Model X Falcon Doors

[richkae]

The big difference between the 1977 Aero Vette and the Model X is that the Aero Vette doors actually DO NOT help you get in the car. The bottom edge of the door is not above your head when you are standing up. You still have to stoop over and chicken walk to get in the car.
The Model X falcon doors are above your head so you can "walk" into the car and not stoop over.

The Roadster is so much easier to get into without the top, because you can just fall into the seat. The Aero Vette doors are probably actually a lot worse than normal doors.

[doug]

Obligatory:


(Not referring to anything anyone has said in this thread.)

[JRP3]

The Falcon doors were Rawlinson's idea. (Rawlinson as in ex-chief body engineer). Totally impractical. The name comes from Elon whose Spacex company makes the Falcon rocket. This is just ego. What is wrong with using the gull wing convention? Tesla is all about ego rather than eco.

Most of your posts are all about your obviously damaged ego. Your agenda is rather transparent. Anyone heading a company to build revolutionary EV's needs to have a large ego.

[AnOutsider]

Obligatory:


(Not referring to anything anyone has said in this thread.)

If that were a falcon, that pic would be epicly appropriate.

[TEG]

Another pic with them partially open:
Tesla unveils Model X SUV, desires to be your all-electric crossover come 2013 | nexGadget


It is fun being able to stand upright on the sill while the doors are open.
If you had an infant in a child seat this arrangement could be very handy.
On the other hand, I have a tall torso, and I found the back area seating to be more cramped than I expected given the overall height of the vehicle.

[TEG]

Some random lift-door vehicles:




(Daimler has a long history of 'gull-wing' doors)

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Anyone upset about losing a panoramic roof thanks to the Falcon doors?!

And, unless I'm mistaken, there are merely (passive - if that's the right word) gas struts that anchor the top (roof) halves to the doors. I'll eat some tasty hat if proven wrong, but, regardless of what others might have heard at the event, I don't think the falcon doors can "stop" - they'll have to keep going all the way up once released. That's how I see the "passive" gas struts work for the rear doors on the Mini Clubman:


TEG's pic above of partially opened falcon doors was, I think, taken by some press chap while the doors were on their way to fully opening - I don't think they had actually stopped opening at that point.

[doug]

And, unless I'm mistaken, there are merely (passive - if that's the right word) gas struts that anchor the top (roof) halves to the doors. I'll eat some tasty hat if proven wrong, but, regardless of what others might have heard at the event, I don't think the falcon doors can "stop" - they'll have to keep going all the way up once released.

Given that the doors are able to close at the push of a button, they must have a motor that reels them back in. So it's not too much of a leap to have them stop at a fixed position (however one chooses to engineer that). The pneumatic struts help counter balance the weight of the door.

[Norbert]

And, unless I'm mistaken, there are merely (passive - if that's the right word) gas struts that anchor the top (roof) halves to the doors.

Not an expert.... if the doors were driven only by passive elements, how would they work automatically in both directions? I'd think the passive elements are there only to offset the weight of the doors, but the motorized function is some electric motor that can work in both directions... or stop.

I'd think the Falcon doors are especially good for the purposes of a family car.

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Yeah, I guess you are right, Doug, Norbert. Now about that hat...