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Tesla Model X Sightings and Spy Shots Gallery

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Elon Musk has confirmed that first deliveries of the Model X to early reservation holders will take place by September. However with the Tesla Model X design studio not yet available, and with no official announcement that the Model X has even reached the final design phase, we thought it would be fun to create an ongoing list of recent sightings and spy shots of the Model X.

Join in on the fun and share your photos of the Model X (and any news from the rumor mill) through the comments section below. Or email us at Teslarati.com Leaf Logo tips@teslarati.com.

 

  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: August 29, 2015
  • Description: A very first close up look at the Tesla Model X as caught on cell phone. A brave pedestrian courageously approaches the, previously covered in white transport wrap, blue Model X, and attempts to film around the vehicle, nearly catching a glimpse of the interior before it takes off from the traffic light.
  • Source: YouTuber Missy P

 

  • Location: San Jose, CA
  • Date: August 27, 2015
  • Description: A black Tesla Model X with falcon wing door, partially ajar, is seen driving down Hwy 85 in San Jose, CA. Illuminated rear brake lights seen on the retractable rear spoiler.
  • Source: Submitted by Sameet via tips@teslarati.com

 

  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: August 17, 2015
  • Description: The first sighting of a blue colored Tesla Model X with protective plastic wrap. See the video.
  • Source: Submitted by Instagram user SiliconValleyTeslas
[Source: SiliconValleyTeslas via Instagram]

[Source: SiliconValleyTeslas via Instagram]


 

 

  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: July 31, 2015
  • Description: A rare sighting of the Model X next to a Model S is spied on Page Mill Rd. near Tesla headquarters.
  • Source: Submitted by Instagram user SiliconValleyTeslas

Model-X-S-size-comparison

 


  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: July 31, 2015
  • Description: Model X Falcon Wing doors begin to take shape as delivery nears. See spy photos of the Model X leaving Tesla Headquarters.
  • Source: Submitted by Lee

Tesla-Model-X-Palo-Alto-07312015-1

 

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  • Location: Gilroy, CA
  • Date: July 22, 2015
  • Description: Tesla Model X hauling a dump trailer with unidentified freight down Hwy 101 Northbound in Gilroy, CA. Read more
  • Source: Submitted by Darin

Tesla-Model-X-Towing-Freight-Gilroy-2Tesla-Model-X-Towing-Freight-Gilroy-1

 


  • Location: Chandler, AZ
  • Date: July 20, 2015
  • Description: Video of a dirt covered Model X sparks rumors that Tesla is performing off-road testing of the electric crossover. Read more
  • Source: YouTube

Tesla-Model-X-Off-Road-HitchTesla-Model-X-Off-Road-Tires2 Tesla-Model-X-Off-Road-Tires Tesla-Model-X-Off-Road-Hitch2

 


  • Location: Berkeley, CA
  • Date: July 21, 2015
  • Description: New images (and video) surfaces of the Model X being tested with an active rear spoiler. Active spoilers and active aerodynamics have been used by performance carmakers for decades as a way to reduce drag coefficient by way of smoothing out airflow across the contours of the vehicle, but also as a way to increase downforce for added performance. The Model X is said to have range equivalent to the Model S and in order to achieve that goal, especially on a heavier and larger vehicle, Tesla will be outfitting the X with the new 90kWh battery pack and presumably the best possible aerodynamics in its class through the use of the active spoiler. Lower drag equates to less energy needed to propel the car forward at a given speed, and ultimately ensures maximum battery range.>>>> [VIDEO] Digital Wind Tunnel Technology Behind Tesla Model S Aerodynamics

Model-X-Active-Spoiler
Model-X-Active-Front-Sensor Model-X-Active-Spoiler2

Fair warning: The owner of the cell phone video shot it while rotating the device making the video a little difficult to watch.

 


  • Location: San Jose, CA
  • Date: July 15, 2015 @7:15 pm
  • Description: Randy Frei was driving down 280 South in San Jose, CA, near the Stevens Creek exit, when he came across the Tesla Model X. This is the first sighting of the Model X, submitted exclusively to TESLARATI, which shows testing equipment attached to the front contours of the vehicle. Other points worth noting are the taped gaps between the front body panels and the sharper nose design.
  • Source: Randy Frei

 

Model-X-Sensors-San-Jose Model-X-Sensors2-San-Jose Model-X-Front-San-Jose

 

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  • Location: Petaluma, CA
  • Date: June 18, 2015
  • Description: A side by side size comparison of the Model S and pre-production Model X posted by a member of Stocktwits.
  • Source: User TslaUp via Stocktwits, Facebook

Model-X-Petaluma-size-comparisonModel-S-vs-X

 


  • Location: ???
  • Date: June 13, 2015
  • Description: The Model X falcon wing door is seen opened on the same test mule car that’s been spotted testing across Tesla headquarters. According to a reddit user (account has since been deleted by the user), presumably a contracted engineer working on the Model X, the user writes “Spent some time behind the wheel of a Tesla Model X today!”
  • Source: Reddit

Updated June 26, 2015: The picture has been removed at the request of the user who originally posted the image.

