Tesla Model X Will be AWD Only, Will Cost 'Slightly' More than Model S

In 2014, we can expect the Model X to grab an SUV-sized portion of the spotlight with the unveiling of the production prototype, first drives, and customer deliveries scheduled for the latter part of the year. For now, though, the new vehicle is still having its final production-spec lines lovingly sculpted in a clay model.

Its unfinished state isn't stopping Tesla CEO Elon Musk from dropping more hints about what we can expect, however. While speaking at a store opening in London, England recently, he was asked directly about the as-yet-unrevealed price tag and had this to say (at minute 23:48):

"The Model X price will be very similar to the Model S. It's probably going to be a slightly higher starting price because the Model X will only be offered as all-wheel-drive. So it'll be dual-motor all-wheel drive."

Boom! Although the Model X portion of the Tesla website claims (at least, as of this writing) to be available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, that, apparently, is not the case. If you're worried that this will raise the price too much – what a billionaire and others consider "slightly higher" may vary – Musk quantified the increase somewhat, saying the price difference is a "low single digit percentage."

Other interesting tidbits from the substantial Q&A session included a mention that the first right-hand drive Model S would be delivered personally by Mr. Musk to a "high-profile" person (our money is on Richard Branson) with much fanfare at around the end of next March.

While we have included the entire video of the London appearance below, the quality is pretty poor and perhaps mostly suitable for hardcore aficionados. (You can skip straight to the Model X-related bit by clicking here.) To help make it up to you, we've thrown in a bonus clip from a BBC Newsnight interview with Elon, discussing, amongst other things, Tesla's Supercharger plan for Britain and what he thinks of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson.