Model X Falcon Doors

[AnOutsider]

It appears that the Model X | Tesla Motors page was built using images (photoshopped in part) of the brown roller that we saw offstage at the event.

After our jokes about the floating X in Elon's garage (yes, let's take credit for this!), they've replaced it with a pic of the real prototype (more greenish gray in color) photoshopped (with landscaping and all) into the garage.

You can see the differences between the brown roller and the gray prototype - the wheels in particular for sure.

I hope they'd update all the images on the website with the real proto's pics. The brown roller wasn't as pretty and the pics on the website don't do justice to the X as unveiled...

Exactly. I forgot the name of the dark one (it was on the board), but the lighter one is titanium and is a far better color. I don't even know why they use the turd one on the site -- makes it look like one of the Mazda crossovers and hides much of the lines.

 

[Lyon]

It appears that the Model X | Tesla Motors page was built using images (photoshopped in part) of the brown roller that we saw offstage at the event.

After our jokes about the floating X in Elon's garage (yes, let's take credit for this!), they've replaced it with a pic of the real prototype (more greenish gray in color) photoshopped (with landscaping and all) into the garage.

You can see the differences between the brown roller and the gray prototype - the wheels in particular for sure.

I hope they'd update all the images on the website with the real proto's pics. The brown roller wasn't as pretty and the pics on the website don't do justice to the X as unveiled...

The other thing that I noticed about the new pic in the garage is that the lowest piece of trim looks a little like carbon fiber. Is that how it was on the prototype?

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

The other thing that I noticed about the new pic in the garage is that the lowest piece of trim looks a little like carbon fiber. Is that how it was on the prototype?

Hmm... Didn't notice it in the dark at the event but, now that you say it...

Going by the daytime photo of the rear in this article, it looks a bit plasticky though:

2013 Tesla Model X Electric Concept Car Officially Revealed

 

[Robert.Boston]

Exactly. I forgot the name of the dark one (it was on the board)

"Dark Bay" was the color name. Anyone else think it interesting that the Model X colors are similar to popular colors of horses?

 

[jcstp]

"Dark Bay" was the color name. Anyone else think it interesting that the Model X colors are similar to popular colors of horses?

will this be a hint towards the horse-trailer it can pull? :wink:

 

[Norbert]

will this be a hint towards the horse-trailer it can pull? :wink:

Maybe they've designed an aero-dynamic aluminium horse-trailer...

(With optional additional battery pack in the floor...)

 

[zack]

Whinny!!!

 

[frequencydip]

This is a interesting concept for a car door, to bad tesla cant do it with the battery there...
http://youtu.be/AAtkoje4-eM

 

[malcolm]

I'm late to the party . . . but anyway . . .

Model S is a beautiful vehicle which hides its innovation under the hood - quite literally in the case of the frunk. It's an excellent example of "no other manufacturer offers this".


With the Falcon doors, Tesla have produced an unecessarily polarising/contentious design statement. Other manufacturers could offer this, but very few choose to and the examples which do exist tend to be at the "no kids" end of the market.


I would much prefer Model X to feature a full set of conventional doors, but to offer a range of more radical interior configurations/options.


For example, the 2nd row seats could be rear-facing and/or could move closer together/further apart to help improve 3rd row access when needed. When it comes to packing the kids/shopping/luggage/sports equipment, there are lots of possible solutions; it doesn't have to be just about where you put the door hinges.


Come on Tesla: put the fun on the inside and get the owners involved. Continue from Model S, allowing greater customer choice/opportunity to play around with the interior rather than a designer-knows-best single fixed solution.


For one thing, this will provide more opportunities to sell accessories - third party Tesla-branded folding bicycles, anyone?

 

[doug]

Seems to me the polarizing design feature at the Model S debut was the rear facing child seats. Elon promised to keep them, and he kept that promise, though they became optional. Perhaps the Falcon Doors will be an option as well. (Though, at this point I'm still betting on dual function.)

 

[Norbert]

Whinny!!!

Horses probably enjoy the absence of a tailpipe when standing at a red light or stop sign...

 

[AnOutsider]

(Though, at this point I'm still betting on dual function.)

dual function?

 

[rabar10]

dual function?

doug's earlier post on how the doors could open up or also to the back suicide-style, similar to dual-mode truck tailgates

 

[domenick]

I think the dual-mode doors, while interesting, would be too expensive to implement at this point. The vehicle has to be pretty much "as is" to make the production schedule. While the doors were admittedly a bit of a shocker for many, Tesla has almost two years to help normalize the concept for potential buyers and sooth concerns about fitting in garages, snow falling inside in winter and all the other worries that have been voiced.

Just one thing, they better freakin' work well in practice.

 

[AnOutsider]

Yeah, I don't think Dual mode doors would be any better at this point. Let them perfect the dang falcon things and I'll just grin and bear 'em. They are growing on me though.

 

[WhiteKnight]

I like the Falcon Doors. I think they're one of the best features and Tesla has a patent on them so to some extent they can't be copied by other manufacturers.

I smell a poll coming on . . .

 

[NigelM]

I like the Falcon Doors.... I smell a poll coming on . . .

This one?

 

[dsm363]

Maybe we should do a poll about whether or not people want so many polls.:smile:

 

[NigelM]

Maybe we should do a poll about wether or not people want so many polls.:smile:

+++++1!!!

 

[dsm363]

Typos can sometimes teach you things. Didn't know 'wether' meant until I looked it up.

I think most people will like the falcon doors once they get used to them and see them. It may be a little odd but most people will be using the driver or regular passenger doors for most of their trips unless they're moving people around of course which is kind of the point of this car.