Tesla Model X. A car for family travels
Tesla Model X is a full-size all-electric crossover, produced since 2015 by the famous Tesla company. In the nearest future, many American electric cars will be available in Israel. Hopefully, Model X is one of these.
Tesla considers its Model X as ‘the safest SUV ever’ and a car for family travels (it can pull a trailer weighing more than two tons).
In November 2020, Tesla announced that it was canceling the release of some 9136 Model X crossovers manufactured in 2016 in the USA due to the defects in the suspension and roof lining. According to information published in The Wall Street Journal, owners complain about the low quality of the Model X: there are problems with mechanical units, hardware, and software. Another problem is the high cost of the electric crossover.
First generation
The first Tesla’s Model X concept car was presented to the public in 2012. Just three years later, the production model was born. The crossover, developed based on the Model S platform, received innovative technical equipment, a spacious interior, and an unconventional design. The Model X is assembled at the company’s main factory in Fremont, California. In the US, the crossover has been sold in two versions: Long Range Plus and Performance, and prices ranged from $79,690 to $99,690 (as of 2016).
Exterior and interior
A special feature of the Model X is so-called Falcon Wing automatic doors: these L-shaped hinged doors open vertically thanks to an electric motor and deploy in an arc optimized for the available space. This allows easier access to the rear seats and require less lateral space to open when parking. The rear doors have special sensors to protect them from hitting the surrounding objects when opening.
The exterior of the crossover is quite unusual. In front, there are headlights with multiple sections and elegant LED daytime running lights on the fenders, a small vent with a tiny manufacturer’s logo. The front bumper features an elongated trapezoidal air intake, special cutouts with plastic inserts, and fog lights. The rear is made in the corporate style. The rear door has an upturned edge with a small spoiler, large brake lights, and a sloping roofline. The aerodynamic drag coefficient of the Model X is 0.24, a record in its class, due to the active rear spoiler.
Tesla considers its Model X as ‘the safest SUV ever’ and a car for family travels (it can carry a trailer weighing more than two tons).
Tesla Model X is a full-size crossover with 3 seat ranges. It’s 5004 mm long, 2083 mm wide, 1626 mm tall. The wheelbase is 3061 mm. The road clearance depends on the position of the suspension, the maximum is 230 mm. When driving across speedways, clearance can be decreased to 180 mm for better stability and driveability. The chassis has a completely independent architecture. There are two wishbones on the front axle and a multi-lever design at the rear one.
The crossover can be a 5-, 6-, or 7-seater - regarding the buyer’s choise. The third range of seats can be folded to increase the trunk volume. There is also an additional baggage compartment is in the front under the hood. In the 7-seat modification, the third row can only accommodate children or short passengers in comfort due to the sloping roof. Access to the rear seats is through the upward-opening doors also know as the Falcon Wings.
Motors and modifications
The Tesla Model X is an all-wheel-drive all-electric car. Each axle is equipped with a 3-phase 4-pole electric motor with a single-speed gearbox. They are powered by a lithium-ion battery in a storage compartment under the bottom.
The manufacturer offers several modifications. The letter ‘D’ stands for Dual Motor, i.e. in the basic configuration of the car is equipped with 2 electric motors. The number in front of the letter ‘D’ refers to the battery capacity in kWh.
Modifications:
- The basic 70D provides 333 hp. It takes 6.2 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 210 km/h. The car can travel 417 km on a single charge.
- The more advanced 90D modification provides 518 hp. It takes 5 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 250 km/h. The car can travel 489 km on a single charge.
- 100D provides 714 hp. It takes 4.8 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 250 km/h. The car can travel 467 km on a single charge.
- P100D provides the power of 762 hp. It takes only 3.1 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 250 km/h. The car can travel 542 km on a single charge.
- P100D kWh Performance is a modification released in 2016 году. The power is 773 hp. It takes as little as 2.8 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The car can travel 548 km on a single charge. It also has a premium equipment set.
- The newest modification, released in 2020, 100D kWh Long Range Plus, provides a power of 525 hp. It takes 4.6 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 250 km/h. The car can travel 561 km on a single charge.
Equipment
The basic version of the Model X includes 6 airbags, 2-zone climate control, a multifunction steering wheel with buttons, air suspension, seats with electric adjustment, advanced multimedia with a 17-inch touch screen, and a premium audio system.
Front and rear cameras, adaptive cruise control, and plenty of electronic assistants, including crash avoidance system, lane-keeping aid, bling zone control, traffic sign recognition, fatigue sensor, and active hood lifting system show the level of comfort and safety designed by Tesla.
