Tesla Model X

[MrH]

0.24Cd is RIDICULOUSLY low, though.

Recommending that people go skiing with this car is irresponsible. It has no ground clearance! (And how *could* it have ground clearance, if the drag is so low?)

It's on an air suspension.  It lowers on the highway to reduce drag, and you can tell it to lift up if you need to.

[BimmerM3]

Those doors aren't a new idea.

The reason why they're not implemented is cause they're stupid.

Except that these actually work. From WIRED: http://www.wired.com/2015/09/tesla-model-x-suv-reveal-specs-price/?mbid=nl_93015

Tesla calls them "falcon" doors, because they lift like the wings of a bird. And because it sounds cool.

The big drawback of doors that open like wings—the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS has them, as did the DeLorean—is they require a lot of room to open, so you're always worried about hitting something. Tesla got around this by double-hinging the doors, and fitting each with an ultrasonic sensor and putting a third on the roof. They scan the area around the vehicle to determine how much space there is, then adjust the "span" and open accordingly.

It sounds complicated as hell, and it is, but it works beautifully. Tesla engineers say the doors can open with as little as 12 inches on each side of the vehicle—then proved it by having us park between two cars. The mirrors on the X were mere inches from those of the car on either side, yet the doors opened flawlessly. Capacitive sensors in the edges of each door sense obstacles within 2 to 4 inches, so you don't have to worry about a descending door whacking your head or crushing your fingers.

All of this may sound like a frivolous extravagance, and in some ways it is—and you know part of the reason Musk wanted these doors was to prove he could make them—but it's remarkably clever, even practical.

Yes, practical. The doors make it easy to get in and out of the vehicle. No gymnastic contortions to get into the (standard) third row seating. No more cantilevering yourself to get your kids into their child seats. No more playing Tetris trying to get your stuff in. Just throw open those doors—actually, push a button and let the doors lift automatically, in 6 to 7 seconds—throw in your groceries and bags and whatnot, and climb in after it.

Is is unnecessary and complex? Sure, but if I'm going to spend $130,000 on a car, it ought to have some pretty neat features, and that is one.

[giant_mtb]

0.24Cd is RIDICULOUSLY low, though.

Recommending that people go skiing with this car is irresponsible. It has no ground clearance! (And how *could* it have ground clearance, if the drag is so low?)

I like how the heading above that picture is "Everything Fits."

No, clearly it does not. A luggage rack on the back does not count as "everything fits."

[2o6]

Except that these actually work. From WIRED: http://www.wired.com/2015/09/tesla-model-x-suv-reveal-specs-price/?mbid=nl_93015

Is is unnecessary and complex? Sure, but if I'm going to spend $130,000 on a car, it ought to have some pretty neat features, and that is one.

What if there's


Snow on the roof?

If the car is iced over?

If it's raining?



They're stupid

[giant_mtb]

What if there's


Snow on the roof?

If the car is iced over?

If it's raining?



They're stupid

Not brushing the snow off your roof is a dick move.  It's dangerous when you don't do it and then big chunks fly at the cars behind you on the highway. Almost as dumb as the people who dont think to brush off their headlights/tail lights.

[ifcar]

Except that these actually work. From WIRED: http://www.wired.com/2015/09/tesla-model-x-suv-reveal-specs-price/?mbid=nl_93015

Is is unnecessary and complex? Sure, but if I'm going to spend $130,000 on a car, it ought to have some pretty neat features, and that is one.

That article has the best explanation of their value I've seen, as opposed to just "THIS CAR MUST BE COOL."

[Cookie Monster]

What if there's


Snow on the roof?

If the car is iced over?

If it's raining?



They're stupid

How does the ice affect the type of door?

And if it's raining, it looks like with the way these open it would actually prevent too much rain from falling into the car.

[AutobahnSHO]

Not brushing the snow off your roof is a dick move.  It's dangerous when you don't do it and then big chunks fly at the cars behind you on the highway. Almost as dumb as the people who dont think to brush off their headlights/tail lights.

