Also, will a charred Model S hamper Tesla sales in its hottest European market?
Tesla Motors has revealed the Australian price for the entry-level version of its much-hyped Model X SUV, billed by the EV-maker as “the safest, quickest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history,” no less.
According to a company statement released on Tuesday, Tesla’s Model X 60D will be available to buy in Australia at a starting price of $111,900 plus on-road costs, which in most states winds up totalling just under $123,000.
The all-wheel drive car, which has had some false starts in the US, features falcon wing doors, dual electric motors – one each for the front and rear axles, and a range of more than 350km per full charge.
It also has the ability to go from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds, which is not quite up to the “ludicrous speed” standards of the Model S and other Model X variants (3.2 secs) but is pretty fast, all the same.
According to Drive.com.au, the US version of the Model X 60D is also available with multiple seating layouts, to cater to either five, six or seven passengers.
The offering of the scaled-back version follows a shaky start for the Model X, punctuated by a series of manufacturing mistakes and setbacks which Musk attributed to trying to get “too many new features and technologies, too many great things all at once, into a product.”
As Musk conceded in a February conference call with Tesla executives, “in retrospect, it would have been a better decision to do fewer things with the first version of Model X, and then roll in the capabilities and features on new technologies over time.”
But prospective Australian buyers should rest assured that he still thinks it’s the best car of all time.
“…The net result, however, is that I think the Model X is an amazing car. I honestly think it’s probably the best – I mean, I think it’s the best car ever. I’m not sure anyone’s going to make a car like this again. I’m not sure Tesla would make a car like this again.”
Tesla says the full details and pricing for the extended Model X range will be revealed closer to the car’s Australian launch.
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