2013 electric crossover is fastest-selling Tesla yet, company claims

Pure-electric car maker Tesla Motors recently unveiled its 2014 Model X seven-seat luxury vehicle and just one day after that launch, it is claiming advance sales worth more than $40 million, which works out at roughly 500 cars. This, in spite of the company spending nothing on advertising.

Of course, advance sales aren’t actual sales – we’ll have to see what happens when the cars begin rolling off the production line in the second half of next year – but Tesla is heralding the pre-orders, which involve a minimum $5,000 deposit, as proof that the Model X is a hit. The company claims it is the fastest-selling Tesla ever, although to keep that in perspective, the Model X is only the company’s third vehicle and deliveries of the 2012 Model S luxury saloon, on which the Model X is based, have not yet begun.

“The compelling nature of the product created massive media attention and resulted in the Model X being the third most searched term on Google,” read a statement. “On Thursday evening, the night of the reveal, traffic to teslamotors.com increased 2,800 percent. Two-thirds of all visitors were new to the website.”

The Model X uses the same underpinnings as the pure-electric Model S. A unique, flat chassis – extended slightly for the larger Model X – holds the battery pack underneath the floor of the car, while the two electric motors are positioned between the wheels at the front and rear. The set-up delivers interior space savings – while the Model X has the same external dimensions as an Audi Q7, Tesla claims the interior is 40% roomier, seating seven adults, with luggage space at the front and rear.

The Model X also has blistering performance, accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 4.4 seconds, making it faster than many sports cars, including the Porsche 911 Carrera. Details on range have yet to be released, but we can expect both the 60 and 80kWh battery options to offer well above 200 miles between charging.

One of the main attractions of the Model X, however, is its Falcon Wing rear door design, which Tesla says gives the car the largest door opening of any on the market. We have our reservations about the practicality of the design, however.

One other concern is that Model S reservation holders might switch to the Model X, which would mean the company’s overall customer base would not be growing as fast as this recent news would suggest. This would also mean those who had been patiently waiting for a Model S delivery would be in for an even longer wait.

However, Tesla says it is not concerned and claims the Model X is actually bringing new customers in for the saloon: “Proof that Model S and Model X are complementary products, new Model S reservations following the Model X unveiling were up 30 percent,” said the statement.