Skip to main content

‘Yup, new Tesla.’ A Model X tester is spied cruising around in Palo Alto

tesla model x in palo alto
If it weren’t for vigilant iPhone videographers being in the right place at the right time, we wouldn’t be seeing or hearing much about Tesla’s long delayed Model X crossover.

In a video posted on Youtube, a lightly camouflaged tester of the all electric vehicle was spied driving down the highway near Palo Alto, California. The car is barely disguised, sporting just a cover on the front grille, the logo, and some coverings on the lights.

Recommended Videos

We already know what it looks like, but this looks like the only video we have of it this close while its on the move. Things like how fast it was going is hard to gauge from this video, but it looks like the Model X tries to accelerate away shortly after being caught on camera.

Tesla Model X  Test Mule
Image used with permission by copyright holder

More than 20,000 people have put money down for their orders of the new all-electric utility vehicle, which has been delayed until some point in 2016, three years after its original target launch date.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The model X will be all wheel drive and sporting a pair of falcon doors in lieu of traditionally hinged sets. It will be powered by two electric motors coupled to a few different battery and “performance” options, which most likely means the 85-kWh battery and dual motor setup found in the model S will be the offered here as well. The performance options probably refers to a configuration similar to the P85D, which cranks up the motor outputs to a combined 691 horsepower.

Hopefully seeing this barely hidden, public highway driving test car indicates that the Model X is nearing the end of its shakedown runs and on its way to full production soon.

Alexander Kalogianni
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…
New Tesla feature opens the trunk automatically when your hands are full
Tesla's hands-free trunk.

Tesla owners with a massive teddy bear that needs to be given a ride can now open the trunk of their vehicle hands-free to get it in. A Tesla video highlighting the new feature shows a woman carrying an enormous teddy bear to her car, whereupon the trunk detects her presence and automatically opens. And no, it doesn’t only work for huge cuddly toys. The hands-free mechanism functions equally well if you’re carrying other objects like shopping bags, a large box, or a couple of suitcases.

https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1788703259818856691

Read more
The Tesla Model Y is at its lowest price yet — but should you buy one?
Tesla Model Y

Despite increased competition in the space, the Tesla Model Y is still one of the best EVs out there. It has access to the best charging network, plus it offers among the best software experiences, as well as a solid range, especially in the longer-range models. And the Model Y is now down to its lowest price yet, meaning that if you were considering getting one, now is probably the time to buy.

The base price of the Tesla Model Y is down to $42,990 at the time of this writing, which represents a pretty huge price cut. That's before any tax incentives too -- and considering the car is eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit, that means you could get it for as low as $35,490.

Read more
Tesla to begin production on new, more affordable models
Tesla Model 3

With competition increasing from Chinese and other automakers, Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his company is planning to begin production of new, more affordable models in “early 2025, if not late this year.” Notably, that's earlier than the previously stated date of late 2025, though whether Musk actually succeeds in meeting the earlier production time frame is another question entirely.

The news came as Tesla released its latest quarterly figures. Revenue for the electric vehicle maker came in at $21.3 billion, down from the $23.3 billion it reported for the same three-month period a year earlier and also down from the $25.2 billion reported in the previous quarter. Profit reached $1.1 billion, marking a 55% fall compared to the same period a year ago.

Read more