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Tesla Reveals Its Model X Gullwing SUV
thecarchik writes "The new, all-electric Tesla Model X crossover, which was introduced on stage by Tesla CEO Elon Musk (also the man behind SpaceX), isn't exactly a step toward the mass market. But it does take on premium utility vehicles with three rows of seating for up to seven, better maneuverability than a Mini Cooper, and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.4 seconds—that's faster than a Porsche 911, Musk jeered. But the real oohs and ahs of the evening came when Musk showed the Model X's much-anticipated 'falcon doors' — essentially gullwing rear doors, behind normal hinged front doors." The expected price before tax-credit shenanigans? $60,000-$90,000.
I fail to follow your point; "Do you want an electric car? Do you need a little more space than the Model S can give you? Here, have a Model X." If your complaint is that it's an SUV, then it is a complaint without merit -- there are certainly practical advantages of this platform over that of the Model S (granted, not everyone that buys one will make use of them). If your complaint is about the gullwing doors, then I still disagree -- the take less space to open than a normal door, offer stand-up exits for mid-row passengers, and allow direct access to the third row. This last point is actually a big problem for anyone with two car seats -- if you can't get to the back row with the seats installed, you'll can't use it anyway.
I suppose lastly, if your complaint is that it's an electric vehicle, then get out.
Aikon-
they're hinged. They take lots of space vertically, not so much horizontally. In most parking lots, you have more room up than on the side.
Where I work I see plenty of mall mommies with a Porsche Cayenne 4S SUV (and sometimes Turbo) or something ridiculous like that. There's a market for these proportional to Tesla's production capacity.
Elon Musk just doesn't seem to add up.
He is only in his 30s, is on his second marriage, has 5 kids is the CEO/venture capitalist for 2 companies, both doing innovating engineering.
I'm guessing it is just a matter of winning the lottery by being born rich, born intelligent, born with a innovative/push forward temperament, born to parents who will bring those gifts out ( or at least not fuck up the kid enough to shut those things down ) and lots and LOTs of caffeine.
Am I missing something?
How does any person, let alone one his 30s end up with all of those situations?
So can I jump in one of these and expect to drive at a steady 70mph for over 300 miles? If it can't, then it can't replace my diesel car.
I don't care if it can do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. I *do* care if it can do 0 to 250 miles in 4.5 hours.
Because their founder has a lot of money to keep them afloat while they build up their technology and product line, and they are busy selling their drive-trains to companies such as Toyota.
While continuing to do novel things (like the all-wheel drive train of the Model-X using two electric motors).
I see them sort of as Xerox PARC, except dealing with the automotive industry instead of computers, and they actually produce things you can buy.
This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
he busted his ass getting to where he is. Instead of bemoaning a setback it probably caused him to try again, if not harder and smarter. You won't find the likes of him posting to some website bitching about how things aren't fair, how he don't get his fair share, how others should be giving he stuff, and so on and so on.
The biggest barrier to success in this country is yourself. The second biggest barrier is the government at all levels, the third is your competition. Money comes in somewhere on this list, not much further down.
You end up there by doing. This means that you put in many weeks if not years of ridiculous hours. You do it with a clear goal in mind. You compare your current position to your goal at all times and you make decisions on what to do next based on that.
See my tag, if you live comparing yourself to others you will never be happy.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Correction: according to teslamotors.com, the range of the Model S on these batteries is actually 230 miles and 300 miles respectively.
From looking at the pictures, assuming the gentleman next to the car is 6 ft tall, then the doors don't go much past 7 to 7 1/2 feet. Tall, but not unworkable.
This signature is a waste of 42 characters
When you think about it, this is the ultimate way for a rich person to use their money to flip the bird at other cars as they go by.
* My car is bigger than yours!
* My car is cooler than yours!
* My car is faster than yours!
* My car is greener than yours!
Etc, all at once. The other car might possibly best them in one category, but definitely not all. You just *know* there are plenty of rich people who would throw down money on something like that.
Why must all aquatic villains play the organ?
That's one of my biggest peeves about Slashdot. "I wouldn't use this, therefore it can't possibly be of use to anyone!" Grow up already.
Check out my world simulator thingy.
I was under the impression that mounting the motor in the hub, while an elegant engineering solution to the problem of power transmission, isn't necessarily the optimal solution for automotive applications because of the increase in unsprung mass. It seems like, even with advances in power density in motors, that hub mounting would increase that mass by a large amount, not to mention potentially bringing additional cooling system complexity.
I see one big problem with these doors. They are cool, and functional (much easier to get in and out in a tight parking space), but they're only for the back seats! The front doors are still conventionally hinged, so you don't get the tight parking advantage (only your back-seat passengers do), and if you drive alone or with one person as most people do 99.9% of the time, those cool doors will almost never get used.
Oh my god pedantic schmucks!
How bout we just assume the original AC said "Did you just compare a Corvette to a large and tall four door family vehicle of indeterminate class?" The point still stands. The original post was a ludicrous "I'd rather have a corvette." Well sure, he may rather have a corvette, but a two door sports car is not something that shoppers will be comparing against a *seven passenger* vehicle.
+1 Disagree