The Tesla Model X Reveal Experience: Part 1
The Model X Reveal Experience - Part 1
Friday, Feb 10, 2012 (updated Feb 11, 2012)
by Max Mindel
Last night, I had the privilege of being among the first to see the Tesla Model X. The event was as exciting as one could expect from a new Tesla vehicle reveal. The anticipation was invigorating, the buzz was motivating, and the actual viewing of the Model X was mesmerizing. This was no regular evening. After all, we were all there to watch Tesla Motors once again show us a glimpse of the future while we all again became part of another historically significant event.
I went to this event with two new friends I had connected with through TeslaRumors.com; DeDe Ebner from San Jose and Rob Dekker from T2 in the Netherlands (Holland), and also my twin brother, Sam.
As we approached the Space X building we could see what looked like a large airplane hanger with large Tesla branding on its side. The Space X building greeted us and created a tone in reminding us that we were about to see technology and creativity at its best. We drove down a corridor lined with lights fit for a hollywood premiere, and then valet parked the Infiniti I was driving. We arrived at just past 6:00pm, early enough that only a few guests had arrived. While we waited, we met other guests, and watched as a variety of Tesla Roadsters made their way slowly to the Tesla preferred parking area that was immediately adjacent to the area where we were waiting.
Several Roadsters caught my eye. There was a black one that belonged to a gentleman by the name of Michael. His Roadster was tastefully accented with a small Batman logo on its dash. In my conversation with him, I learned that the sound of the Tesla Roadster motor, was in fact amplified, and used in as the sound for the Batmobile in the last Batman movie, The Dark Night. There was one other Roadster that particularly caught my eye because it had a gorgeous red paint job that differed from anything I had previously seen. I had not seen the Model S in signature red, so I wondered if this was the same color. If it was, I could understand all the rave.
We went to check in and of course the hosts were sporting and accommodating the check-in procedure with the technology of our time; each by using an Apple iPad. Check-in was quick, easy, and painless.
I wasn’t the only one who came upon this realization either. In my previous conversations with Rob Dekker, we had discussed how we both had an intent of choosing the Shasta Pearl White for our Model S’. But as I glanced over at him to see if he too was “carstruck”, he smiled, looked over at me and said in his dutch accent, “Well, I guess its going to be have to be Signature red instead”. Yep, he was sold too.
As we made our way past the entryway, we entered a huge room, and I then realized were inside the airplane hangar. But this was no ordinary airplane hangar. It was laid out impeccably, and as I walked in, the upbeat background music that filled my ears and the layout of the room made it clear that we were all here for something very special. Normally a room of this immense size would feel cold and uninviting, but the further I entered, the more I was drawn in to a space that the nevertheless felt warm and welcoming.
The actual Model X reveal was scheduled for 8:00pm and it was 7:52pm, so we all headed over to the stage to get ready for the unexpected. There was one thing we knew, and DeDe, who was there in hopes of liking the Model X put it beautifully. She said, “There is no way they were going to mess up the design of the X considering the design they had come up with for the Model S.”
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors was then introduced, and within seconds thereafter, blinding headlights peered onto the stage and not until the car began to rotate, did it become obvious that this was a red Model S, not yet the Model X, that had been driven onto the stage. Out of the the passenger side came out Musk, and as he did, he received applaud and cheering fit for a hero.
He welcomed us all and began to explain “Why did we create Tesla”. He spoke about making a difference, Tesla goals, and about their milestones, and how the mission of Tesla was not just to make an electric car, but to make the most compelling car that just happens to be electric. He answered a question that is one I often hear. Many people say, “what’s the difference in using an electric car, your electric company still produces CO2 in creating electricity for you to use in your electric car. He revealed that in California, for example, driving an electric car would produce about 25% of the CO2 a gasoline car would produce, and showed data from the worse case state, West Virginia, which was 75% CO2 production with the best state being Vermont at 1%. It wasn’t the CO2 that the car produced that he was referring to because it directly produces none, but rather, what the quantity of CO2 is produced in the creation of electricity in each of those states. As he spoke, he threw in a couple puns and was quite funny and modest too. In regards to the Roadster, he said, “It looks pretty good.”
Before introducing the the Model X, he spoke about how SUVs and minivans have offered functionality and style, using the Dodge Caravan and the Audi Q7 as his points of reference. But never before had this vehicle category been offered with performance; until now, that is. Then as another pair of headlights came looming out onto the stage the Model X had emerged! It then it stopped and began slowly rotating from the pivoting platform that it had descended on. This gave us the opportunity to see it from multiple views as it gently spun around. What first impressed me as it did its 360, was how similar it looked to the Model S. It seemed like a beefier version of the S. It was almost like an SUV/Minivan crossover that looked like a regular car since it didn’t have its traditional boxier styling. It was in fact, very sporty and beautiful in its own right.
As Musk made reference to the its most unique feature--the falcon doors, the rear doors opened in the same way a a large bird of prey would proudly spread its wings on its back. At that moment it was clear, that Tesla had created another game changer that would change our perceptions and expectations of all future cars forever after.
From the car emerged 7 people, including the driver, Franz Von Holzhausen, Chief Designer. The passengers all exited quickly and no one appeared to be folding down or sliding any seats forward to enable the passengers in the furthest back row of seats to exit. The back of the “X” was then opened and from it was removed an immense amount of luggage. This car certainly had plenty of cargo space even with none of its seats folded down. This car accommodates 7 adults and Musk demonstrated the ease of entry and exit from the back row as well as the headroom one had when stepping into the car before entering it. He demonstrated too how it had two electric motors, not one, to provide AWD (all wheel drive) and performance of 0-60 at 4.4 seconds, beating the performance of a Porsche 911 at 4.6 seconds. He closed by saying that orders could be placed tomorrow at Noon, and said, ”but you can order one tonight.”
We were then invited to come up on stage and see the Model X up close. But getting up close and personal was pretty much impossible with the huge crowd that surrounded it. But I knew I’d get my opportunity later than night. It felt like the evening had just begun and I knew that as the night progressed I was going to have many more experiences among which ultimately would include a ride in the Model X.
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Index to News Articles
Feb 25, 2012 - Tesla Motors, Batteries, and the Truth
Feb 10, 2012 - The Model X Reveal Experience - Part 1
Feb 08, 2012 - EVs are the Future: Believe the Hype!
Jan 23, 2012 - Cell Phones and Cars in an Alternate Universe
Jan 15, 2012 - Model X: What to Expect on Feb 9, 2012
Jan 08, 2012 - Model S Signature Cars Sold Out in the USA!
Jan 05, 2012 - New Car Value Index Reveals Best Deals
Dec 21, 2011 - The Signature Model S has a $3,550 Premium
Dec 20, 2011 - Model S Options & Pricing Observations
Dec 10, 2011 - Model S Options may be disclosed on Dec 15?
Nov 28, 2011 - Tesla Reinvents the Car Buying Experience
Copyright © 2012 TeslaRumors.com All rights reserved.
EVs are the Future: Believe the Hype
Tesla Model X: What to Expect on Feb 9, 2012
The Signature Model S is now Sold Out!
New Car Value Index Reveals Best Deals
The Signature Model S has a $3,550 Premium
Model S Options and Pricing Observations
Modei S Options may be disclosed on Dec 15
Tesla Reinvents the Car Buying Experience
Did I really just buy a car online?
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