Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, is no stranger to the world of innovation.
He successfully created a breakthrough business in the form of Tesla, disrupting the automotive landscape forever.
Despite facing uphill battles, Tesla has been leading the charge when it comes to the EV (electric vehicle) movement. They have successfully branded themselves as the benchmark of battery-powered vehicles – Tesla has used their unique platform as a way to advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change.
In the Model X, we find an innovative and superior SUV with a top-notch safety rating, a lot of technology and a long driving range. However, all these features come at a hefty price tag for the average citizen.
Design
The Model X has brought new meaning to the word innovation, both in terms of the design and engineering. The SUV market has grown significantly over the years but it remains one of the more conservative classes, as automakers shy away from creating SUVs that are too trendy or too futuristic. The Model X proves that you can create something fashionable and at the same time still have the capabilities and functionality of an SUV. If you look at the X from a distance, it doesn’t even look like an SUV.
The Tesla Model X offers various configurations including a five seat, six seat and seven seat layout. Unlike the earlier versions, the middle seat can now fold forward to create extra cargo space. In the seven seat configuration, both the middle and back row can fold forward. Whatever seat configuration you choose, the Model X still offers best-in-class interior storage space. For example, the six seat configuration provides 2,180 litres of interior storage space.
Given the fact that there is no motor under the front hood, the front of the vehicle also contains trunk space. The dashboard is very sleek and the panoramic windshield is the largest in any production car, providing an unparalleled view of the big sky above.
One of the most defining features of the Model X is, of course, the falcon wings. The doors open with a double click on the key fob and allow easy access to the second and third row seats even in a very tight parking spot. The falcon wings only require 12 inches of clearance on either side to open fully. A couple of drawbacks of the falcon doors are the inability to mount a roof rack as well as the amount of time it takes to actually open or close the doors themselves.
And unfortunately, Tesla may have introduced an unnecessary level of complexity with the winged doors, as owners complain of problems and errors stemming from this system.
Technology in the Model X is top of the line, and drivers are given access to the ever-expanding Tesla Supercharger network. The touchscreen is a large 17-inch version and comes with Spotify.
A few of the more interesting updates on the current model include Autosteer (up to 150 kilometres per hour on highways), Auto Lane Change (if you indicate while cruising, the car will automatically change lanes), Parallel Autopark, and Summon (which allows you to park and retrieve your vehicle on demand). Voice controls are initialized with the touch of a button and are fairly easy to use – feedback is provided on the display panel to ensure your command is understood before the vehicle follows through.
You can check battery charge, location of your vehicle, lock and unlock doors, and summon your vehicle in or out of a parking space while using an app on your phone. In a further effort to mistake-proof, if you set a destination which is farther than your Model X can travel with its current battery, it will automatically set the route to include charger stations. A pretty smart system!
Performance
New this year is a 100 kWh battery, which will net a 475-kilometre driving range before requiring a charge. This is leaps and bounds over other electric cars and is in part due to the aerodynamic nature of the vehicle. The Model X has a drag coefficient of 0.24, making is 20 per cent lower than the Audi Q7 – the closest SUV in comparison. The Tesla Model X can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 3.1 seconds.
Quirky tidbits are scattered throughout: for one, you can switch the acceleration mode from “Sport” to “Ludicrous.” The acceleration is butter smooth and it still feels strange to be in a car that makes almost no noise as it accelerates. No gear changes, no engine revving sound – just effortless acceleration.
The handling is quite good for a large SUV, but it does lack road feel. In fact, the Model S has better steering feel than the Model X – which is a bit strange – but the accuracy is good and the car has great ride. Overall, the Model S feels like a sports sedan while the Model X truly feels like an SUV.
One may wonder, how long does it actually take to charge a Model X? If you are using a Tesla-built supercharger it will take you an hour and 15 minutes and costs you around $18. The charge port is located in the rear light and will open automatically when it detects a power charger nearby.
Tesla claims that the Model X is the “safest SUV ever” with many standard safety options to give it this title. Automatic collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking are included with updates rolling out often. There are 12 ultrasonic sensors on the Model X that detect surrounding objects, and no less than eight cameras that provide the driver with 360-degree vision. With a safety rating of five stars, the Model X has a rollover risk that is half that of any other vehicle in the same class.
Summary
Will the Tesla Model X stand the test of time? Electric vehicles are still not mainstream so they do not have a proven track record yet (though that’s changing quickly), and only time will tell if these vehicles are built to last.
The Tesla Model X comes in three different styles: 75D, 100D and P100D. The number denotes the battery kilowatt-hours, and the P stands for Premium. In Canadian dollars, the new Tesla Model X will set you back around $118,100 for the base 75D model while the P100D Model X starts at $189,600 and goes up from there, making the Model X a vehicle that is not accessible for everyone.
The whole electric car industry is changing continuously, and more and more automakers are introducing cheaper alternatives to Tesla. While this trend brings additional challenges for Tesla, this innovative car company is ready to compete with the creative Model X. One thing is for certain – electric vehicles are the way of the future and it can only improve from here.
