DOES X MARK THE SPOT?


TEST DRIVE BY TOBY AIKEN


TeslaModelX Model on test: 100D, £112,230(inc. £4,500plug-in grant)


When I first startedwriting about cars, Iwas lucky enough to snag a TeslaModel S asmy 3rd or 4th review. In short, itwas amazing. Tesla has a reputation for quality and being at least one step ahead of the competition, and fromthat first drive Iwas convinced that they had an amazing set up. The perfect balance between style, performance and space, coupledwith ticking the environmental box. So, theModel X…what is it all


about? It’s the first electric vehicle to offer the practicality of an SUV. In fact, it offers 5, 6 or 7 seat arrangements, and its signature move comes fromthe access to the second and third rows of seats. Tesla call themFalcon doors, and quite simply they’re awesome. Everyonewho sawthemwas


impressed. In essence each door has two hinges, allowing themto open in the tightest of spaces.With sensors detecting the proximity of nearby objects (such as cars, or lowroofs in car parks), theywill open automatically at the touch of a button into the space that is available. The purpose of the double hinges,


is that the doors open almost from the centre of the roof, allowing easy


48 JULY /AUGUST 2019 THECHELTONIAN


access to the rear seats for passengers, but also for parents, strapping little ones in. They also look fantastic. So, it’s practical and easy to get


into, butwhat about itsmain purpose; it’s a car, so howdoes it drive? Like the other Tesla I reviewed, it is powered by an amazing battery unit delivering electric and instantaneous drive to the rear wheels. Instant power, amazing torque and the type of acceleration youwould usually expect froma supercar. That’s not an exaggeration - I did


some quick checks (onGoogle, so obviously it’s foolproof) and this car accelerates froma standstill to


60mph in the same or quicker time than a couple of Ferraris, aV8 poweredAstonMartin (more on that soon…) and some other ridiculously powerful petrol-fuelled legends.My parentswere visitingwhile I had this andmy father jokingly said he’d driven a few‘milk-floats’ before, not really expectingmuch fromthe electric power unit. Hewasmistaken. Imay have played hima little by driving very


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