If you want to know how cars will look and drive in 10 years, check out the Tesla Model X, an all-electric, all-wheel-drive SUV that’s at least a decade ahead of its time.
The first thing you’ll notice when you approach the car with the key fob in your pocket is the door handle popping out to greet you. With some options, the door even opens automatically. Hop in, buckle up and press the accelerator. No need to turn the engine on or off.
The next futuristic feature is the extra-long windshield that wraps up into the roof. And the third attention grabber is the falcon-wing rear doors that can be opened and closed from the center console. They provide generous access to the second and third rows of seats.
Technologically, the Model X is far ahead of everything else on the road, and the great thing is that it won’t fall behind with age because Tesla updates the computers in each of its cars via the Internet on a continual, as-needed basis.
Autosteer (which works up to 90 mph), auto lane change, and automatic braking allow the Tesla to just about drive itself. You can’t nap in the back seat, but in stop-and-go traffic and on long road trips, you can take your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals for a rest. Active safety features include automatic emergency braking, side collision warning, lane departure warning and autopilot. An optional feature even allows the vehicle to drive itself without a human on board, so you can summon it from a parking space. Talk about futuristic!
Since all of an electric vehicle’s torque is available instantaneously, acceleration is neck-snapping, though silent. Handling is pretty good for an SUV since most of its prodigious weight is in the batteries, which are essentially in the floor, making for an extremely low center of gravity. That aids maneuverability and decreases the chances of a rollover accident. Steering can be adjusted, with a nice tight feel and good feedback in sport mode. Because the electric motor uses regenerative braking, stepping off the accelerator essentially engages the brakes. That means you can do most of your stopping without even applying the brakes, conserving the brake pads.
A large screen dominates the center dash and operates very much like a large iPad. Swiping up, down, left and right controls most of the vehicle’s features. Because there’s no engine under the hood, there’s a handy storage area up front, which combines with a generous cargo area in the rear and easy hatch access. If you have more people than cargo, a handy third row of seats accommodates two passengers, though it helps if they’re not too large.
technicals>>model x 100d
price:
* base: $100,000, including delivery; as driven with options, $123,000
* gas mileage: 295-mile range on a single charge. Recharging takes 1 to 1½ hours at a supercharger, and overnight at home.
drivetrain:
* electric motor; all-wheel drive
* 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds
* automatic transmission
Robert Paster (robertpaster.com) is also an attorney in private practice, concentrating in estate planning and probate.