Tesla Model X
Edmond Kirsch's Tesla Model X P90D is a fully electric, high-performance SUV that serves as his primary vehicle in Barcelona, notable for its vanity plate "E-WAVE" and its advanced self-parking and autopilot capabilities. The car plays a crucial role in Langdon and Ambra's escape from Bilbao, as Winston remotely activates its self-park feature to drive them into the garage of Casa Milà, bypassing the media and police outside.
Identity and Background
The Tesla Model X P90D is a fully electric SUV that Kirsch kept at Sabadell Airport, a small jetport he used to avoid the crowds at Barcelona's El-Prat Airport. According to Ambra Vidal, Elon Musk allegedly hand-delivered the car to Kirsch as a gift. Kirsch once challenged his jet pilots to a one-mile drag race on the runway—Gulfstream vs. Tesla—but his pilots declined after doing the math. The car's vanity plate reads "E-WAVE," a reference to Kirsch's planned quantum computer, which he intended to name E-Wave, one step beyond Google and NASA's D-Wave. The license-plate frame bears the inscription "AND THE GEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH."
Key Actions and Role in the Plot
After Kirsch's assassination, Langdon and Ambra use the Tesla to escape from Bilbao. Winston, Kirsch's synthetic intelligence, remotely activates the car's self-park feature, driving it through the streets of Barcelona and into the garage of Casa Milà, where Kirsch lived. The car's autopilot system is also used during the drive, with Ambra engaging it to allow Langdon to watch a video about Casa Milà. The Tesla's silent electric engine and linear acceleration make every speed feel nearly identical, and Langdon finds himself driving well in excess of the speed limit without realizing it.
Narrative Significance
The Tesla Model X is a symbol of Kirsch's wealth, technological prowess, and showmanship. Its self-park feature, which Kirsch had hacked to enable a more complex route, is a demonstration of his ability to control technology. The car's "E-WAVE" plate and the "AND THE GEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH" frame reflect Kirsch's self-image as a visionary who believes that technology will ultimately triumph over tradition. The vehicle's role in the escape underscores the theme of technology as a tool for liberation and survival, as Winston uses it to outmaneuver the authorities and the media.
