Tesla Model X

The best thing that cars have done for the environment since the invention of the catalytic converter or cat converter has been the electric car. And, the most exciting electric car company has been Tesla, whom recently rolled out its new SUV crossover, the Model X. Similar to the other Tesla vehicles the main distinct feature is that it is electric.  It comes with either 60 or 85 kilo-watt-hour battery.  The 60 kWh has a range of 200-210 miles, while the larger 85 gets 260-270 miles. Although, the electric aspect of the Model X makes it comparable the other Teslas, there are a few features that make it unique.

The first is its size. The Model X can fit up to seven full sized adults, unlike the Roadster which could fit only a rich man and his tiny trophy wife.  However, the big stand out feature which Tesla is pushing is the rear Falcon Doors.  The doors lift and fold upward, making it much easier for a person to enter and exit the vehicle.  With the doors up, a person can be standing up in the backseat.  Tesla has not made a safety statement yet, but I highly recommend not driving around with the rear doors up and a passenger standing.

Unfortunately, another aspect that differentiates the Model X from other Teslas is its styling.  The Roadster has looks that would turn your head so fast your neck would break. The Model X’s styling on the other hand is almost as exciting as watching grass grow. “Almost,” which I guess means it is as exciting as watching trees grow? There are no aggressive lines or anything that makes it stand out from the rest of the crossovers.

There are not any official specs out yet but Tesla says the Model X will go 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. Pricing has also not been released but the assumption is it will be in the range of the Model S, $67,000 to $77,000.  Customers seem to be OK with that price, because Tesla just announced it has already got $40 million worth in presales for the car. The deposit to reserve one is $5,000 for the base, and $20,000 for a Signature Edition.  Deposits are fully refundable if a customer wants to back out, and first deliveries are set for late 2013.

Ugly Electric Cars

When it comes to environmentally friendly and my car, the only thing I do is make sure I pass emissions.  That means having 02 sensors and catalytic converters that work. I would love to do my part and buy an electric car but, come on… have you seen those things?


Electric cars have always looked like they drove down the ugly driveway, and ran over every crack on the way down. Car designers usually state that the looks are due to making the cars as aerodynamic as possible. This might be true, but I am sure they think about aerodynamics with every car and they don’t end up looking like these awful things.  Let’s take an ugly trip through the history of electric cars.

PAST: It started with the EV1 back in 1996.  GM was brave enough to be the first large automaker to design an electric car, but that does not mean they should have.  The most hideous aspect of the EV1 is the back end.  The covered rear wheels and the shape of the trunk make it look a Sudafed.  I don’t know whether I am supposed to drive it, or take two in the morning.

PRESENT: The most popular electric car is the Toyota Prius, but it did not avoid the ugly electric car genes. Some of you are probably saying to yourselves, “The Prius is not that bad!” Quit it, you are fooling yourself.  Take another look at it. A Prius looks like a Civic’s ugly little brother. Somehow the Prius has gotten past this.  It has reached the level of being so ugly it is cute, like a Pug.  (Note: The Honda Fit is also ugly because it looks just like a Prius)

FUTURE: GM wants back in the hideous electric car race.  They have been displaying the Chevrolet EN-V around the globe at auto shows.  EN-V stands for, Electric Networked-Vehicle.  I actually don’t know if I can call this thing an ugly car, because it looks more like a helmet than a vehicle.  Every time I see it I think of Master Chief from the video game Halo.  I wonder if you drive the thing with an X-Box controller instead of a steering wheel.