Tesla Model X P100D Ludicrous - 2018

When Tesla finally put the Model X into customer hands in late 2015, it wasn’t just launching an electric SUV; it was rewriting what a fast, high-tech family car could be. The 100 kWh Dual Motor variant arrived in 2017 as the 100D, hitting the sweet spot of range and performance without the explosive (and pricier) Ludicrous-mode theatrics of the P models. With around 100 kWh of usable energy and all-wheel drive, it delivered long-haul confidence and real-world practicality that few rivals could match at the time.

From day one, the Model X traded convention for spectacle: those dramatic Falcon Wing rear doors, the vast panoramic windscreen that arced well over your head, and a tow rating that made EV towing viable. Early cars were praised for pace and efficiency, yet sometimes critiqued for panel alignment and the complex door mechanisms. Over-the-air software updates—still rare in 2016–2017—steadily improved functionality, efficiency and driver-assistance features, helping the X age unusually well for a large SUV.

Competition took years to catch up. The Jaguar I-Pace (2018) arrived with sporting intent, Audi’s e-tron (2019) with Germanic polish, and Mercedes’ EQC (2019) with luxury calm—yet none could quite match the X’s blend of seven-seat space, long range and charging network advantage. Later, the BMW iX and Rivian R1S pushed the segment forward, but the Tesla’s efficiency and charging ecosystem kept it a benchmark road-trip tool.

Key upgrades marked the model’s evolution. In 2019 the ‘Raven’ update brought a highly efficient permanent-magnet front motor (paired to an induction rear), a smoother adaptive air suspension and notable range gains. The 2020 Long Range Plus stretched EPA range past 370 miles in some trims. The 2021 refresh overhauled the cabin with a horizontal display, quicker infotainment, a cleaner HVAC with a heat pump, and the headline-grabbing yoke (a conventional wheel later returned as an option). Charging speeds increased on newer packs, and Autopilot hardware progressed from the original suite through HW2, 2.5 and finally HW3.

The Model X also earned cultural cachet. NASA adopted white Model X shuttles to ferry astronauts in SpaceX missions—an indelible image of electric tech meeting space-age ambition. The car featured on shows like Jay Leno’s Garage and became a frequent sight in Los Angeles, its Falcon Wings turning school runs into mini red-carpet moments. Period reviewers lauded its straight-line speed and tech lead; critics noted early build inconsistencies and the sheer width on tight city streets.

For Tesla, the X cemented the brand’s grip on premium EVs, proving that efficiency, performance and family-hauling utility could coexist. The 100 kWh Dual Motor variant, produced from 2017 and iteratively improved through 2025, stands as the long-distance, do-it-all core of the lineup—less sensational than the Plaid, perhaps, but arguably the one that best captured the Model X mission.