Tesla Model X SUV price and release date UK : Everything you need to know about Elon Musk’s new electric car priced at £90,000
Three years after it first unveiled the prototype, Silicon Valley electric car makers Tesla have finally launched the Model X.
It's the company's third car and has arrived two years later than initially planned due to difficulties posed by the ambitious design behind the world's first luxury electric SUV.
Tesla are now taking reservations with the estimated delivery date for the latter half of 2016.
What makes it so special?
Where to start? There have been delays after delays ahead of the Model X's arrival but the sheer number of ingenious components suggests the wait may have been worth it. No wonder Musk said "I think we got a little carried away with the X" when unveiling the new car.
Read more: Tesla's Model X is finally set to hit the road
Perhaps most notable is its acceleration power. The standard P90D is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 155 mph, while the more expensive "Ludicrous mode" model reaches 60 in just 3.2 seconds.
Not bad for an SUV that can carry seven people at a time.
It's 90kwh battery pack also sounds pretty powerful – capable of driving 250 miles from just one charge.
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Most striking, however, is surely the car's double-hinged "falcon wing" rear doors that open upwards to make any Back to the Future fans weak at the knees.
Then there's a load of unique characteristics such as its panoramic windshield and a "Bioweapon Defense Mode Button". What sounds like Q's latest gadget for James Bond is actually part of the car's air filtration system which is designed to eliminate particles and bacteria from the cabin – the "Bioweapon" button blasting "hospital level air quality" throughout the car.
And finally, an update due next month is expected to include a hands-free autopilot function for motorways.
How much will it cost?
Unsurprisingly, a fair amount. The standard P90D model will cost around £87,000 while the "Ludicrous" version is priced at £95,000.
However, Tesla warned that eager electric car lovers that pre-orders may take up to a year to arrive as existing models are already sold out.
Who will buy it?
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Those with deep pockets. And families. Musk made a big point about the seven seater's suitability for family trips, unveiling a car with a surfboard, luggage, two person buggy and a family of six at the presentation of his new car.
The "falcon wing" doors are even perfect for those with small children, apparently, as they allow parents to put their kids in the car without banging their heads on the roof.
What's next for Tesla?
Investors have been largely unmoved by the new car, with shares only inching lower by 0.23 per cent on the Nasdaq today. Yet Tesla will need to prove its expensive, high-end product will sell well after it posted a net loss of $184m (£121m) in the second quarter to extend its wait for profitability.
Next up, the company had pledged to release a more-affordable Model 3 car with a touted price of around £23,147.
