FUN FACTSTESLA MODEL XWORDS: STEPHEN CORBY.BEST FEATURE
They do get slightly
annoying after
a while, but the
Falcon Wing
doors are simply
fascinating to
watch. Just think, if
you could drive with
them open you’d
look like you’re in an
Apache helicopter.BEST PLACE
TO DRIVE IT
Somewhere not
too far from town,
because if you put
the foot down you
won’t get far. But
Tesla is installing
charging stations at
places you might
want to stop and
have lunch. Clever.How can you not love a car that offers a ‘Ludicrous’
performance mode and Falcon Wperformance mode and Falcon Wing doors that make ing doors that make
the old scissor-style Lamborghini ones look try-hard? the old scissor-style Lamborghini ones look try-hard?
And a touchscreen the size of a coffee table? Well, for a start, And a touchscreen the size of a coffee table? Well, for a start,
just look at it, because unlike earlier, sportier Teslas, the Model just look at it, because unlike earlier, sportier Teslas, the Model
X – an electric SUV that’s more like a people-moving pod – X – an electric SUV that’s more like a people-moving pod –
is not pretty, even with its doors locked in attack formation. is not pretty, even with its doors locked in attack formation.
It also has a ludicrous price tag, starting at $201,100. It also has a ludicrous price tag, starting at $201,100.
Still, that hasn’t stopped early adopters in flashy suburbs Still, that hasn’t stopped early adopters in flashy suburbs
snapping them up, but is it worth the investment?snapping them up, but is it worth the investment?The test drive
PRICE/DELIVERY
A car with a starting
price of over $200,000, price of over $200,000,
which is what our P100D which is what our P100D
mmodel would set you odel would set you
back, needs to be back, needs to be
imimpressive. But what’s pressive. But what’s
disturbing is how quickly disturbing is how quickly
you can option it up to you can option it up to
cost even mcost even more. Our ore. Our
vehicle camvehicle came with $8000 e with $8000
wheels, a $4350 six-seat wheels, a $4350 six-seat
interior layout and very interior layout and very
nice leather seats, for nice leather seats, for
$3600. All up it tipped $3600. All up it tipped
the scales at a whopping the scales at a whopping
$305,809. It really should $305,809. It really should
be prettier at that price. be prettier at that price.
You can order one You can order one
today, though it mtoday, though it may ay
mmean foregoing that ean foregoing that
sumsummmer holiday.er holiday.STYLING
Yes, we understand
that aerodynamthat aerodynamics are ics are
imimportant for electric portant for electric
vehicles. But does that vehicles. But does that
mmean it has to look like ean it has to look like
a creased egg? Tesla is a creased egg? Tesla is
not a comnot a company that’s pany that’s
ever been afraid to take ever been afraid to take
chances, and even Elon chances, and even Elon
MMusk has admusk has admitted to itted to
“hubris” when it com“hubris” when it comes to es to
the Mthe Model X. The doors, in odel X. The doors, in
particular, have had what particular, have had what
he calls a “software he calls a “software
problemproblem”, but they’re ”, but they’re
ingenious when working. ingenious when working.
And they do turn heads, And they do turn heads,
as does the entire look as does the entire look
of the Mof the Model X. But, odel X. But,
perhaps, not always perhaps, not always
for the right reasons.for the right reasons.ENGINE
There isn’t one, in the
traditional sense. Its traditional sense. Its
three-phase, four-pole three-phase, four-pole
AC induction mAC induction motors otors
mmay sound geeky, but ay sound geeky, but
they mthey make a Ferrari-like ake a Ferrari-like
447kW447kW of power and of power and
1074Nm1074Nm of torque in the of torque in the
P100D version we drove. P100D version we drove.
The fact you only have The fact you only have
one gear mone gear means there is eans there is
no delay in acceleration, no delay in acceleration,
either, which allows this either, which allows this
mmachine to near-silently achine to near-silently
smsmash its way to 100kmash its way to 100km/h /h
in a staggering 3.1 in a staggering 3.1
seconds. You have to seconds. You have to
engage ‘Ludicrous Plus’ engage ‘Ludicrous Plus’
mmode to do so, but who ode to do so, but who
wouldn’t want to press wouldn’t want to press
that button? that button?DRIVING
Clearly the Model X is
quick in a straight line, quick in a straight line,
but it also mbut it also manages to anages to
acquit itself quite well acquit itself quite well
around corners. The EV around corners. The EV
advantage is being able advantage is being able
to keep a low centre of to keep a low centre of
gravity, which is good. gravity, which is good.
Being a very large vehicle Being a very large vehicle
(it’s 1.7m(it’s 1.7m high, 5m high, 5m long long
and 2mand 2m wide) you’d wide) you’d
expect somexpect some body e body
roll, but it’s fairly well roll, but it’s fairly well
subdued. The steering subdued. The steering
is reasonably tactile, is reasonably tactile,
too, but does feel slightly too, but does feel slightly
remremote at timote at times. Overall, es. Overall,
though, the Mthough, the Model X is odel X is
a far ma far more involving ore involving
drive than mdrive than most SUVs ost SUVs
on the mon the market.arket.INTERIOR
While there’s clearly
somsome debate over the e debate over the
exterior design, the exterior design, the
excellence of the interior excellence of the interior
is perhaps its greatest is perhaps its greatest
strength. There’s plenty strength. There’s plenty
of roomof room and the option and the option
of five, six or seven seats of five, six or seven seats
mmeans it’s very flexible. eans it’s very flexible.
And there’s so mAnd there’s so much uch
roomroom inside it feels like inside it feels like
you can go for a stroll you can go for a stroll
between the pews. between the pews.
The touchscreen is class The touchscreen is class
leading and comleading and comes with es with
seamseamless connectivity. less connectivity.
Overall, the vibe is high Overall, the vibe is high
class and futuristic. class and futuristic.
Throw in the EV-levels Throw in the EV-levels
of quiet and it really is of quiet and it really is
a ma mighty fine cabin. ighty fine cabin.120 GQ.COM.AU MEN OF THE YEAR 2017