Tesla Model X unveiled

Well, not so much gullwing as falcon wing, according the to US electric vehicle maker.

Billed by Tesla as ‘the first of their kind’ the falcon wings are set deep into the vehicle roof – similarly to the famed Mercedes-Benz 300SL – and look to swing up without slicing through a large amount of air space trajectory.

“The falcon wings do not raise any higher than a conventional tailgate and sit within the silhouette of the vehicle itself,” Tesla Australia spokesman Jay McCormack says. “That means you can open it in a normal garage space without gouging either the walls or the car doors.”

The Model X will carry seven in three rows of seats, and the flat sub-floor battery pack makes for a second helping of boot space under the bonnet.  The inner-roof hinge position means you can stand up in the car at the middle row – handy for stowing kids and cargo alike.

The Model X sits on a version of the Tesla electric Model S sedan platform, with both axles driven via a single-speed transmission and power coming from a choice of either a 60kwH or 80kwh battery pack.

Tesla says the on-demand AWD “detects slippage and immediately redirects torque and power to maintain stability … and offers improved traction without sacrificing efficiency or acceleration”. Tesla has not yet released any other technical, pricing or range details.

However the Model S – which will arrive here next year – claims 480km range from the 85kWh version that will spearhead the local arrival,  368km from the 60kWh version that will follow it later in 2012 (and 250km from the 40kWh base model that will bring up the rear). 

Differences in range between the Model S and model X will largely be down to final vehicle weight. And buyers of the Model X will have to calculate for the extra avoirdupois if they fill all seven seats.

Cabin fit-out includes appropriately app-happy Gen-Next internet connectivity and vehicle apps. Tesla says it will start production late in 2013 for showroom appearance early in 2014.

McCormack says we can expect to see it here later that year. “Based on our typical roll-out of production models, it’s at least 12 months after the US,” he says. So we would expect it here late in 2014.”

“The main competition in that premium luxury segment? We draw comparisons with the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. The differentiator is – and always will be – the technology.”

“Since our inception the key to success of all Teslas is that they are built around our technology and the powertrain that allows us to do so many things a normal internal combustion engine can’t do.”