Tesla Launches Model X
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – The wait is over. Tesla has formally launched its newest electric vehicle—the highly-anticipated Model X., which starts at $80,000.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk rolled out a white Model X at his Fremont factory at about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday.
The Model X seats seven passengers and features the upward-swinging falcon-wing doors and the same high-tech cabin from the older Model S.
The new model is a full-size crossover utility vehicle that promises to be "the safest SUV ever." Musk said it's the first SUV that has five stars in every category.
He showed some crash-test slides as he explained how safe he said Model X is in collisions including side crashes and rollovers. The vehicle is equipped with "active safety" features that include automatic-emergency breaking and side-collision avoidance.
"The car will actually use the camera and the radar to automatically break before an accident," Musk said it also uses ultras-sonic sense on the side of the car to steer it away from a side collision.
Mark Paolella and his wife, who started their own Tesla accessory business in Orange County, were so excited about the online launch they skipped the movies and watched the launch.
"May be it's the fact that it's American-made, non-union factory in California. I think 50 percent of the cars are sold in California," Paoella said. The couple said they expect a lot more Teslas on the road by 2017, when the next model with the more affordable price tag is launched.
You can pre-order the Model X now, but it won't be available until next summer.
