Tesla has just expanded the Model X range with the addition of a new 60D spec which also takes the entry price lower to an all-electric SUV despite still not being a particularly affordable vehicle. It will be on sale in North America for $74,900 US Dollars, or roughly $98,000 Australian.
There’s actually nothing at all different with the new base Model X 60D and the 75D that previous stood at the base of the range. The 60D, with the ‘D’ denoting its all-wheel drive ability via dual electric motors, is actually a software-limited version which packs a 75kWh battery, but capped to store 60kWh.
Despite this, the cheaper Model X 60D only loses roughly 59km of range from that 15kWh differential which brings it down to 322km, but retains the 75D’s century sprint time of 6.0 seconds and its 209km/h top speed.
Just like the recently updated Model S with its 60kWh battery, buyers who purchase the Model X 60D can opt to ‘unlock’ the battery’s full storage and the 381km range by paying roughly $12,000 to Tesla to have that software cap removed. Tesla installs batteries of at least 75kWh capacities in all its current cars.
It may seem a strange way of price tiering its vehicles, but the Model S 60 sales has been met positively because of the reduced cost that they are now able to purchase a full electric sedan for.
Tesla is hoping to repeat that with the Model X, giving more flexibility to choose within their given budget with battery capacity and range being the most prominent difference.
