Tesla Model X order book opens in Australia

US ELECTRIC car start-up Tesla has opened up the order book to potential Australian customers keen to jump into its all-new battery-powered crossover, the Model X.

The only problem is, you’re going to have to wait until some time in 2015 to take delivery.

Australian customers are already able to pre-order a Model S five-door liftback, which is already on sale in the US and Europe, via the car-maker’s Australian portal.

However, they are now also able to pre-order one of two versions of the Model X, previewed at this month’s Detroit motor show in pre-production form.

Local costs for the $US80,000 Model S and as-yet unpriced Model X are still to be determined, as is the way that Tesla will sell its cars in Australia through either a bricks-and-mortar retail showroom, or strictly via an online-only portal.

Tesla public relations communications associate Alexis Georgeson told GoAuto that the first Model S deliveries to Australian customers were slated for late this year, while the arrival of the Model X was still a year away.

“Australian customers may place a reservation for Model S or Model X at this time,” she said. “Deliveries of Model S will begin this year.”

Expectations are that the new-age Tesla models will be priced well below the huge premiums commanded by their predecessors. The base-model two-seat Roadster sold in the US for $US109,000, but the same car in right-hand drive sold here between 2010-11 for $206,188 before on-road costs.

Ms Georgeson said Tesla would reveal more details about the aluminium-bodied Model S, including pricing, closer to the car’s launch here. However, GoAuto believes the price of the Model S will soar past $100,000 by the time it lands.

The Model X is expected to cost about the same price as the sedan-based Tesla model.

Reserving a Model S will require a $6000 deposit, while customers seeking a Model X slated to arrive in 2015 will need to pay either a $6000 deposit to join the end of the queue, or $40,000 if they want a more richly equipped Signature edition that ensures their car will come from the first 1000 made.

The Model S sold in the US is a five-seat liftback sedan with the option of an extra pair of rear-facing seats that fold into the boot floor.

The vehicle has a battery-powered range of about 500 kilometres on an 85kWh battery according to the European testing cycle, although a cheaper 60kWh battery with less range is available. The Model S includes an on-board charger.

The car sold in the US includes 19-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and dusk-sensing Xenon headlights, 12-way power adjusting heated front seats, a 17-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone connection, storage space under the bonnet and the boot, keyless entry and a 200W, seven speaker audio system.

The Model S even has an in-built wireless internet connection via a connected smartphone.

It’s no wilting flower, either, with the 2.1-tonne sedan making the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.4secs, about the same time as a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.

The Model X features special gullwing doors giving access to the second- and third-row seats.