Where is the Model X Test Mule? Is there one?

ItsNotAboutTheMoney · Jan 30, 2015

Or maybe it's a camouflaged Model S, made to look a bit like an X, conveniently driven in open view so that spy-shooters will get a shot and post video to the web to make it look like they have a Model X preproduction vehicle.

JakeP · Jan 30, 2015

ohmman said:
I think what you were trying to say is that it looks like a puffed up Prius.

That is pretty much exactly what I was thinking! But I am definitely prepared to reserve judgment until an official reveal, and assume that the camouflage is simply doing its job of providing excellent "visual distortion".

anticitizen13.7 · Jan 30, 2015

ecarfan said:
As to why Tesla was driving this X on an Alameda NAS airstrip, I have no idea. It does seem odd given that there is a big test track at the Fremont factory. Maybe Elon just wanted to mess with our heads... ;-)

My guess is that these "spy" photos are meant to assure fans and others that the X is real and driving around. It's good to finally see the X in the real world.

JRP3 · Jan 30, 2015

ecarfan said:
The camo X likely has some fake body pieces on it, including around the Falcon Wing doors, and that combined with the confusing graphics plastered over the real body panels makes it impossible to see the actual design of the X. So all this speculation about what the camo X shows about the production version is just speculation.

Seriously, have some of you lost your minds? You're commenting on the looks and design of a heavily camouflaged vehicle. Do you understand what camouflage means?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/camouflage

JakeP · Jan 30, 2015

JRP3 said:
Seriously, have some of you lost your minds? You're commenting on the looks and design of a heavily camouflaged vehicle. Do you understand what camouflage means?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/camouflage

Honestly, does not our continued and relentless presence on these TMC forums not already prove that we have collectively lost our minds?

kptesl · Jan 30, 2015

Here is a video of the first road test: http://www.streetinsider.com/Insiders+Blog/Tesla+(TSLA)+Tests+Model+X+at+California+Naval+Air+Station/10211066.html

mzpolo · Jan 30, 2015

trils0n said:
Looks kinda like a fat/large Prius in the video. Maybe that's just the camo and low quality video, but not quite a stunning vehicle like the Model S.

I agree. Hope the wife still is excited about the end product when we finally see it for real.

Local host · Jan 30, 2015

It is absolutely hideous. The Prius and Pontiac Aztek references are spot on. It is a beta though and heavily camouflaged, but you would think they would have toned down the hideousness so as not to scare people.

The brown concept vehicle on the website was not the best looking car. The Star Wars follow up was a huge improvement and I am sure that we will see something closer to this when it is finally revealed.

JST · Jan 30, 2015

Just watched the YouTube video on YouTube and saw that the video was taken from a skatepark. Ha. Yeah, if there were any doubt about how public TM wanted this to be, I think that settles it.

So, from here, then.

Google Maps

And if you look at the Google image, you'll see there was actually a manufacturer ride-and-drive set up on that same runway when the sat pic was snapped.

PokerBroker · Jan 30, 2015

The videographer also spelled "Telsa" in the beginning credits lol

This car clearly has false panels in addition to the camo. People need to relax a bit

Dchint · Jan 30, 2015

Bigfoot or Model X ?

Tesla Model X Caught On Video At The Test Track | TechCrunch

AnOutsider · Jan 30, 2015

Dchint said:
Tesla Model X Caught On Video At The Test Track | TechCrunch

"telsa" -_-

ohmman · Jan 30, 2015

I find it particularly curious that the typically ubiquitous bonnie has been silent in this thread. Possible that the camo-X was really just the Barbie-mobile driven by our moderator compadre? That drive from Alameda back to Sacramento does take a while...

juriii · Jan 30, 2015

Could be intentional TM stunt, to ease the tention building up by reservation holders and investors IMHO.

markb1 · Jan 30, 2015

ecarfan said:
As to why Tesla was driving this X on an Alameda NAS airstrip, I have no idea. It does seem odd given that there is a big test track at the Fremont factory. Maybe Elon just wanted to mess with our heads... ;-)

They have have a lot of options on a big open tarmac that they don't have on the Fremont test track. The test track is only good if they want to do banked turns of a certain radius. Besides, if they really wanted to be spotted, the Fremont test track is exactly where they would go.

Merrill · Jan 30, 2015

Is it me or did they pull the video, will not come up in the article.

ohmman · Jan 30, 2015

Merrill said:
Is it me or did they pull the video, will not come up in the article.

I think it's you. Still works for me.

Nubo · Jan 30, 2015

ajax said:
Assuming the wheelbase is the same length and the perspective distortion isn't too bad, the mule looks bigger than the old prototype.

View attachment 70756
View attachment 70757

There's some parallax in the spy shot; you can see the rear of the car. So we're seeing at maybe a 5-10 degree offset from the studio shot, which is perpendicular to the center of the car. This would result in the wheelbase of the spy shot appearing shorter than it is.

mzpolo · Jan 30, 2015

So, I have to ask....

How long did it take to get the first signature series S delivered after the Model S mule was first spotted?

Newscutter · Jan 30, 2015

Tinkering around....

Here's a closer/zoomed version of the video and some still frames I made. Not much new to discern but maybe someone will find these useful:
This video is not "monetized" or anything but I'll pull it if the original poster requests I do so.