Tesla Model X

Tesla Model X
Overview
Manufacturer Tesla Motors
Production 2015–present
Model years 2016–present
Assembly Tesla Factory in Fremont, California
Designer Franz von Holzhausen[1]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size, luxury, crossover SUV
Body style 5-door[2] SUV
Related Tesla Model S
Powertrain
Electric motor Dual Motor AWD 90D
259 hp (193 kW) front and rear
P90D
259 hp (193 kW) front, 503 hp (375 kW) rear
Transmission Single-speed transaxle gearbox
Electric range 90D 90 kWh (320 MJ)
257 mi (414 km) (EPA)[3]
P90D 90 kWh (320 MJ)
250 mi (400 km) (EPA)[3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 116.7 in (2,965 mm)
Length 198.3 in (5,036 mm)
Width 79.4 in (2,017 mm)
Height 66.3 in (1,684 mm)
Curb weight

90D 5271 lbs(2390 kg)[4]

P90D 5381 lbs(2440 kg)[5]

The Tesla Model X is a full-sized, all-electric, luxury, crossover SUV made by Tesla Motors that uses falcon wing doors for access to the second and third row seats. The prototype was unveiled at Tesla’s design studios in Los Angeles on February 9, 2012.[6] The Model X has an official EPA rated 250–257 mi (402–414 km) range,[3] and the combined fuel economy equivalent and energy consumption for the AWD P90D was rated at 89 mpg-e (23 kWh/100 km or 39 kWh/100 mi).[7]

The Model X was developed from the full-sized sedan platform of the Tesla Model S; both are being produced at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California. First deliveries of the Model X began in September 2015.[8] Global sales passed the 10,000 unit mark in August 2016, with most cars delivered in the United States.[9] As of September 2016, global deliveries totaled more than 16,000 units.[8][10][11][12][13]

History

Initially Tesla planned for deliveries to commence in early 2014.[14] However, in February 2013, the company announced that deliveries had been rescheduled to begin by late 2014 in order to achieve its production target of 20,000 Model S cars in 2013.[15] In November 2013, Tesla said it expected to begin Model X high volume production the second quarter of 2015.[16] In November 2014, Tesla again delayed and announced that Model X deliveries would begin in the third quarter of 2015.[17] Deliveries began on September 29, 2015. Among the reasons for delay were problems with the falcon-wing doors and cooling the motors when hauling trailers.[18]

Tesla Model X concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

In 2016, the company filed a lawsuit against Hoerbiger for not producing satisfactory falcon-wing doors for the Model X. Tesla claimed the doors suffered from oil leakage and overheating. Many believe this is one of the reasons for the delay of the Model X.[19] The lawsuit was settled in September 2016.[20]

On July 29, 2015, Tesla announced a referral program though October 31, 2015 wherein owners of a Model S who refer 10 new buyers gain the option to buy a Founder Series Model X for the price of a base model. The first person (in each of three regions; Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific) to reach this 10 referral point would be given this model for free.[21][22]

On July 13, 2016, Tesla introduced its Model X 60D, which carries a starting price tag of $74,000 before incentives, compared to the original Model X's $80,000 starting price. The Model X 60D has a 200-mile range and can hit zero to 60 miles per hour in six-seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. The battery can be upgraded by software to 75kWh.[23]

Tesla plans to use the Model X platform for the Tesla Minibus.[24]

In August 2016, Tesla introduced the P100D with Ludicrous Mode to be the new top Model X. The P100D has a 100kWh battery, a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds and over 280 miles of range.[25] In October 2016 Tesla discontinued the 60D version and made the "Smart Air Suspension" standard instead of coil springs, increasing base price to $85,000.[26][27]

Design

Frontal, rear and lateral view

A series production vehicle was unveiled on September 29, 2015. It has a panoramic windshield. According to Tesla founder Elon Musk, it is the safest SUV in terms of frontal and side impact crash, being more than twice as safe as the next closest SUV in rollover tests as well. The Model X includes Tesla Autopilot with standard radar-based AEB and ultrasonic-based side collision avoidance system to steer occupants away from a side collision. Tesla developed an ultrasonic sensor that can see through metal to keep falcon wing doors from hitting nearby objects when opening or closing. Musk claims the car features the first true HEPA filter in a car, with medical grade cabin air cleanliness comparable to that of a hospital operating room. When the car operates at maximum capability (enabled with a "Bioweapon Defense Mode" button), Tesla claims that no viruses, bacteria or spores can be detected in the cabin.[28]

