Tesla's Model X

 GRAND PERFORMANCE

The Soul of Every TeslaModel X is a family vehicle with performance roots. The Tesla Vehicle Platform enables Model X to perform in ways never expected from a car of its size. With a center of gravity lower than any other SUV, you’ll notice nimble reflexes at every turn. The electric powertrain delivers instant torque for confident lane changes, even when loaded with seven adults and all their gear.

Dual Motor All-Wheel DriveModel X is offered with optional Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive. The second motor enables more than all-weather, all-road capabilities: it increases torque by 50%. When outfitted with AWD, Model X Performance accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, outperforming the fastest SUVs and many sports cars.

WHOA.

Falcon Wings. Calling them doors would be an understatement. While earning serious style points, they’re functional first. Falcon Wings open up and out of the way, in even the narrowest of parking spots. You easily step, not climb, into Model X.

EASY SEATING

Third-row access is finally easy. Even with child seats installed, the second-row seats slide all the way forward. Open Falcon Wings let you stand all the way up as you get in and out. Kids no longer leap and tumble over the second row, and adults find the third-row seats as accessible as the passenger seat.

THIS SEAT IS FOR YOU

In the driver’s seat, you’ll find a stylish combination of premium interior surfaces and panoramic glass. Set in the futuristic dash is the Tesla Touchscreen, providing access to information and entertainment while on the go.

MODEL CITIZEN, MEET MODEL X

Model X doesn’t use a drop of gasoline. You can finally live a big-car lifestyle without living at the pump. And, by replacing your big gas guzzler with a Tesla, you’re playing a significant role in reducing emissions. Incredible driving range, powered by a 60 or 85 kWh battery, is yours for the taking.

WHAT'S NEXT?

We unveiled the Model X Design prototype on February 9, 2012. It represents our current vision for this groundbreaking vehicle. We expect to begin production of Model X in late 2013, ramping up deliveries in early 2014. Model X will be priced comparable to a similarly equipped Model S. More details will be announced as production nears.

Here are the vehicle configurations we plan to offer:

Battery Options

Model X will be offered with a 60 or 85 kWh battery.

Drivetrain Options

Model X will be offered with the following drivetrain configurations:

Tesla Motors Model X Smokes $40 Million In A Day


by Steve Duda


Tesla says its new Model X crossover SUV is faster than a Porsche Carrera. The seven-seater is said to clock a 0-to-60 time of 4.4 seconds. That’s a pretty quick mover and according to a recent release from the company, it’s not the only thing that’s moving fast.

According to the statement, one day after the company unveiled the Model X in a splashy webcast, advance sales of the all-electric crossover SUV exceeded $40 million. Not bad for a ride that won’t even go into production until the end of 2013 and won’t show up in showrooms until early 2014.

image via Tesla

The debut created a load of media attention for Tesla and resulted in the Model X being the third most searched term on Google. On the night of the debut, traffic to teslamotors.com increased 2800 percent. Two-thirds of all visitors were new to the website.

But not all that attention went to the Model X. Tesla says that reservations for the company’snew Model S sedan were also up 30 percent.

Tesla envisions the Model X as direct competition for other luxury SUVs — and not just electricor hybrids. The Tesla, expected to retail for between $60,000 and $85,000, could go head to head with models such as the BMW Mercedes-Benz R-Class, the BMW X5 and the Lexus RX 450.

image via Tesla

The most impressive feature of the Model X is what Tesla is calling its falcon-wing rear doors. These doors, which allow access to the car’s second and third row of seating, rise up and over the car like a gull wing. Since the doors are articulated and hinged in the middle, they lift perpendicular to the ground making access in tight parking spots easy.

Tesla will offer the Model X with three drivetrain options—rear-wheel drive only; dual motor, all-wheel drive; and a dual motor, all-wheel drive performance option. Tesla will also offer the option of two battery packs—the standard 60-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery or a larger 85-kWh version. Because the Model X is heavier than the Model S, expect its range to be a bit lower, topping out somewhere in the area of 270 miles.


Posted on February 17th, 2012

Source:http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/tesla-motors-model-x-smokes-40-million-in-a-day/

Are Composite Pickups In Our Future?

Mark Williams
Cars.com
5:50 p.m. CST, February 6, 2012

Motive Industries, a global design company in Canada, has a new idea for a completely composite-body midsize pickup truck.

Internally code-named Bison, the design truck is meant to be a showcase for potential clients that might be interested in a design that lends itself to hybrid powertrains, battery storage capability or other future-tech modes of transport. This concept is a shell designed to show Motive's ability to develop a unique pickup design to work with the next and best industry powertrains, renewable fuels or emerging materials and technologies. Starting with a ground-up design, the engineering involved to package the batteries and powertrain isn't compromised by any pre-existing chassis.