+1

My dad hit someone in the trunk. They got a ticket, they had 4inches of snow on everything but the windshield. He couldn't see the brakelights AT ALL, even at night.

[ifcar]

How does the ice affect the type of door?

And if it's raining, it looks like with the way these open it would actually prevent too much rain from falling into the car.

Yep, rain gets into cars anyway. The only way this would be different is that it can't close as quickly, but minivans with power sliders already have the same issue.

[giant_mtb]

+1

My dad hit someone in the trunk. They got a ticket, they had 4inches of snow on everything but the windshield. He couldn't see the brakelights AT ALL, even at night.

Just lazy people thinking "well, I can see forward kinda, so fuckit, I'm good."

[GoCougs]

That article has the best explanation of their value I've seen, as opposed to just "THIS CAR MUST BE COOL."

= "Sorta interesting, not any more practical, and vastly more complicated (prone to problems with age) than regular doors."

[giant_mtb]

All in all, my insinctual response to this vehicle is:

Oh look, another car Tesla will lose (taxpayer) money on that nobody can actually afford anyways.

[2o6]

How does the ice affect the type of door?

And if it's raining, it looks like with the way these open it would actually prevent too much rain from falling into the car.

Have you ever had a door ice over? At least with a traditional door or even a sliding door you can get leverage to manually force it open. This design, you cannot. Same with snow.


It's not really that practical and it's more of a novelty, more than anything

Not brushing the snow off your roof is a dick move.  It's dangerous when you don't do it and then big chunks fly at the cars behind you on the highway. Almost as dumb as the people who dont think to brush off their headlights/tail lights.

Not talking about driving. Talking about getting in the car.

[Soup DeVille]

0.24Cd is RIDICULOUSLY low, though.

Recommending that people go skiing with this car is irresponsible. It has no ground clearance! (And how *could* it have ground clearance, if the drag is so low?)

I have found that the roads to most ski places are actually plowed quite well.

[68_427]

Yeah the doors are dumb for winter climates... until it's proven they aren't.

[Soup DeVille]

Had huge problems with the powered minivan doors on the Chrysler icing up and getting stuck. Wiping the rubber seals with tire shine stuff helped.

[68_427]

What about these doors just leaving huge broken ice chunks on the roof? 

[Cookie Monster]

Have you ever had a door ice over? At least with a traditional door or even a sliding door you can get leverage to manually force it open. This design, you cannot. Same with snow.


It's not really that practical and it's more of a novelty, more than anything




Not talking about driving. Talking about getting in the car.

How is this harder to open than a sliding door iced over?

As for the snow, wouldn't you have to take the snow off the roof before getting in and driving anyways? I guess you have a point if you wanted to put someone or something in the back seats first and then shovel the snow.

[GoCougs]

All in all, my insinctual response to this vehicle is:

Oh look, another car Tesla will lose (taxpayer) money on that nobody can actually afford anyways.

Most are leased (most can't afford), and even then there are (or were) some goofy lease deals, such as banks bogarting the tax/green credits and rolling it into the lease.

[Soup DeVille]

How is this harder to open than a sliding door iced over?

As for the snow, wouldn't you have to take the snow off the roof before getting in and driving anyways? I guess you have a point if you wanted to put someone or something in the back seats first and then shovel the snow.

Well, what I do is this. I open the driver''s door first to start the car and get the insides warmed up: hit the defrost and whatever needs to defrost and turn on whatever electric seat/hand warmers the car has. Then, I clear the car of snow while its warming up.  Plus: where do you keep the snow brush and scraper? At home, there's always a few in the garage. leaving work, I probably have it in the back seat floorboards.

So we're back to having to have something to clear the car before getting in.

For 99% of these Tesla buyers, its likely not going to be an issue- as most don't live in the deep cold areas, and most aren't using these as an only car.

[giant_mtb]

Well, what I do is this. I open the driver''s door first to start the car and get the insides warmed up: hit the defrost and whatever needs to defrost and turn on whatever electric seat/hand warmers the car has. Then, I clear the car of snow while its warming up.  Plus: where do you keep the snow brush and scraper? At home, there's always a few in the garage. leaving work, I probably have it in the back seat floorboards.

So we're back to having to have something to clear the car before getting in.

For 99% of these Tesla buyers, its likely not going to be an issue- as most don't live in the deep cold areas, and most aren't using these as an only car.

Plus electric cars suck in the (real) winter because batteries are bad at cold.

[Morris Minor]

Plus electric cars suck in the (real) winter because batteries are bad at cold.

Yeah you're not going to use a Tesla in cold weather - especially if it has not been preconditioned in a warm garage on household current.

[12,000 RPM]

Looks frumpy and the doors are for an SUV (i.e., carrying stuff on top).

I didn't even consider that. Well, maybe the rear passengers can exit the hatch.

[SJ_GTI]

Model X is definitely not my cup of tea, but it is funny to see people nitpicking things. No car is perfect for everyone...this car will likely have more demand then supply, so they must be doing something right.

Personally I am looking forward to seeing the Model 3. I am hoping it is a smaller/cheaper version of the Model S. Could definitely see me buying one if it is priced at or less than ~55k(ish).

[2o6]

How is this harder to open than a sliding door iced over?

As for the snow, wouldn't you have to take the snow off the roof before getting in and driving anyways? I guess you have a point if you wanted to put someone or something in the back seats first and then shovel the snow.

You cant get real leverage to push these falcon doors up. With an iced over door (which happens pretty much every week here in the winter of OH) you can pull on the handle/door and use strength to get the door open.




With this design, you can't do that.



But it's a moot point, these owners won't store their cars outside.

[ifcar]

Plus electric cars suck in the (real) winter because batteries are bad at cold.

That's more of an issue for a car with a normal-weather range of 90 miles than one with 250 miles. Still fine for a normal commute in the winter.

[thewizard16]

Meh. I think a lot of these points being made are silly since this isn't a vehicle aimed at practicality to begin with. It's another very expensive niche market luxury car that exists solely to market the technology and "cool" factor, not actually being useful for a normal person. I think this thing is pretty unattractive from the front in white (looks OK in black), but otherwise I'm not going to complain about an electric SUVan that does 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and has needlessly complicated falcon wing doors that can sense things near them.

Musk is a character, but I like Tesla. Not because of a specific car, but that they took a very bold approach to making electric vehicles "cool", sporty... and unattainable to most people (and therefore even more desirable) which may eventually help spread their adoption long-term. Not Tesla, specifically, but the idea that an electric car can be high end, very fast, and fun to drive is a lot better at making people want them than a more conventional "it's cleaner and cheap to run" approach attempted in the past.

[BimmerM3]

Meh. I think a lot of these points being made are silly since this isn't a vehicle aimed at practicality to begin with. It's another very expensive niche market luxury car that exists sololy to market the technology and "cool" factor, not actually being useful for a normal person. I think this thing is pretty unattractive from the front in white (looks OK in black), but otherwise I'm not going to complain about an electric SUVan that does 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and has needlessly complicated falcon wing doors that can sense things near them.

Musk is a character, but I like Tesla. Not because of a specific car, but that they took a very bold approach to making electric vehicles "cool", sporty... and unattainable to most people (and therefore even more desirable) which may eventually help spread their adoption long-term. Not Tesla, specifically, but the idea that an electric car can be high end, very fast, and fun to drive is a lot better at making people want them than a more conventional "it's cleaner and cheap to run" approach attempted in the past.

+1. Well said.

[GoCougs]

IMO Tesla's value is convincing government to fund a boondoggle + preying on the pseudo eco nature of electric cars + Apple effect.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah you're not going to use a Tesla in cold weather - especially if it has not been preconditioned in a warm garage on household current.

Yeah, then goes and sits in the cold at work for 8 hours and the range goes down to 4 and you can't get home.