Tesla To Test Mainstream Market With $40,000 Electric Car

Tesla Motors keeps trying to change the automotive market with its sexy electric cars, but so far it hasn’t made a huge dent. The Tesla Roadster was certainly intriguing, and the more affordable Model S is still more compelling, but with a price tag upwards of $70,000, it’s not exactly affordable for the average joe.

Tesla is looking to push more into the mainstream market with the Model X, a more affordable vehicle that offers a bit more utility and is designed “to blend the best of an SUV with the benefits of a minivan”. According to the L.A. Times, the car will cost somewhere in the $40,000 range and should have roughly a 200-mile range.

Tesla Model X
Tesla Model X

Unsurprisingly--this is a Tesla, after all--the Model X is sexy for a sport-utility vehicle, but it also promises swift performance with a 0-60 acceleration of less than 5 seconds. The rear doors feature a delightful “falcon wing” design as well as a third row for extra seating that's accessible even with child seats parked in the second row.

Tesla Model X
With the doors up, it actually kind of looks like a bunny rabbit

The Model X is slated to appear late next year or early 2015. You can reserve your own with a $5,000 deposit.