The first ever electric SUV from American electric carmaker Tesla Motors Corporation, the Tesla Model X, made it a few months ago in the UK market and British automotive critics were one in saying that the vehicle is considered the one-car-for-everything for the well-heeled especially on cumbersome UK roads, reports Top Gear.
The Tesla Model X is one of the best sports SUVs when it comes to its size and weight while projecting to be a traditional sports saloon.
The Tesla Model X’s instant torque of 485 lb-ft in its 90D variant is shuffled around the four wheels giving premium emphasis o safety. There’s an almost invincible air to the SUV, with the speed that one can carry into and out of corners simply not in line with the size and weight of the Model X.
However, the vehicle’s ignominious windscreen may look like it has a receding roofline. But the result is fish-bowl front visibility, supplemented by the lane display under the speedometer, which shows precisely where between the white lines the driver is.
The Model X’s ride quality is also worth mentioning. At low speed, it’s quite fiddly, and while the car is never unsettled, things feel pretty busy beneath the driver. But it’s no worse than similarly wheeled rivals and things smooth out with speed.
Very impressive nonetheless
While not outright fun to drive, the Tesla Model X is very impressive. It is also exceedingly fast for an electric vehicle. Tesla is very good at cramming in features in its cars, one can’t help but be amused by it too.
The solution of how to store the sun visors is particularly novel, as they swing from behind the A-pillar and then magnetize into position by the rear-view mirror. It’s wonderfully tactile.
Then there’s the socket for the car’s charging cable, hidden behind the reflector on the end of the tail-light. There is also the ability to close all the doors and boot with one push of the iPad-like screen, the synchronized movement immeasurably satisfying to observe.
The Tesla Model X does have some flaws, but they are not as bad as some critics say, notes Doug DeMuro, a known auto reviewer.
DeMuro recently went behind the wheel of the controversial electric-only crossover SUV to find the truth and he found out that some flaws mentioned by critics are actually overblown, notes the Arizona Daily Sun.
He said that the Tesla Model X is still a good buy compared to SUVs when it comes to the long-term economies of scale.
A beefed-up Tesla Model X
While most electric car enthusiasts are anticipating the release of the Tesla Model 3 in the second half of next year, Unplugged Performance, a Tesla tuner based in Hawthorne, California, recently released a beefed up Tesla Model X during the SEMA convention in Las Vegas early last month.
Unplugged Performance released a decent aftermarket body kit, officially known as the aero kit, that turned the Tesla Model X to something sportier than its original look. It subsequently referred to the model as P100DL.
The body kit includes a new front fascia, side skirt set, rear bumper, and decklid spoiler all for the cost of $2,500.
Unplugged Performance explained on its website that the Tesla Model X P100DL is the quickest production SUV ever made. Although it does not look as fast or aggressive as a BMW X5M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, the electric car can leave its competitors in the dust.
It went on to elaborate that the Tesla Model X is an amazing feat of engineering. Packing seven passengers into a normal car just isn’t possible but the unique design and engineering of the Model X make it happen, with style to spare.
Many Tesla Model X owners will be satisfied with the sleeper appearance but Unplugged Performance claims that they desire a more emotional and fierce presence for the road.