Tesla is one automotive maker that dreams of saying no to big oil as it is producing very electric and energy efficient vehicles to the typical consumer with the Model X and Model S. There may have been a setback with the seatbelt in the Model S, but this will not stop them from making decent models in 2016.
According to Inhabitat, Tesla Motors had themselves a serious setback because of a recall on 90,000 Model S vehicles. The issue was a seat belt defect, as a bolt holding it together wasn't assembled properly. Apparently, a European driver attempted to turn around and talk to the people in the back, and the seatbelt disconnected. Tesla has informed the National Highway Safety Administration as well as their international counterparts, and they are allowing Model S owners the chance to bring their cars into the service center to have them checked out.
In speaking to Tesla's sales department, the company stated that the issue with the seat belt has only been reported by one driver. As for the 2016 Model S, the company website prides itself in showing that it has the "Highest safety rating in America". The all-electric car also boasts "Zero Emissions. Zero Compromises", with its two motors, a front motor and rear high-performance motor that are more efficient, capable of zero to 60 in 2.8 seconds. The range is about 253-270 miles on a single charge, and this varies with the 70D, 85D, and P85D models.
The Model S also will have Autopilot. It might not be the self-driving cars that we all might have soon, but it allows to steer within a lane, change lanes at the tap of a turn signal, and manage speed using active, traffic-aware cruise control. It can even scan for a parking place, and alert the user when one is available, even parallel park on demand. The Model S also comes with a 17-inch touchscreen for controlling all of the car's functions, like climate control, opening the glass roof, as well as vehicle data and media.
As for the Model X, the company website is also proud of its all-electric SUV. It also has all-wheel drive with a 90 kWh battery with 250 miles of range, with zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. It comes with in the P90D (Performance All-Wheel Drive) and 90D.
Of course, it also has high safety ratings, and part of that is the placement of the battery. Also included is some seriously attractive Falcon Wing doors on the front and rear and only requires one foot of clearance on either side. There isn't any boasting of the autopilot, but there is a lot of talk of about parking sensors, blind spot warning, and side collision avoidance, as well as automatic emergency braking to assist in avoiding a collision even at highway speeds.
As far as the release dates of the 2016 Tesla Model S and the Tesla Model X, there really isn't a specific release date. The Model X states that the "estimated delivery for new reservations is the latter half of 2016". A conversation with the Tesla sales reveals that both models should be available sometime next year, and it could be earlier in the year. The price will range rom $70,000-$120,000 for the Model S, and $71,000-$96,000 for the Model X.
