Tesla Unveils Its Model X, Complete With A 'Bioweapon Defense' Button

Tesla unveiled its much-anticipated Model X on Tuesday night after nearly two years of delays.

The early reviews of the new Tesla Model X are in and they can be summed up in two words: Simply Awesome. And it can be yours for the bargain price of around $130,000 .

After nearly two years of delays, CEO Elon Musk unveiled the electric sports utility vehicle Tuesday in Silicon Valley. And as an added bonus he gave the keys to a handful of lucky customers who can now call themselves owners of one of the most sought-after vehicles on the planet.

CEO Elon Musk took the wraps off the all-electric SUV at an event near the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. As an added bonus, he gave keys to a handful of lucky customers who can now call themselves owners of one of the most sought-after vehicles.

Let's go over some of the Motel X's vitals.

Let's go over some of the vitals.

Tesla's website says the "Model X is the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history." It can seat seven adults and go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds — 3.2 seconds with what the automaker calls "Ludicrous Speed Upgrade." It's also equipped with a 90 kilowatt-hour battery, which in layman's terms means the SUV can drive some 250 miles before its next charge.

Tesla says the "Model X is the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history," according to its website. The vehicle, which the company calls "uncompromised" can haul seven adults, zoom zero to 60 miles per hour in a smidge over three seconds and is equipped with a 90 kilowatt battery which in laymen's terms means the SUV can drive some 250 miles before it's next charge.

By far the most eye-popping feature of the vehicle though is its "falcon" doors that lift upward instead of the traditional way of swinging outward.

But its most visually striking feature is the rear-seat "Falcon Wing doors" that lift upward instead of swinging outward. USA Today notes that one reason for the vehicle's delay was that Tesla wanted to ensure the doors worked properly. The newspaper adds:

As USA Today reports the Model X "pushes the limits of its production system and designers." It also says part of the Tesla's delay was the company wanted to ensure this signature feature worked properly.

"It also comes with what Tesla describes as one of the largest windshields ever put on a vehicle. The windshield extends all the way past the top of the driver's head. Front passengers will get not only a panoramic view of the road, but of the trees and sky passing by."

"They are meant to allow for graceful entries into rear seats. More practically, they self adjust so they band against the sides of other cars in parking lots. But more than anything they make a statement that this is no ordinary crossover."

Musk played up the Model X's safety features, saying it received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Automatic emergency braking and side-collision avoidance systems are standard. And then there's what Tesla calls "bioweapon defense mode," should drivers find themselves cruising along the highway in the midst of an Armageddon-type scenario.

Musk played up the vehicle's safety features saying it received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it comes automatic emergency breaking and side collision avoidance systems that are standard. Plus it has a "bioweapon defense mode" that drivers will find handy should they find themselves cruising along the highway in the midst of an Armageddon-type scenario.

Musk claims the bioweapon button really does work, The Verge reports:

The Verge.com reports Musk claims the button really does work.

"The button should come in handy 'if there's ever an apocalyptic scenario of some kind,' [Musk] said. All you apparently have to do is push the button and the Model X's air filter — which is about 10 times larger than a normal car's air filter — should be able to keep you safe. The company claims it's 300 times better at filtering bacteria, 500 times better at filtering allergens, 700 times better at filtering smog, and 800 times better at filtering viruses."

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