing...
I wouldn't expect any roof rack accessories to be made at any point - canoes can be brought along thusly:
My collective thoughts on the Model X are these:
I think the design is on the bland side, but no more or less offensive than the typical German offering. It is, for sure, less 'interesting' than the Nissan Murano or Lexus RX - take that as you will. The design features of the dual trunk makes this thing very useful in terms of being a 7-seater, especially since no Thule box will be used - while Thule boxes are useful, they're also a pain to install/remove, and they suck w.r.t. drag and even reaching into them/pulling things out. While a trailer isn't MUCH better, it does make more sense for those who occasionally need more space. The ski rack on the back is a great feature that makes this thing relatively ideal for heading out to the (Blue) mountains
.
I maintain that trying to make this thing super fast over having a SUPER long range is a way of distinguishing an already distinguished vehicle, and a method to try to get high end sales first. Eventually, a more plebeian Model X will rear its egg-like head(/body) and will be one helluva contender if the price can drop to even $70k for a 500+km, 6-second 7-seater CUV.
Eliminating at least $2,000/year in gas costs (and then there's maintenance...etc), while adding in the potential for free supercharging, or cheaper electricity, will certainly be a long-term draw.
The Model X will not be for everyone, but for the mall-going public, I cannot envision a better offering. Good job, Tesla, and especially w.r.t. the tall glass and immense outward visibility despite all the driver's aids.
Insofar as the Egg profile is considered a "bad" thing, I grew up in an "egg" (and it was the first
carvan I ever drove) - a 1992 Toyota Previa LE. Mind you, that was a mid-engined, RWD minivan...still awesome. It's endearing to families, and certainly having a .cd of 0.24 is incredible - nearly on par with the currently amazing Audi A4 (0.23). Hell, the Prius is at 0.25 (until the new one comes out - and if you think that thing looks any better than this...well...).