 


  • Location: Hwy 280N, Los Altos, CA
  • Date: June 5, 2015
  • Description: According to YouTube user kenken830, “Spotted on Hwy 280N in Los Altos Hills, California on June 5th, 2015 6:39 PM PD. No camouflage.”
  • Source: kenken830

 

 


  • Location: CA
  • Date: May 27, 2015
  • Description: A white Model X is seen testing on the streets with, what appears to be, new body panels. It’s questionable as to whether this will be the final version of the electric crossover, slated to go into production in a few months.
  • Source: 60grayev

White-Model-X-Testing-052715
White-Model-X-Side-052715
White-Model-X-Side2-052715


  • Location: Foothill Expwy and Page Mill Rd. near Tesla Motors HQ in, Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: May 8, 2015
  • Description: A quick glimpse of the Model X interior shows that it’s largely the same design as the Model S. The large center touchscreen has been recessed under the protrusion of the center dashboard, identical to that of the Model S.
  • Source: nbkagzw13

 

 

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  • Location: Rt 101 @ “near the University exit” by Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: May 4, 2015
  • Description: The contours of the Model X seen from the picture closely resembles that of the Model S. According to Ron’s comment from his Google+ page, the Model X “looks like a Model S with a pug nose. And the front had the classic black oval from the Model S.”
  • Source: Ron Tailan

Black-Tesla-Model-X-Palo-Alto

 

 


  • Location: I-280 near Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: Exact date unknown. Approx. Apr 21, 2015
  • Description: Tesla Model X appears to be testing a lane departure system which automatically steers the car away from the shoulder and back into the lane.
  • Source: Yann Kerhervé

 

 


  • Location: I-280 near Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: Exact date unknown. Approx. Apr 3, 2015
  • Description: This appears to be the same test mule seen across much of Northern CA near Tesla Motors headquarters. Worth noting is the misaligned falcon wing doors, blacked out rear windows, fender flares and the trailer hitch.
  • Source: Reported on imgur.

Tesla-Model-X-Sighting-I280

 

 

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  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: Mar 19, 2015
  • Description:
  • Source: YouTube user nbkagzw13 spotted the Tesla Model X testing on the streets near Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto, CA.

 

 


  • Location: TBD
  • Date: Mar 10, 2015
  • Description:
  • Source: Instagram user >@moriahdanielle

Model-X-Black-Wheels


  • Location: Arastradero Road leading to Tesla Motors HQ in Palo Alto, CA
  • Date: Feb 26, 2015
  • Description: “Tesla Suv out for a ride on 280, aka the test track.”
  • Source: Twitter user @JKDmobile

 

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  • Location: CES 2015 Las Vegas, NV
  • Date: Jan 5, 2015
  • Description: Tesla Model X sighting at the Panasonic booth at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. [See the video]
  • Source: YouTube TechVideo channel

Tesla Model X sighting at CES 2015 (falcon wing doors)

Tesla-Model-X-Seating-CES-2015Tesla-Model-X-Interior-CES-2015 Tesla-Model-X-Touchscreen-Display-CES-2015

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Elon Musk

GM CEO Mary Barra says she told Biden to give Tesla and Musk EV credit

“He was crediting me, and I said, ‘Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla…You know me, Andrew. I don’t want to take credit for things.”

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra said in a new interview on Wednesday that she told President Joe Biden to credit Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for the widespread electric vehicle transition.

She said she told Biden this after the former President credited her and GM for leading EV efforts in the United States.

During an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Summit with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Barra said she told Biden that crediting her was essentially a mistake, and that Musk and Tesla should have been explicitly mentioned (via Business Insider):

“He was crediting me, and I said, ‘Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla…You know me, Andrew. I don’t want to take credit for things.”

