Tesla Debuts Model X: the Gullwing Crossover

Tesla's new Model X crossover seems pretty normal until you open the doors, and they turn out to be gullwings.

The car is a true crossover. While it sits a little higher than the current Model S, no one will ever mistake it for a truck, and it does not have the off-road performance of a truck either. Really, the Model X is a tall station wagon. The Model X seats seven passengers in three rows

The design is sleek and upscale. It is a little reminiscent of an Acura mixed with an Aston Martin. It is very grown-up style that looks handsome without shouting its presence. The front of the car wears a large oval grill with HID headlights and LED eyelids. The sides are smooth with muscular flourishes around the fenders. The rear terminates in a hatchback  whose glass flows far down into the trunk, which appears like it would offer good visibility. 

The doors are the real party trick for the Model X. The front doors open conventionally, but the rear doors are gullwings or as Tesla calls them Falcon Doors. 

Tesla is not showing an interior yet for the Model X, but it issued a picture of a concept. The image shows a mixture of wood, leather and aluminum. There is a massive, 17in screen that extends higher than the dashboard to display navigation, weather and radio data. Honestly, the screen looks too big. It ruins the handsome, upscale look of the outside with a giant piece of glass acting as most of the secondary controls. It also does not jive with the guage cluster, which is a single, small electronic screen that displays speed and charge information neatly. 

Tesla is planning three power options for the Model X: rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and performance all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive cars have electric motors mounted in the front and rear that separately power the front or rear wheels. The performance version increases the power from the electric motors. It will be offered with either 65kWh or 85kWh batteries. 

Tesla is planning on having the Model X on sale by late 2013 with most deliveries really starting in early 2014.