The new Tesla Model S and Model X are here and it’s good news. Despite writing many articles about Tesla cars, I’ve never been a fan of Tesla. I have always thought they were overrated, too expensive, and that they were poorly built. I also don’t really like how they treat customers, their warranty policy, etc. However, their new Model S and Model X are both very impressive cars and it seems to me at least that they have sorted out a lot of the major issues seen previously on these cars.
The Model S has been around now for almost nine years and the Model X has been out for almost six. The Model S was updated in a facelift back in 2016 with new bumpers and slight interior changes. There were also multiple updates in power terrains and battery sizes. The Model X was Tesla’s first SUV and it’s the only SUV ever to feature rear falcon doors. It has never had a facelift as such though over the year sit has had many changes in powertrain mostly with more powerful batteries which have increase performance and range.
The new Model X and the Model S are the biggest updates that have ever happened for both cars. It’s the first time that both cars have had such radical changes. The first thing you will notice is that both cars have had a facelift with new bumpers and new alloy wheels. The Model S does look a bit more aggressive whilst the Model X looks near enough the same as it did before.
It’s the inside that has changed the most. Both cars still use near enough identical interiors as they always have done. Previously though you may have remembered it to have build quality issues and that it was starting to look a bit dated. In fact, the interior of the cheaper Model 3 and the Model Y looked so much cooler. Tesla realized this so what they decided to do was simple. Invest more into the interior and make it a bit more unique.
Inside the first thing, you notice is that this car has no steering wheel. It has instead been replaced by some weird sci-fi looking spaceship “yoke.” It looks more like something you would find with a games console and you cannot drive it like a normal steering wheel either as we are all used to the “10 to 2” steering position as that’s what we learned in driving school and that’s what we are all used to. Since you cannot do that in the new Tesla Model X and Model S as such, things will get awkward. I reckon Tesla will probably ditch that steering thing for a proper steering wheel as it is very impractical and annoying. That’s one thing consumers will be arguing about hugely.
The next thing you will notice inside is that there is a new computer like, 17-inch landscape screen which replaces the previous vertical screen. It features a computer with ten teraflops worth of processing power so this thing is a supercomputer on wheels and you can play video games on it. It also has a wireless charge pad too to charge phones, wireless game controllers to play games, a 22-speaker audio system, and heated seats all around. Then there is another 12.3-inch screen for the driver which shows the speedometer, range, etc.
The rear seats of both cars have always been boring. Well not anymore since Tesla decided to fit in an 8-inch touchscreen for the rear-passengers too where they too can watch Netflix and play games. It is a lot smaller than the screen in the front though which is a bit of an issue, however, it’s better than having no screen. These cars then are true luxury cars with the most technology anybody has ever seen on a car.
Has Tesla Sorted Their Issues Then?
picture via: autocar.co.uk
Tesla previously had a lot of issues with both of its cars. The Model X and the Model S both have had build quality issues in the past both inside and out. There have been panel gaps, cheap materials, etc. This is pretty much the number one complaint reviewers and consumers have had for Tesla cars in the past. Unfortunately, both new cars haven’t been tested yet to outline the build quality issues. However, judging by the pictures I feel that they have actually addressed this as everything does look a lot more premium. The large windshield is a bonus too on both cars as it allows so much more light to come in. It’s essentially like a conservatory.
The screens look a lot skinnier and a lot more modern. The interior trim looks pretty good too and they aren’t fake either. The wood trim is real and it looks very natural as it’s not polished up at all. The carbon fiber is matte and it looks very sporty indeed. Other manufacturers using matte carbon are BMW, McLaren, and Ferrari. The seats look pretty nice too and we predict that they will be leather-free vegan interiors, just like the Model 3. This is great news for the future of cars.
The range was never an issue for Tesla, but things have been improved. The standard long-range Model S does an estimated range of 412 miles. The standard Model S Plaid does 390 miles whilst the Model S Plaid+ does over 520 miles. That’s the most out of any electric car in history.
The standard Model X does a range of 340 miles for both Plaid and long-range models.
The performance is where Tesla has always had the upper hand. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had always promised a car that would do a 0-60 of under 2 seconds. The Model S Plaid and Plaid+ do a 0-60 of under 2 seconds which is stupidly fast. In fact, it’s the fastest accelerating production car ever. The Model X is a bit slower with its top Plaid model doing a 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds which happens to be 0.1 seconds slower than a Buggati Chiron.
If you do not want a Plaid model, don’t worry. Performance has not been compromised. The long-range Model S does a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and the Model X long-range does it in 3.5 seconds.
There is one drawback though. The model we all want, the Plaid, is very expensive. Prices start at around $121,190 for the standard Model S Plaid and $141,190 for the Plaid + Model S. The Model X Plaid starts at a similar price. A long-range Model S costs just over $70,000 which is cheaper than the old one. A standard-range Model X starts at a similar price. Nothing wrong with a long-range as it’s still a fast car. But it will be in the shadow of the Plaid.
via: Tesla.com
Featured image credits via: theverge.com