Elon Musk: Model X Will Be AWD Only and Priced "Slightly Higher" Than Model S
At the opening of his company’s London store, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk had some comments about the company’s upcoming falcon-winged crossover, the Model X. He said that it will offered only in an all wheel drive configuration that features electric motors in both the front and back of the car, and that it’s starting price will be slightly more than that of the Model S, which starts at $60,000.
The Model X’s price will be very similar to the Model S. It might be slightly higher, but… I can’t imagine that it will be… It’s probably going to be a slightly higher starting price because the Model X will only be offered as all-wheel drive. It will be dual motor, all-wheel drive.
[The relevant remarks start at ~24:00 of the video]
More by TTAC Staff
Comments
Join the conversation
This was the plan all along. Model S, then then Model X, and after that a smaller more affordable sedan. This is no big shock.
I can't believe people are already crying foul. Yes, the Model S has been very successful, but that doesn't mean that Tesla can now just swoop down and offer a $30K-$40K car for the masses. On top of the still-high production costs, Tesla would need to figure out this anti-dealership thing and build more service stations. I don't think a mass-market Tesla will be released anytime before the company's charging-station infrastructure is deployed, which---at the earliest---will be sometime in 2015. In the meantime, why shouldn't Tesla get as many blue-bloods as possible to subsidize the costs of its technology?
The Falcon Doors would be grounded in my work garage, where I have more than once smacked my head on a low set of pipes or a control-box getting out of my car. I don't see the real benefit of that, other than as a way of shutting up the member of the family who wants a minivan beause sliding doors are better---but that could have been addressed with sliding doors. Also, If I have to park somewhere that I can't open a normal car door to get out, I'm not parking there. I've had enough door-dings from ding-dongs. Also, for a family "utility" vehicle, if you can't go a couple hundred miles to the beach or whatever and back, it's a no go. Conversely, a two-ton sports-truck is a terrible "city-car." The _UV branding is at odds with the advantages of the vehicle.
I would sure like to see Apple buy Tesla or a significant share in a deal that retains Musk somehow. He gets a pay out for his hard work and risk and keeps some skin in the game. Capital for future development and expansion suddenly becomes a non-issue. The brands go together like Pepsi and Taco Bell. Imagine how well integrated the user interface would be, they'd be years ahead of everyone else in terms of getting a self-driving car to market. Apple is smart enough not to over pay and honestly I think Musk would rather see Tesla in the hands of Apple than someone else at a perhaps higher price. An alliance of some sort would work too.