The Tesla Model X: An all-electric crossover SUV that can drive itself

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - It might be the most talked about ride in Chicago that you can't see at the auto show. The Tesla Model X arrived in the Chicago area Tuesday.

And now, eighty people who reserved a chance to buy the crossover SUV four years ago finally got a chance to test drive it.

"This is an all-electric crossover SUV,” said Alexis Georgeson of Tesla Motors Communications.

With seating for seven, the Model X is part family-truckster.

"It is the quickest accelerating SUV,” she added. “It does zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds."

Performance aside, the first thing you notice are the doors.

"These are the falcon wing doors. They are the most eye catching feature on the model X,” Georgeson said. "These doors only need 10 inches of space on the side of the car."

Behind the wheel, the Model X feels a lot like a high end crossover. Base price for this model is $80,000.

"They are a little more pricey,” she said.

But for that kind of cabbage, Tesla throws in its autopilot technology. Yes, the SUV can drive itself.

With gas prices at record lows, below 2 bucks a gallon, spending big coin on a super-fast, self-driving, all electric SUV may not be the best idea according to FOX Business Network contributor Phil Flynn.

"I love electric cars, but with gas prices being what they are, they may not make a lot of sense economically right now,” said Flynn.

But Flynn also says these low gas prices won't last forever. So for some consumers, like Shakuur Kroll, grabbing an electric ride now is an attractive option.

"I wish the whole country would go electric by now electric cars, hybrids that's where it’s at!” Kroll said.

And you don't have to have deep pockets because there are budget friendly rides already on the market. The Chevy Bolt, for example, starts in the mid-30's and tesla has announced plans to launch the $35,000 'Model 3' in the near future.

"We don't see gas prices affecting sales much,” Georgeson said.

And that's because Tesla claims its vehicles are some of the best all-around rides on the road.

"We want as many people as possible driving EV's and helping push sustainable transportation,” she added.

The model X, besides being a self-driving, all-wheel-drive, electric rocket, has a range of a little over 250 miles.