Tesla Motors on Thursday unveiled a prototype of its third battery-powered vehicle, the Model X.

The crossover vehicle, described as a blending of SUV and minivan, features unique, so-called "falcon wing" rear doors. Model X will likely enter production in late 2013, with full production beginning the following year. The car will be priced in the $55,000 to $75,000 range, according to reports.

"The world desperately needs sustainable transport," Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk said during the car's unveiling at the company's Los Angeles design studio. "We want to show that electric cars are, in fact, better than gasoline."

The Model X has three rows of seats, enough for seven adults, with ample storage space. Elon stood up inside the car to show how much space is available due to its falcon wing door design.

The car also features a new dual-motor, all-wheel drive system, with a motor in the front and rear of the car. This allows power to quick shift to where there is the most traction, providing "incredible road holding and traction," Musk said. Additionally, the second motor boosts torque by 50 percent, allowing the car to reach 60 miles and hour in less than five seconds.

Tesla, based in Palo Alto, Calif., designs and manufacturers electronic vehicles, and electronic components for auto companies such as Toyota and Daimler. The company's first product, an electronic sports car called the Roadster, is now available in 31 countries, Musk said, though it will eventually be discontinued. Its second second vehicle, the Model S, which is the first all-electric sedan, is expected to arrive in showrooms by July 2012.

For more, see PCMag's History of the Car Stereo.