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DETROIT Vowing to rid the world of its addiction to fossil fuels, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla showcased its Model X — a seven-seat passenger car — at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday.
“Our vision is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles,” said George Blankenship, vice-president worldwide sales and ownership at Tesla. “It’s not about making a car.”
Offering three- row seating, the Model X is a family car that blends the “best of an SUV with the benefits of a minivan, as only an electric car can,” said Blankenship.
It will be powered by a 60- or 85-kilowatt-hour battery and equipped with a 17-inch touch screen in-dash display that includes driver controls, vehicle apps and web connectivity. It also comes with falcon-wing doors that open up and out of the way, “creating unrivalled access,” said Blankenship. Though he would not disclose pricing, Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer said Model X will be priced competitively with premium SUVs and about five- to 10-per-cent more than the Tesla S four-door sedan, which starts at US$57,400. Production is expected to begin next year at Tesla’s plant in Fremont, Calif.
Tesla has enjoyed critical acclaim with its all-electric Model S, which was named 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year. It is offered with three battery choices — 40-kWh, 60-kWh, and 85-kWh — that provide ranges of 140, 200, and 265 miles, (225, 320, 425 kilometres), respectively, Tesla said. So far, Tesla has received about 13,000 orders for the sedan. The Model X will be built using the sedan’s platform.
“We looked at the marketplace and realized that minivans are incredibly practical and they serve a great purpose, but you kind of sell your soul a little bit in order to get that practicality,” said von Holzhausen. “An SUV or crossover has all the character and styling you want in a vehicle but not necessarily that practical in its usability.”
The Model X’s flat battery is positioned along the floor of the vehicle, allowing for “unprecedented cargo space and a second trunk under the hood,” he added.
In three or four years, Tesla hopes to introduce an electric car in the $30,000 price range, said Blankenship.