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Spyshots: Tesla Model X Prototype Spied in California

After we were teased by Elon Musk with a white and a silver concept of the brand's upcoming all-electric crossover SUV, Tesla Motors Club forum member yobigd20 uploaded photos of a pre-production mule testing near the Fremont assembly plant in California. From the looks of it, the masked headlights and taillights are what we will get on the actual Model X.
2016 Tesla Model X prototype 7 photos
Photo: Tesla Motors Club forum member yobigd20
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In December's shareholder letter, Elon Musk declared that over 30 Beta Model X vehicles have been constructed and are undergoing extensive testing, so this spotting adds up to the man's statement. If you rewind back to January 30th, you may remember that a heavily camouflaged Tesla Model X was spied testing at an abandoned naval air station.

Compared to that Model X, the black example we're talking about today sports minimal camo front and rear, looking as if work on the all-electric crossover SUV is around 90 percent done. In addition to the Model S-inspired headlight and taillight clusters, the lip that is wrapping the taillight clusters form a sort of ducktail, but the element is way better pronounced than the concept vehicle's.

If you concentrate some more on the visual differences between the white Tesla Model X concept presented at CES and the vehicle on hand, it's easy to see that the rake of the front end is more streamlined than the bulbous concept, rendering the front fascia of the production-ready Model X more aggressive than we expected. There's also a trailer hitch that is barely visible to the naked eye, but it's there, alright.

As we noted in our previous coverage of the Tesla Model X, expect the following to become production reality: Falcon Wing doors, the two-motor and all-wheel drive powertrain layout of the D-ified Model S, power levels of 60 kWh, 85 kWh and the performace-oriented 85 kWh Performance, output levels in between 380 horsepower and 691 horsepower, a range in between 225 miles (362 km) and 295 miles (474 km), seating for seven adults and a purported unveiling date slated for late this summer.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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