Tesla critics don't dampen enthusiasm for Model X in Bethesda (Photos)

A recent fatal Tesla crash is being blamed by many on the company's Autopilot feature, and production of the luxury electric vehicles has failed to meet targets. But the media noise hasn't deterred Tesla fans and prospective owners in Bethesda. The company's new gull-wing Model X crossover has had such a crowd around it at the Tesla store at Westfield Montgomery Mall, it's taken me a few weeks to get these clear photos for you.

Want a safe SUV with zero emissions that goes from zero to 60 in only 3.2 seconds? The Model X is the car for you. If you're tired of dealing with undersized parking spaces and rude parkers in Bethesda, you'll appreciate the 1-foot clearance Falcon doors that open upwards in tight urban spaces. An "invisible chauffeur" feature opens the doors for you as you approach the vehicle. It also appears the high-end center console display comes standard with the leading source for Bethesda news, as you can see in these photos.

As far as the critics, the sniping is understandable. The future of autonomous vehicles scares the hell out of control freaks and big government types who aspire to ban private auto ownership, and force you to rely on super-reliable public systems like...Metro. Yeah, OK.

Those folks are monitoring the development of autonomous technology, and their plan goes something like this: attack the technology when deployed in private vehicles like Tesla, but hedge their bets, and be prepared to embrace it if it can be restricted to public fleets. The latter is the pipe dream for those whose hats are made of tinfoil.

Ultimately, autonomous vehicles will make public buses and rail obsolete either way. But automakers like Tesla - and expected competitors like Apple and Google - are likely to scale the costs to an affordable level before government can find the doorknob to get out of the smoke-filled back room. Highways won't be obsolete, as they've predicted, but more sophisticated than ever in carrying zero-emission autonomous vehicles.

For all the talk about the Tesla-truck crash, the investigation is far from complete, and there's been much speculation by the same folks who are quick to jump on Uber and Lyft, which terrify them as well. In fact, the media was quick to blame a Pennsylvania Model X collision this week on Autopilot, and then was forced to retract that charge, when it turned out their amateur analysis misdiagnosed the cause.

Talk of cracking down on the Autopilot feature is similar to those who believe government can legislate common sense into the minds of people without it. If you're over the age of 12 and don't know to check both directions before crossing the street, there's no government in the world that can help you.

I don't even own a Tesla, and I fully understand the Autopilot system, and the clear instructions Tesla gave drivers on using it in this Beta format (it says Beta right on the damn screen). It has limited functions, and is an assistive technology. The driver is required to be ready to retake control immediately at any moment.

If you don't follow the instructions, you can't blame the company. It may be entertaining and impressive to watch daredevils push the Autopilot feature (which is more capable than even Tesla likes to emphasize, for safety and liability reasons) to its limits on YouTube, but those folks are breaking the rules and are responsible if they get in a wreck.

The Model X delivers this cutting-edge technology in a format ideal for urban environments, while allowing you to make a Doc Brown entrance while toting the kids on errands.

Tesla Bethesda Lane pop-up now official (Photos)

Tesla Motors has now announced the Tesla Model S display on Bethesda Lane is an official "pop-up" Tesla store for the summer. The display, which includes information and an actual Model S, will have set hours daily.

Official listing of the
Bethesda Row pop-up
on Tesla Motors' website

It should be noted that this is small-scale compared to more elaborate Tesla pop-ups coming to resort cities this summer. Those are often like tents with more of a showroom-style display on the walls inside.

TESLA SUPERCHARGER STATION OPEN IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The revolutionary Tesla Supercharger station is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Already, Tesla owners are making use of the facility to recharge their vehicles while shopping and dining. When I stopped by yesterday, two Tesla Model S sedans were getting juiced up at the station, which is located in the garage outside of Nordstrom. 

This Supercharger station is less imposing than some of the outdoor facilities, such as the one pictured when I broke the story about it back in January. But while it doesn't have the massive canopy overhead (and, being within the garage, not needing it), the approximate number of vehicle spaces is the same. The location is fairly close to the Nordstrom entrance, rather than being banished to a far corner.

