Nargess Banks To start with, Model X looks like a slightly raised luxury sedan until the “falcon” doors spread their wings and rise architecturally to reveal an SUV with a clever modular layout that allows for up to seven individual seats. The electronic doors also have practical benefits. Hinged in two places, they can be opened ever-so-slightly for a quick exit in a tight spot or in the pouring rain (which I experience), then when fully open they reveal a wide entrance for larger items such as prams and grocery shopping. There’s plenty of storage room in the rear boot and, with the absence of an engine, additional space under the bonnet. Driving around the city, Model X’s expansive glass canopy windshield, which Tesla claims is one of the largest in a production car, coupled with the unobstructed windows in the wing doors, offer an open-air experience. I take in Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and the Serpentine Pavilion, then London’s new architectural hot spot, the newly-opened Design Museum. Model X "falcon wing" doors fully open at Exhibition Road Quarter, Victoria and Albert Museum Nargess Banks A short drive on and I stop by Exhibition Road Quarter, the latest extension for the Victoria and Albert Museum and the main hub to the design festival. This porcelain-tiled public courtyard responds to the fabric of the historic 1852 original building and its incredible collections. It also acts as brilliant backdrop to Model X, as a group of school children stop and stare when the wings rise. This remains the running theme all day, as younger Londoners approach us (wings up or down) to ask more about the car, electrification and the Tesla brand. Much like the S sibling, the Model X dashboard is clear and uncluttered, our visual focus placed firmly on the vast 17-inch upright infotainment screen, which looks and functions much like a tablet. Everything operates from here – the driving switches, climate control, navigation and entertainment. The system feels familiar and therefore is intuitive and can be easily swiped and configured to taste. Heading to the city, it makes navigating London’s crowded roads easier with the added bonus of electric cars being exempt from city center congestion charges. Tesla Model X at the neoclassical Somerset House for London Design Festival Nargess Banks The lithium ion battery pack sits neatly under the cabin floor and is the same as the one used in Model S. It comes with a choice of 75D to 100D capacities, all of which are four-wheel drives. Model X accelerates to 60mph in under three seconds and can do a top speed of 155 mph, depending on the model offering 351 miles of travel on a single charge. Plus, the optional “autopilot” provides semi-autonomous driving, handy in traffic. I am not able to put much of the above to the test given the speed of city driving, yet it is rewarding to know that I am running on pure electricity with the safety net that Tesla’s “supercharger” stations are close at hand as dotted on the navigation map. Model X at Herzog & de Meuron's Switch House at the world’s most visited gallery for contemporary ... [+] art, Tate Modern