Model X Will Have Greater Comparative Advantage

[Bearman]

Once you're at highway speeds the drag from the wind resistance is a bigger factor than weight. I'm not smart enough to figure out how that factors in to the equation.

Got these examples from the airforums:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...age-77214.html

Mercedes GL320 "Bluetec" (398 lb.-ft) towing a 30-foot Airstream(7500 pounds) at 62 mph gets 14 mpg compared to 27 mpg without any towing.

and

We've towed our 2012 International Serenity 27fb from Portland, OR to Tucson, AZ (via Boise, ID and Las Vegas, NV - about 2,100 miles) with our 2011 BMW X5 35d. Fuel economy has been 16.4 mpg...not too bad. Unhitched fuel economy (highway) for the X5 is around 26 mpg.

[Robert.Boston]

I sincerely doubt that the Model X will be recommended for towing RVs! Although it may seem a natural (given that RV campgrounds are reliable sources of 240v charging), RVers tend to favor long-haul driving. Given Bearman's examples, that would probably mean ~160kWh batteries to get 300 miles -- about $64,000 just in battery costs!

[Lyon]

I would be pretty surprised to see 6000lbs towing capacity. Virtually none of the CUVs on the market are rated for that kind of weight. In order to tow 6000lbs you're moving up to the larger SUVs (think traditional truck chassis) like a Suburban or a Sequoia. some CUVs like the the VW Touareg and the Land Rover LR4 claim 7700lbs ish towing capacity but are functionally limited to less by the in ability to handle 700-800lbs of tongue weight.

If the Model X can do 4500 only a very few buyers will be put off.

[Cobos]

Isn't there some Top Gear or Fifth Gear episode where the Tuareg tows a 737? Though that might have been a special rig, I can't remember.

Cobos

[Bruno Suárez]

What about how it stacks up to the BMW X3 and X5? I think those will probably be good targets as well. Maybe even the X6 as it is probably closer to that body style.

What if the Tesla Model X turns out to be slightly similar in exterior design to the BMW X6...just with way, way better driving visibility overall.

[KBF]

Isn't there some Top Gear or Fifth Gear episode where the Tuareg tows a 737? Though that might have been a special rig, I can't remember.

Cobos

We all know how factually accurate Top Gear is... :P

[WhiteKnight]

What if the Tesla Model X turns out to be slightly similar in exterior design to the BMW X6...just with way, way better driving visibility overall.

I think that's a win because I like the way the X6 looks!

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I think that's a win because I like the way the X6 looks!

With practically no headroom in the back?!! Maybe, the third row of seats in the Model X would suffer from the same problem?!

[Bruno Suárez]

With practically no headroom in the back?!! Maybe, the third row of seats in the Model X would suffer from the same problem?!

Ah. Unfortunately I had overlooked that specific detail... Third row of seats-headroom.

[Selector]

I would be happy if it looks like this one.
Imagine a large 105 kWh battery pack, taking you 0-60 in under 5,5 seconds, and some amazing 500 horsepower. Awesome!