The wait has been long on the Model X, a crossover utility vehicle in development by Tesla Motors. The first prototype was unveiled in early 2012, and it was scheduled to be released in 2013. That didn't happen, and this is what we know of the Tesla Model X Release Date, Preview, Video, and Price.
According to CNN Money, the wait for the Tesla X could be over. Considering that as of 2012, there have been over 20,000 orders for it, so near future release date would be a very good thing. At Tesla's annual meeting last Tuesday, the CEO and renowned innovator Elon Musk (who recently appeared playing himself on a recent episode of The Simpsons) stated that deliveries of the Model X will start in three or four months, giving a release date of September or October 2015. There is no word of a price, and there hopefully will not be another delay.
Forbes reported that in addition to the 3-4 month delivery date, Musk has stated that he is going to be looking at the latest iteration of the Model X every week. He is really seriously looking at key features like the Falcon Wing rear door and the way the second row seats are done.
One of the features that Musk is working hard on is the autopilot. That's right, you heard me correctly, the autopilot. It is pretty clear that with Google and other attempts to make self-driving cars that the Model X will be prepared for this era, even if we are nowhere near it today. Just to let you know, the expectation for this autopilot system is that someone is paying attention to the road and is ready to take over if there's an issue, just like how autopilot on an aircraft works. So you might have to bid farewell to your dreams of getting in your car, setting a destination, and then sleeping the entire way there.
The current version of the autopilot for the Tesla Model X consists of forward radar, a forward camera, and then 360 degree ultrasonics that can go out about 5 meters or roughly 16 feet around the car. Not only will it be capable of highway autopilot, but autopark and the ability to summon the car onto private property.
Another issue that was discussed by Musk was the Los Angeles to San Francisco pack swap capability. Musk stated that all owners of the Tesla Model S owners in the California area have been invited to try it out, but after 200 tests, there were a total of four or five people that wanted to do the swap. It was revealed that most people want to stop on such a long trip, and by the time they are finished with the rest stop, the car can be easily charged anyway, making a pack swap obsolete.
The Tesla X is also expected to come with two lithium-ion battery packs, rated at 70 or 85 kilowatt hours. It should go from 0 to 60 in about 3.1 seconds, better than most sports cars. There will also be an all-wheel drive system with two motors, one in the front and the other in the back.
Hopefully, Tesla will be able to release the Model X by its projected release date, and will be able to keep up with the demand. It will be interesting to see how it develops its features, including autopilot.