The Bison boasts a bed size that's 75 inches long, 52 inches wide and 21.5 inches tall, closer in cargo dimensions to the much-larger full-size short bed. Motive says the ground clearance of the design is 9.5 inches, but that would likely vary depending on what powertrain or suspension package a manufacturer prefers.

As to construction, Motive believes there are many benefits to a composite-bodied pickup. The first being it's lightweight. Using carbon fiber over steel can reduce weight by as much as 50 percent, whereas fiber glass would offer only a 30 percent weight reduction.

Second, composite-bodied vehicles can have a profitable low to medium production run between 500 and 25,000 vehicles. One of the largest differences in producing a vehicle like the Bison is in the tooling investment required for stamped steel versus composite. In many cases, the costs for composite tooling can be a fraction of similar stamped-steel tooling.

A 100,000-unit production run — or the idea that to make a profit, many manufacturing execs don't want to consider any new models that can't potentially sell 100,000 units per year — is, in many ways, becoming difficult to manage as manufacturers struggle to keep up with developing technology and erratic market trends. Motive hopes to enlighten manufacturers about the benefits of a vehicle that can have a much lower production run and still make a profit.



Here's what Motive says about the Bison:

"The overall design character is sporty and assertive, communicated by its wide front-end graphic elements and aggressive wheel arches. The geometrical and angular form language, along with wedge profiles throughout, evolves the typical square pickup form into something much more modern and provocative.

"The Bison is targeting the 25- to 35-year-old consumer or the progressive company requiring utility fleet vehicles who wants to make a statement. The stance is important to convey stability and power.

"The Bison's two-tone 19-inch wheels shod in aggressive tread are pushed out to the corners of the truck, providing a long wheelbase. Inserts in the wheels can be body color or a tech-looking opaque Lexan for an EV edition.

"Charcoal-colored polymer bumpers are durable and designed to deal with the tough fleet/commercial use in the field. Side step panels are incorporated into the rockers. The panel break up along the bumpers and rocker panels help to visually lighten the truck along with the rising cutout feature in the rocker. This rise in the rocker is a common design feature coming from Motive's design ethos, influenced by the waistlines of athletic animals like a horse or greyhound. It helps to visually lighten the body, but accentuate the 'chest' or engine bay area of the vehicle."

The design does have a futuristic quality to it and a unique look, and it offers a small echo toward the new Ford Ranger, which recently debuted in the Far East. There was no word on what type of suspension the vehicle might have, what cab features could exist or what kinds of special bed options or cab pass-throughs may be available as part of the design.

It's our guess the global design is not likely to capture the eye of any of the U.S. small-truck makers, but this could be something very interesting to a potential Chinese car company looking to make some inroads to the Australian market and possibly into Thailand. For more on the company and the design, click here.


Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/autoshow/sns-are-composite-pickups-in-our-future-20120206,0,1697544.story

Report: Costs Associated With Traffic Crashes Are More than Three Times Greater than Congestion Costs

AAA Study Finds Costs Associated With Traffic Crashes Are More than Three Times Greater than Congestion Costs

 

Traffic crashes cost U.S. motorists almost $300 billion per year

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The annual societal cost of traffic crashes is $299.5 billion, more than three times the $97.7 billion cost of congestion, according to a report released today by AAA.  

AAA's "Crashes vs. Congestion – What's the Cost to Society?" report highlights the overwhelming and far-reaching economic impacts traffic safety crashes have on our nation and encourages policymakers at all levels of government to ensure safety is a top priority.  

"The burdens associated with congestion are top of mind for many Americans as they travel to and from work each day," said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. "However, at $300 billion annually, crashes cost our society more than three times the amount of congestion. This report further underscores the importance of a long-term, multi-year federal transportation bill that will provide the necessary and sustained investments that lead to better and safer roads for all Americans."

According to the study conducted for AAA by Cambridge Systematics, the overall cost of crashes ($299.5 billion) equates to an annual per person cost of $1,522, compared to $590 per person annually for congestion ($97.7 billion overall). The cost of crashes are based on the Federal Highway Administration's comprehensive costs for traffic fatalities and injuries that assign a dollar value to a variety of components, including medical and emergency services, lost earnings and household production, property damage, and lost quality of life, among other things.

The report calculates the costs of crashes for the same metropolitan areas covered by the annual Urban Mobility Reportconducted by the Texas Transportation Institute. The results showed crash costs exceeded congestion in every metropolitan area studied, from very large to small. For very large urban areas (populations of more than three million), crash costs are nearly double those of congestion. Those costs rise to nearly six times congestion costs in small urban areas (populations less than 500,000) where motorists face less congested conditions.

"Almost 33,000 people – 635 per week – die on U.S. roadways each year and that's unacceptable," said Darbelnet. "While the decline in traffic fatalities in recent years signifies a positive trend, our work is far from over. Continued progress will require active and focused leadership, improved communication and collaboration, and an investment in data collection and evaluation to make sure we're addressing the nation's most serious safety challenges."

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

Stay connected with AAA on the web via:Twitter.com/AAAnews
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