Hatch or Notch?

[Skotty]

Saw what looked like someone at Jalopnik managed to grab a blurry pic of the trunk open. Looks like a regular trunk opening, but looks big enough to me now that I see it. Also looks like no rear window shelf, like most all trunk cars have, which I think is a good thing (though who knows, I can't see it well enough). I'll go ahead and give it a cautious thumbs up for now, even though I prefer hatchbacks like the S.

EDIT -- we are also still a ways from production. Hard to say still what exactly will be available come production time.

 

[Xpress]

http://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-tesla-model-3s-biggest-design-fail-1768467573

Bingo!

 

[ljbad4life]

Another frunk picture. Man I hate potato pictures. Doesn't anyone carry an SLR anymore??

View attachment 170038

I think people were told not to bring cameras.
I am happy they retained a good amount of room in the Frunk. I thought the aggressively sloping was going to reduce the Frunk to nothing haha

 

[MiamiNole]

It's a bag. Take a close look at the front motor arrangement.

http://i.giphy.com/3o7WTGIK1w0k3IJiIo.gif

Well, I figured that's what I was looking at originally, but I've heard plenty of Model S owners complain that the frunk of a dual-motor S is basically useless outside of carrying a few grocery bags. So let's say I'm pleasantly surprised to see that much frunk space in a 3xxD!

 

[Skotty]

http://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-tesla-model-3s-biggest-design-fail-1768467573

Bingo!

I see Jalopnik still trying to find ways to hate on Tesla. heh

 

[stopcrazypp]

I see Jalopnik still trying to find ways to hate on Tesla. heh

I don't agree. Jalopnik has been a lot more reasonable lately and a lot of the points made in that article is a quite valid for people here. I think I agree with them it was a bad design decision not to have a hatchback design or at least a design with such a small trunk opening.

 

[WarpedOne]

STOP THE PRESS - a sign of a liftgate?

I found an intriguing detail in 3D chassis shown on the big screen.
Now, what exactly are these two black cylinders?



They look as trunk damper struts to me, mounted up high to support open hatch on the both sides of roof frame right next to rear passenger heads. Such a hatch is to long to open high in some circumstances, so they added another hinge at the end of glass to open in sedan style.

My bet is the second reveal will show that model 3 has a lift back.

 

[BoldSharpe]

New I bet the rear hatch didn't work yet. They probably had a single piece of glass made for the prototype - therefore the rear hatch (not trunk) didn't open yet.

I wish that were true but take a look at this (admittedly terrible) screen grab of the frame of the car. There's a horizontal support beam that would have to be re-engineered to make the Model 3 into a true hatchback.

 

[stopcrazypp]

STOP THE PRESS - a sign of a liftgate?

I found an intriguing detail in 3D chassis shown on the big screen.
Now, what exactly are these two black cylinders?

They look as trunk damper struts to me, mounted up high to support open hatch on the both sides of roof frame right next to rear passenger heads. Such a hatch is to long to open high in some circumstances, so they added another hinge at the end of glass to open in sedan style.

My bet is the second reveal will show that model 3 has a lift back.

Not to be a buzz kill, but those are most likely side airbag inflator cylinders. They look practically the same as gas struts.

 

[igotzzoom]

I really hope you're right, WarpedOne. I was hoping and expecting the 3 would be a liftback. That was one near "must-have" features for me. I have a notchback currently, and while it's reasonably versatile for some things, a hatch/liftback would be MUCH more versatile overall. I'm hoping they'll show a second variant with a full liftback, or they're saving it for "later." I will be very disappointed if it's just a fastback notchback. Again, I remember EM saying at one point that the 3 would be "really useful." I'm hoping that's in reference to a huge rear opening...

 

[BoldSharpe]

They look as trunk damper struts to me, mounted up high to support open hatch on the both sides of roof frame right next to rear passenger heads. Such a hatch is to long to open high in some circumstances, so they added another hinge at the end of glass to open in sedan style.

My bet is the second reveal will show that model 3 has a lift back.

It looks like we were on the same page with the screen grabs from the presentation of the Model 3 body structure.

I hope you're right about the secondary hinge but, to me, the horizontal support beam seems to be an important structural design element and is attached to the rest of the body.

 

[n00bie]

+1 if you want the hatchback design of the Model S on the Model 3! FYI this is just a prototype so likely will see some changes to come until the actual production begins.

 

[igotzzoom]

+1 if you want the hatchback design of the Model S on the Model 3! FYI this is just a prototype so likely will see some changes to come until the actual production begins.

+1,000,000,000

 

[ankitmishra]

Tesla won't be offering a Model S at cost of Model 3. They have achieved that price point by doing things like going for trunk instead of hatch IMHO. People who want a hatchback should go for a Model S. If they are going to give all features of Model S in Model 3, sales of Model S will go down. Right now, if someone thinks to go for Model 3 instead of Model S ( assuming money isn't an issue), that person will be discouraged by the lack of hatch.

 

[jgs]

I've heard plenty of Model S owners complain that the frunk of a dual-motor S is basically useless outside of carrying a few grocery bags.

... which, by the way, isn't true, although I can see how if you're comparing it to the RWD frunk with microwave niche it's a step down. I was amazed how much stuff I jammed into the frunk on my last road trip.

 

[yesup]

My bet is the second reveal will show that model 3 has a lift back.

Not a chance. The pictures you posted clearly illustrated why.
They will not change the chassis and frame structure this late in the production launch.

FYI this is just a prototype so likely will see some changes to come until the actual production begins.

Some minor changes, but no major changes to the structure of the car - so there is no chance of a lift back.

 

[JeffreyR]

This is a post in the pinned Pictures section that has an animated GIF of the rear trunk opening:

Trunk opening

 

[Red Sage]

I find it disappointing that it is a Notchback. There seems to be fitted luggage in the Frunk. I will continue to await the arrival of a Coupe. Hopefully that will have both Falcon Wing Doors, and a Liftback. Oh, and a front end from Ferrari instead of Porsche.

 

[InTheShadows]

Trunkgate part deuce.

I'd rather see the hatch too but there is so much compelling about what I have seen it won't matter to me.

The Model X trunk space was an issue for me though.

 

[dctrombly]

I'm hoping there's a chance that they'll change the design. Add another beam and connect some of the rear glass to the trunk to make it a hatch.