Remember, the charge is free for Tesla owners, another perk of this cutting-edge vehicle.

TESLA SUPERCHARGER STATION COMING TO BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has a Tesla Store, and now Tesla owners will have a new reason to visit - a supercharging station that will give them 200 miles of range from a 30 minute charging session. The mall's prime location - by 2 interstate highways - dovetails with Tesla Motors' plan to create a nationwide network of supercharging stations that will allow Tesla owners to drive America's interstate highway system free of charge. 

Remember the car-free future the media has been droning on about for the last few years? It's never coming. Tesla and other zero-emission vehicles are here now, and the autonomous car is on the way (actually, they're here now too, but not yet being marketed to the public). And people are going to travel in those cars on... highways. The demise of which has been greatly, greatly, greatly exaggerated.

Tesla's Supercharger station will have several stalls, where drivers will leave their vehicles while shopping or dining at the mall.

One interesting technological detail, is that you can charge 80% of your battery's power in 40 minutes, but a full charge takes 75 minutes. Why is the last 20% so much slower? Tesla likens it to reducing the flow of a water spigot to carefully top off a glass of water. The company says drivers can easily reach the next Supercharger station on the map on an 80% charge.

Supercharging stations can be located on Google Maps via the Tesla Model S dashboard screen.

Images courtesy of Tesla Motors

TESLA TO OPEN IN BETHESDA THIS FALL IN FORMER CRATE AND BARREL SPACE

EXCLUSIVE!

The Apple Store of car dealerships is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

Tesla will open a high-tech showroom in the former Crate and Barrel space there this fall.

Video: Tesla Showroom

Much like the Apple store, Tesla showrooms are designed to promote the brand and engage the public as much as they are to sell products.

But the Apple-Tesla connection is even more direct than that: the Tesla showrooms are designed by George Blankenship, the man behind the design and success of the Apple Store concept itself.

Like the Apple Store, Tesla showrooms feature an inviting, glass exterior.

Mall shoppers will ostensibly be lured in by the sleek Model S in the window. Inside, they can design their custom version of the $50,000+ all-electric sedan, which goes 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. The finished creation will be shown on an 85" screen.

But there will be no hard sell. Tesla has repeatedly said the showrooms are not designed to sell, but to excite customers about the brand, and electric vehicles in general.

Tesla was rumored to be opening such a showroom at Bethesda Row last year, as there is one at Federal Realty's sister property - Santana Row - in California.

There is a Tesla service center in Rockville. Several other Westfield malls have added Tesla as a tenant over the last year.

While the future of Tesla seems to be a constant source of debate, the combination of wealth and interest in "green" technology makes Bethesda an ideal market for any EV manufacturer.

TESLA MOTORS TO OPEN BETHESDA SERVICE CENTER

ELECTRIC CAR

FACILITY TO OPEN

IN

MARCH 2013

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

High-end electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors has announced it will open a vehicle service center in Bethesda in March 2013.

The actual location has not yet been announced.

The facility will not be a dealership, but Tesla is opening one in Tysons Corner.  That location will not have a service center, and likely will direct owners to our Bethesda facility.  Tesla's Washington, D.C. location has sales and service on one site.

Where will the Tesla facility go?

You might say, "not Bethesda Row!"  But don't rule it out.  Tesla has a location at California's Santana Row development.  Don't forget:  there's a very conspicuously out-of-place auto repair shop on Elm Street, near Taylor Gourmet and Newton's Table.  Hmm...  Hmm indeed!

There are limited options, as only an industrial site or previously auto-contaminated property like a gas station are eligible.

Other than the Westbard industrial zone, or one of the two shuttered gas stations downtown (excluding Eastham's) Tesla's only real options other than Elm Street would be Montgomery Mall (which is unlikely to use the valuable Ourisman Ford site for more auto uses - but you never know!) or to join with EuroMotorcars as Lotus did.  Think about it.

Stay tuned!