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World’s most amazing car finally hits Manhattan

Tesla’s new Model X has finally hit the streets of New York City — and it’s already driving itself around town.

Elon Musk’s electric-car maker came to the Big Apple this week to give sneak peaks at its new, futuristic SUV to hundreds of New Yorkers who ordered one — in some cases nearly four years ago.

The sleek seven-seater — whose “falcon-wing” doors drew gawkers at a Chelsea showroom Wednesday morning — wowed Tesla-philes by performing surprisingly sophisticated driving tasks on its own.

“The wait was totally worth it,” says 39-year-old Randy Faust, who plunked down $5,000 in November 2012 to secure his spot on the Model X list.

Taking The Post for a spin on the West Side Highway in Chelsea, Faust showed off the Model X’s “autopilot” features.

When traffic got clogged heading south, the Model X slowed down and even stopped and started by itself to avoid collisions with cars ahead of it.

Likewise, an automated lane-changing feature used sensors to check blind spots before turning the steering wheel.

“It makes the whole experience of driving much more pleasurable” — and stress-free, Faust told The Post, as the steering wheel gently turned itself back and forth to negotiate curves along the road.

The Model X’s sensors use streets’ painted traffic lines to make sure the car is properly in the lane, but drivers are still responsible for stopping and turning at traffic lights.

After making a quick U-turn, Faust then showed off the Model X’s stunning agility in “Ludicrous” mode, a $10,000 option that allows the car to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in as little as 3.2 seconds.

“I was only stepping on the pedal about a quarter of the way,” Faust said, after a brief, jolting burst of speed that pressed passengers deep into their seats.

Faust, a software developer for a New York securities-trading platform who lives in Manhattan, was among the first New Yorkers to receive his Model X about two weeks ago.

Especially useful is the Model X’s ability to park and un-park itself in garage spaces that are too tight for stepping into and out of the car, he says.

The Model X is making a slew of preview appearances nationwide, stopping next week in Boston.