The Model X features double hinged falcon wing doors, which open upwards allowing the leading edge of the door to remain tucked close to the body, unlike traditional gull-wing doors. Tesla claims the falcon doors make access easier. The Model X offers room for seven adults and their luggage in three rows of seating and front and rear trunks.[29]

Specifications

The Model X weighs about 8% more than the Model S and shares about 30% of its parts content – down from around 60% expected when development began.

The Tesla Model S (left) and Model X (right) share the same platform and 30% of their parts

The Model X has a choice of two lithium-ion battery packs, rated at either 75 or 90 kW·h – the same choices available on the Model S[6] – and the highest performance version of the model P90D goes from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 3.2 seconds and the 14 mile (400 meters) in 11.6 seconds,[30] outperforming the fastest SUVs and most sports cars.[31][32] The Model X's all-wheel drive system uses two motors (one for the front and the other for the rear wheels), unlike conventional AWD systems that have a single source of power.[31] The Tesla Model X features an official EPA rated 250–257 mi (402–414 km) (P90D and standard 90D) range,[3] which according to valuewalk.com translates to approximately 310 mi (500 km) range on the European NEDC testing cycle.[33]

The Model X features double hinged falcon doors

The company planned to offer rear-wheel drive models, but instead all models incorporate all wheel drive. The standard AWD has 259 horsepower (193 kilowatts) on both the front and rear motors, while the performance edition has 259 hp (193 kW) front and 503 hp (375 kW) rear.[34][35] With an optional towbar, the Model X has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg).[36] At the 55 mph towing speed limit allowed in California,[37] a Model X may have 70% of the 257 mile EPA-registered range when pulling a 2,300-pound travel trailer.[38]

Energy consumption

The following table shows the EPA's official ratings for fuel economy in miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) and EPA's estimated out-of-pocket fuel costs for the variants of the Model X rated as of 30 September 2015 and as displayed in the Monroney label.

2016 Tesla Model X fuel economy and operating costs
Model Model
year
Fuel efficiency (MPGe) 25 mi (40 km)
journey cost
Annual fuel cost[lower-alpha 1]
(15,000 mi or 24,000 km)
Combined City Highway
AWD 90D
(90 kWh)[7]
2016 92; 34 kWh/100 mi,
or 21 kWh/100 km
90; 37 kWh/100 mi,
or 23 kWh/100 km
94; 32 kWh/100 mi,
or 20 kWh/100 km
US$1.11 US$650
AWD P90D
(90 kWh)[39]
2016 89; 38 kWh/100 mi,
or 24 kWh/100 km
89; 38 kWh/100 mi,
or 24 kWh/100 km
90; 38 kWh/100 mi,
or 24 kWh/100 km
US$1.14 US$700
  1. Based on 45% highway and 55% city driving. Values rounded to the nearest US$50. Electricity cost of US$0.12/kWh, as of 21 August 2015. 1 US gal (3.8 L) gasoline = 33.7 kWh.

Production and sales

Elon Musk delivering one of the first six Model X Founders Series models to Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson.

Tesla started taking reservations for the Model X in February 2012 without announcing prices.[40] The standard Model X required a US$5,000 deposit, while the no longer offered Signature model required a US$40,000 deposit as of 2013.[29] More than 20,000 Model Xs had been reserved by September 2014.[41] In August 2015, user groups estimated around 30,000 Model X pre-orders had been received, compared to 12,000 for the Model S.[42]

The first six Founders Series models were delivered at a market launch event in the Fremont factory on 29 September 2015.[8] The first Signature edition was delivered on 18 December 2015.[43] Pricing for the limited edition Signature version of the Model X varies between US$132,000 and US$144,000,[44] while the standard production version of the Model X will be priced at US$5,000 more than a comparably equipped AWD Model S that is priced at US$75,000 for the base Model 70D.[45]

