Electric car giant Tesla has boosted the range of its Tesla Model X and Tesla Model S models in a much needed update to its fleets, as sales of the pricey eco-friendly vehicles continue to struggle.
The Tesla Model X vs Model S debate will probably never be truly settled, but one thing’s for sure – both cars are now better than ever, after Elon Musk’s company announced a major range upgrade for the duo.
The new 2019 Tesla Model S will now drive 370 miles on a single charge, while the 2019 Model X jumps up to a range of 325 miles per charge, thanks to their new drivetrain design. The previous models offered 335 miles and 295 miles of range, respectively.
Better still, the new Model S and Model X will actually be slightly cheaper than the long-range predecessors – cheaper in Tesla terms, at least. The 2019 Model S will start at $88,000 (about £68,000) while the Model X can be had from $93,000 (~£72,000).
The longest-range models of the cars previously carried an $8,000 surcharge, which is around £6,200 and about the same as a nice second-hand Polo.
The cars’ 100 kWh battery packs will remain the same, but charging speeds will be boosted to 200 kW on V3 Superchargers and 145 kW on V2 Superchargers – a 50% bump, according to Tesla.
The electric car manufacturer announced the major range upgrades in a recent blog post, before taking to Twitter to highlight some smaller improvements.
We’ve also upgraded our air suspension system for Model S and Model X with fully-adaptive damping, giving it an ultra-cushioned feel when cruising on the highway and extra responsiveness during dynamic driving pic.twitter.com/3fm8RyCiOm
— Tesla (@Tesla) April 24, 2019
Tesla Model X and Model S prices plummet
Existing Tesla Model X and Model S owners who want to upgrade to one of firm’s new Performance long-range cars can also benefit from a free Ludicrous Mode upgrade, worth $20,000 (~£15,500), and the firm is also bringing back its cheaper Standard Range models for both lines.
For $83,000, or about £64,000, you can get a Model X Standard with 250 miles of range, while a Model S Standard with single charge range of 285 miles will set you back ‘just’ $78,000 (~£60,000).
The timing of the upgrades – the new models are set to hit the production line this week – is hardly coincidental, given deliveries of Tesla’s ageing Model X and Model S cars were falling this year.
According to a Tesla Q1 2019 report, combined deliveries of Model X and Model S cars plummeted from 27,607 to 12,100 in the last quarter – a 56% drop.
Tesla Model X vs Model S, what’s your take? Let us know on social media @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
