Tesla’s Model X is long overdue, but at the very least, it looks like the EV automaker is hard at work putting the final touches on the electric crossover. Thanks to a new video posted on YouTube, we have a small idea of just how far along the project seems to be, as well as what it looks like on the move.
Captured by an amateur videographer in Alameda, CA, the camo’d Model X can be seen doing certain dynamic test runs in an area that used to be a naval air station. The lucky filmmaker happened to be at a nearby skate park where he discovered the test taking place, whereupon he grabbed footage of it in action on his iPhone.
The best camera is the one you have with you, as the saying goes.
We don’t know what exactly is being tested here, but we can see the vehicle testing out some hard braking performance and doing some tight loops in the open area, silent save for the tires squealing under the pressure. Nothing of the video shows any chase car or Tesla team members capturing data of some kind, but we can’t even be sure the Model X was there for very long. Indeed, from the video, it seems like the Model X quickly flees the scene, probably aware that this test was bound to garner some attention.
Tesla’s delay of the vehicle is an unusual misstep for the fledgling company. As this is Tesla’s second original vehicle, fans and critics alike are eager to see if this sophomore endeavor will be as successful as the Model S sedan.
Currently, the all-wheel drive electric crossover is delayed until the third quarter of this year, with the first of its run already reserved by eager pre-order customers.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.