After the first quarter of 2016 all Tesla Model X deliveries had gone to US customers. Nevertheless, in January 2016 a Tesla car other than the Model S was registered in Germany and a Tesla Model X was sighted driving there with a license plate from Ingolstadt. Since the Audi headquarters are located in Ingolstadt, this led to speculation that Audi has acquired a Tesla Model X as part of its effort to develop its own battery-electric SUV.[46][47]

Tesla produced 507 Model X in the fourth quarter of 2015, of which 206 were delivered to customers.[10] Model X sales totaled 2,400 units during the first quarter of 2016.[11] According to Tesla Motors, deliveries were lower than expected because production was impacted by severe Model X supplier parts shortages in the first two months of 2016, and because Tesla had been too ambitious in wanting advanced features (committed "hubris").[11] The first Model X that didn't need corrections was made in April 2016.[48]

Tesla Model X global sales by quarter
Quarter Units sold
3Q 2015[8]
6
4Q 2015[10]
206
1Q 2016[11]
2,400
2Q 2016[12]
4,638
3Q 2016[13]
8,774

Sales during the second quarter of 2016 totaled 4,638 units. Although production was up 20% from the previous quarter, the number of vehicles in transit at the end of June 2016 was much higher than expected (5,150 including Model S cars), representing 35.8% of the number of cars delivered in the quarter (14,402 vehicles including the Model S).[12][49] Global sales passed the 10,000 unit mark in August 2016.[9] A total of 8,774 units were delivered in the third quarter of 2016, totaling 15,812 Model X cars sold during the first nine months of 2016.[13] As of September 2016, cumulative sales totaled 16,024 units one year after its inception.[8][10][11][12][13] The United States is the main market with 13,536 units delivered through October 2016.[50][51][52]

The Model X ranked as the top selling plug-in electric car in Norway in September 2016.[53][54] However, when Volkswagen Golf nameplate registrations are broken down by each variant's powetrain, the all-electric e-Golf registered 392 units, the Golf GTE plug-in hybrid 358, and the internal combustion-powered Golf only 242 units. Therefore, the Model X also ranked as the top selling new car model in September 2016.[53][54][55] Norway was the world's first country to have all-electric cars topping the new car sales monthly ranking. Previously, the Tesla Model S had been the top selling new car four times, and the Nissan Leaf twice.[53]

Several Tesla Model X in the U.S.

According to Tesla, with 5,428 units sold in third quarter of 2016, the Model X captured a 6% market share of the luxury SUV market segment, outselling Porsche and Land Rover, but behind seven SUV models manufactured by Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, Volvo, Audi, and Lexus.[56] Accounting for sales during the first three quarters of 2016, an estimated 12,328 Model X vehicles were delivered in the U.S., making the electric SUV the third best selling plug-in electric in the American market after the Tesla Model S and the Chevrolet Volt.[52]

Reception

Consumer Reports wrote that the all-wheel drive Model X 90D largely disappoints, as rear doors are prone to pausing and stopping, the second-row seats that can't be folded, and the cargo capacity is too limited. Even its panoramic, helicopter-like windshield was disapproved as it is cranky-sounding and it is not tinted enough to offset the brightness of a sunny day. And added that overall "the ride is too firm and choppy for a $110,000 car,"[57]

Known issues

On April 11, 2016, Tesla voluntarily recalled 2,700 Model X due to safety concerns. During collision testing, it was found that the third-row seats would unlatch and fold over to the second row. Tesla urged customers to avoid using the third-row seats until it has been repaired.[58]

The falcon-wing doors sometimes do not open or do not latch when closed and occasionally the windows will not open or close all the way.[59] Tesla addressed these issues with several updates, there are no known issues with the latest 8.0 firmware.[60]

On June 27, 2016, Tesla settled on a lawsuit over usability concerns, accepting that the Model X was rushed to production before it was ready for prime-time.[61] By October 2016, the problems had been reduced by 92%.[62]

Awards

On November 8, 2016 the Model X was awarded the Golden Steering Wheel (Das Goldene Lenkrad), one of the most prestigious automotive awards in the world, in the 'Large SUV' category. Candidates for this award are nominated by hundreds of thousands across Europe for excellence across six categories. The Golden Steering Wheel jury, composed of professional race car drivers, accomplished technicians, editors, designers, and digital and connectivity experts, then spent three days judging Model X.[63][64]

See also

References

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