Tesla Model X: Elon Musk Unveils New All-Electric SUV with Falcon-Wing Doors
Tesla Motors chief Elon Musk has finally unveiled the new Tesla Model X on Tuesday night in California.
Elon Musk officially unveiled the new all-electric Tesla Model X SUV on Tuesday near the firm's factory in California. The company also delivered the first six orders of the new model, according to NBC News.
There are still 20,000 customers on Tesla's waiting list for the Model X. The electric car maker, however, still did not reveal the next schedule for delivery of orders, Knox News reports.
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The rear falcon-wing doors and the automatic driver's door set the Model X apart from other cars. The driver's door opens when the driver approaches the car and automatically closes once the driver is seated inside, Musk explained.
The Model X is designed to appeal to customers from other markets, especially to women. The release of the new Tesla car comes as sales for luxury SUV in the United States soared by 17 percent in August. The new electric SUV is Tesla's third vehicle after it released the Roadster and the Model S sedan, the report details.
"If Tesla's going to be a more significant player, they need more products, and SUVs are what the market is demanding," NBC quotes AutoTrader.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs.
Musk echoed Krebs' statement and said the company is projecting that half of its sales will come from SUVs, the report adds.
However, not all will be able to afford the new Tesla Model X. A fully loaded performance model carries a price tag of $142,000, but Tesla will later on release a less expensive version with a smaller battery.
The Model X has some similarities with the Model S, but the former comes with a 90-kilowatt-hour battery and all-wheel drive, unlike the S that gives the buyer several options for the battery. When fully charged, the P90D version can travel 257 miles, while the performance version can go as far as 250 miles only.
The Tesla Model X boasts of a high-speed "ludicrous mode" for the P90D version, which lets the car jump from zero to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.
