RUMOR: Tesla's All-New And HIGHLY Anticipated SUV, The Model X, May Be The World's FASTEST

Let's face it. Even though there are a slew of reasons why people buy automobiles, one of the most coveted bragging rights remains which vehicle is the fastest. It must be something linked to our animal brains because there's no reason we need a vehicle to go zero to 60 in under five seconds, but we adore it.

It must be the adrenaline rush.

And even normal mom and pop consumers typically say that when they're searching for an all-new set of wheels it has to have some pep. If that's the case, then it sounds like a lot of those eagerly awaiting Tesla Model X buyers will some juice in spades.

That's because according to Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, the Model X will come equipped with a 90kWh battery pack. Though it hasn't been officially tested, Musk has been quoted by Auto Express that it should do a zero to 60 time that's "3.3-ish." To compare, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S does zero to 60 about four seconds.

You have to love an electric vehicle's instant torque. These things pull and pull and pull.

If Musk's comments shed light on the actual product, there's a good chance that Tesla will have another Model S on its hands — in other words, a success.

...Musk went on to talk further about the Model X and how the newly announced 90kWh battery pack will be used in the new car. “The 90kWh pack is an important part of Model X. It’s an SUV with a higher centre of gravity so will have 10% higher energy usage than the S – the net range impact will be 4-5%."

Although the Model X has yet to be tested, Musk said that a 0-60 time in seconds of “3.3-ish” could be expected, making it the fastest SUV on sale. A Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will get from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds...

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MDarringer - 7/18/2015 10:33:12 AM

+1 Boost

This is sauteed in lame sauce. Making an electric car go fast ISN'T an engineering feat because electric motors can deliver full torque from a dead stop. Yeah, it's fast but then the battery dies. Gull wing rear door? Pointless!

vdiv - 7/18/2015 5:41:00 PM

-2 Boost

Keep hating. Engines and transmissions never die, esp. on high-perf. vehicles...

BTW, they are called falcon doors as they are hinged very differently from gull wings. :p

Weapon - 7/19/2015 6:28:30 AM

-4 Boost

Way to simplify things.If you actually read the details about it they incorporated a smart fuse plus inconel for the connectors in the main pack. It is most definitely an engineering feet.

And the Model X does not have gullwing doors it has falcon wing doors (2 hinge instead of 1)

MrEE - 7/18/2015 10:49:13 AM

+2 Boost

Gull wing on the rear looks odd but may make some sense. Hinging at the top mechanically is better as long as the weight is reduced, and should not cost more than side hinging. The gull wing appears to provide the utility of siding doors, that is large opening with easy opening in garages and parking lots.

MDarringer - 7/18/2015 11:37:58 AM

+3 Boost

Or not. There are numerous parking garages that would not have that level of vertical clearance. Also the swing out space in many parking situations would render the doors useless.

Car4Life - 7/18/2015 4:23:30 PM

+4 Boost

Forget the doors, this thing is giving me horrible flashbacks to the Infiniti EX...horrible

Agent00R - 7/18/2015 6:37:21 PM

+4 Boost

I hope this has a safe way to get out should the vehicle rollover.

Weapon - 7/19/2015 6:31:24 AM

-3 Boost

Again, not gullwing but falcon wing doors.

@MDarringer - And that is what makes Falcon wing doors better than gullwing. they can stretch not only vertically but horizontally or both. So if you lack vertical space, it will stretch out horizontally.

MDarringer - 7/19/2015 5:47:43 PM

+2 Boost

Gullwing doors....falcon doors (does Ford know) is just "toeMAYtoe / toeMAHtoe" And all of that needless complication just means it will likely malfunction or break and that conventional doors would have been just fine. The effects of Elon's time spent the the brothels of Amsterdam no doubt are having an impact on his cognition.

TomM - 7/18/2015 12:25:59 PM

+4 Boost

With their inherent higher center of gravity - 4x4 vehicles cannot handle like a car - so the "fastest" is simply a Drag strip number of little use in the real world - and certainly not when using true off road 4x4. And the vertical travel and swing out space comments of MDarringer are spot on. I am sure that someone in the Middle East will love how it handles in the snow though(TIC)

SanJoseDriver - 7/18/2015 6:36:06 PM

-2 Boost

The doors go almost straight up thanks to the hinge. They only require about a foot of clearance to open on the sides to open. Also this easily fits inside of any normal height garage. With the doors fully extended the car is still only 7 feet and three quarters high.

Also, it has a higher center of gravity than the Model S, which has a ridiculously low center of gravity. Among SUVs it will easily have the lowest center of gravity among any ever made. I know one person that has driven the prototype and he said the handling was amazing, even by car standards.

mre30 - 7/20/2015 9:45:34 AM

+1 Boost

Thank you to the Tesla PR Dept for clarifying the exact dimensions of the Model X prototype that is parked 40 feet from your office.

Now, can you address my question of pricing? Is the Model X - the $45,000 or so vehicle, or is that less expensive car the Model 3? What's the expected pricing of the Model X?

JRobUSC - 7/19/2015 1:51:35 AM

+3 Boost

Since it looks just like a jacked up 5-series GT, Honda Crosstour, or Acura ZDX, I am curious to see just how powerful the Tesla badge really is. If it sells like hot cakes, then BMW should be thankful since they'll probably sell some more GT's as a result (the other similar vehicles having already been cancelled). We shall see.

bw5011 - 7/19/2015 1:37:58 PM

-2 Boost

At some point you have to exhale, it is starting to affect your vision.

mre30 - 7/19/2015 12:16:26 PM

+2 Boost

Is Tesla still promising that the Model X will be $30K to $50K out the door?

I don't see how that is possible when a comparable Model S is about $120,000 with AWD and the big battery pack.

A $45,000 electric SUV has a chance - a $90,000 - $120,000 SUV will just cannibalize Model S sales. If you own an Range Rover, a BMW X5/6M, a "fast" Cayenne, or a MB G or GL class - please speak up and confirm that you would never cross-shop the Model X with those premium "lifestyle" vehicles.

SUV's on the high end are all about the lifestyle. The Model S is a "lifestyle" vehicle of a different sort. So is a Prius.

TomM - 7/19/2015 5:08:56 PM

0 Boost

I don't remember that the Model X would be at that price - I believe you are talking about the 3 series fighter that Tesla is preparing.

The X is clearly a model S based vehicle and likely will be even more expensive than the S is.

Once Tesla gets its recharge stations into the outback of the western National and State parks - the X will be a viable alternative for a gas or diesel vehicle. Should not take that long - maybe my grandchildren will get to see a recharge station next to a cactus.