Tesla is a name that has been enveloped in mystery regarding when it is coming to India but we did not sit around waiting as we hunted one for ourselves to see what the hype is all about. Tesla, more than any carmaker, has changed the face of motoring largely due to leading the EV front.
Years back, it started selling EVs before anyone on a mainstream level and while today, everyone is doing the same, it was Tesla with its charging network to its cars that shaped the EV industry. It is also the most talked about carmaker including the fact that its CEO is someone you might have heard of.
Anyway, let's get to its most famous and the one that established itself as a force to reckon with within the luxury car segment.
Before the Model 3 or the hype with the Cybertruck, it was the Model S and the X that formed the mainstay of the range. This is the Model X, a large family SUV that has power to embarrass a supercar while having doors which you would not tire taking photos of. Yes, the Model X is completely different from any other SUV and in India, it looks surreal against other cars.
Those falcon doors for example are unique and make you stare as you open them. Space inside, not so surprisingly, is huge along with excellent egress/ingress and there are various configurations to choose from. The 6-seater version gets individual seats which offer excellent space while being slightly short on being the plump seats you get on other SUVs.
That said, the sense of space is more than others and even the third row is spacious. Upfront, it's crazy and that's what I can say especially with that 17inch screen along with the panoramic windscreen. The windscreen actually takes getting used to but sun glare isn't an issue as you think while everything is bundled up on the main touchscreen. The touchscreen itself is lovely to use and pretty much the best in terms of the display quality.
You do get luxury features as well with a 22 speaker audio system offered on the latest version plus in-car gaming, tri-zone climate control and lots more. That said, the design of the interior is a bit stark and plain.
Driving it is similar to an alien spaceship while some bits have now been also copied by others. Things like the button less interior and the fuss free driving experience is all about the Tesla experience. You get it off you go with none of the drama in starting up.
There are no gear changes or engine noise whatever too as it is just instant performance which actually shocks you. Acceleration is brutal but with none of the drama attached. It just goes and you do feel uneasy about how fast this huge SUV goes. What is also impressive is the traction and how cleanly it puts down the power with the twin motors.
The fact that there is a faster Plaid version with 1000 plus bhp is plain insanity- you do not need an SUV so quickly unless you want to embarrass your supercar owning neighbour. It is also smooth and easy to drive despite all of that weight while visibility is brilliant too. It feels surreal and different while that ultimately makes it different.
That said, this is not something you do off-roading as it is strictly for on the road despite its air suspension enabling one to increase the ground clearance.
Of course, with a Tesla, there is the tech with the self driving capability with the Autopilot amongst others while you can get more than 500kms easily with a charge.
If coming to India, an imported Model X would be priced in the luxury SUV category at nearly Rs 2cr but again with already many privately imported ones in our country, the price won't be an issue. The image to the looks plus the unique interior along with the driving experience is what seals the deal and while it does not subscribe to the traditional luxury SUV rules, its different.
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