Back in 2021, President Biden visited GM’s “Factory Zero” plant in Detroit, which was the centerpiece of the company’s massive transition to EVs. The former President went on to discuss the EV industry, and claimed that GM and Barra were the true leaders who caused the change:

“In the auto industry, Detroit is leading the world in electric vehicles. You know how critical it is? Mary, I remember talking to you way back in January about the need for America to lead in electric vehicles. I can remember your dramatic announcement that by 2035, GM would be 100% electric. You changed the whole story, Mary. You did, Mary. You electrified the entire automotive industry. I’m serious. You led, and it matters.”

People were baffled by the President’s decision to highlight GM and Barra, and not Tesla and Musk, who truly started the transition to EVs. GM, Ford, and many other companies only followed in the footsteps of Tesla after it started to take market share from them.

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Elon Musk and Tesla try to save legacy automakers from Déjà vu

Musk would eventually go on to talk about Biden’s words later on:

They have so much power over the White House that they can exclude Tesla from an EV Summit. And, in case the first thing, in case that wasn’t enough, then you have President Biden with Mary Barra at a subsequent event, congratulating Mary for having led the EV revolution.”

In Q4 2021, which was shortly after Biden’s comments, Tesla delivered 300,000 EVs. GM delivered just 26.

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Tesla Full Self-Driving shows confident navigation in heavy snow

So far, from what we’ve seen, snow has not been a huge issue for the most recent Full Self-Driving release. It seems to be acting confidently and handling even snow-covered roads with relative ease.

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Credit: Grok

Tesla Full Self-Driving is getting its first taste of Winter weather for late 2025, as snow is starting to fall all across the United States.

The suite has been vastly improved after Tesla released v14 to many owners with capable hardware, and driving performance, along with overall behavior, has really been something to admire. This is by far the best version of FSD Tesla has ever released, and although there are a handful of regressions with each subsequent release, they are usually cleared up within a week or two.

Tesla is releasing a modified version of FSD v14 for Hardware 3 owners: here’s when

However, adverse weather conditions are something that Tesla will have to confront, as heavy rain, snow, and other interesting situations are bound to occur. In order for the vehicles to be fully autonomous, they will have to go through these scenarios safely and accurately.

One big issue I’ve had, especially in heavy rain, is that the camera vision might be obstructed, which will display messages that certain features’ performance might be degraded.

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So far, from what we’ve seen, snow has not been a huge issue for the most recent Full Self-Driving release. It seems to be acting confidently and handling even snow-covered roads with relative ease:

Moving into the winter months, it will be very interesting to see how FSD handles even more concerning conditions, especially with black ice, freezing rain and snow mix, and other things that happen during colder conditions.

We are excited to test it ourselves, but I am waiting for heavy snowfall to make it to Pennsylvania so I can truly push it to the limit.

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Tesla hosts Rome Mayor for first Italian FSD Supervised road demo

The event marked the first time an Italian mayor tested the advanced driver-assistance system in person in Rome’s urban streets.

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Credit: @andst7/X

Tesla definitely seems to be actively engaging European officials on FSD’s capabilities, with the company hosting Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Mobility Assessor Eugenio Patanè for a hands-on road demonstration. 

The event marked the first time an Italian mayor tested the advanced driver-assistance system in person in Rome’s urban streets. This comes amid Tesla’s push for FSD’s EU regulatory approvals in the coming year.

Rome officials experience FSD Supervised

Tesla conducted the demo using a Model 3 equipped with Full Self-Driving (Supervised), tackling typical Roman traffic including complex intersections, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and mixed users like cars, bikes and scooters.

The system showcased AI-based assisted driving, prioritizing safety while maintaining flow. FSD also handled overtakes and lane decisions, though with constant driver supervision.

Investor Andrea Stroppa detailed the event on X, noting the system’s potential to reduce severe collision risks by up to seven times compared to traditional driving, based on Tesla’s data from billions of global fleet miles. The session highlighted FSD’s role as an assistance tool in its Supervised form, not a replacement, with the driver fully responsible at all times.

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Path to European rollout

Tesla has logged over 1 million kilometers of testing across 17 European countries, including Italy, to refine FSD for local conditions. The fact that Rome officials personally tested FSD Supervised bodes well for the program’s approval, as it suggests that key individuals are closely watching Tesla’s efforts and innovations.

Assessor Patanè also highlighted the administration’s interest in technologies that boost road safety and urban travel quality, viewing them as aids for both private and public transport while respecting rules.

Replies on X urged involving Italy’s Transport Ministry to speed approvals, with one user noting, “Great idea to involve the mayor! It would be necessary to involve components of the Ministry of Transport and the government as soon as possible: it’s they who can accelerate the approval of FSD in Italy.”

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