I perceived Tesla as a practical functional and efficient company. That falcon or Gullwing door is the most impracticable equipment on any model Tesla as far as I am concerned. I recently saw a futuristic picture of the Model Y with the rear van sliding doors. Maybe they don't have the cool factor to most but it looked good in the photos and seems more practical for those that use the roof racks. I personally would rather see those or a regular door over the falcon doors. PS I really wanted that Model X when I first saw it and the next photo ruined that for me with the unnecessary falcon doors in the next picture. Hoping for a better decision on the door situation in the future.
Concorde - 7 years ago
The falcon wing doors offer only minor utility with the expense of additional weight and mechanical reliability. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should.
Kevin Dunbar - 7 years ago
I voted with falcon wing doors then I'm reading the comments and I see the problems with roll overs and roof racks. As far as access, could the falcon wings provide access to both front and rear seats? A 2 door as it were?
Jim - 8 years ago
Just not a SUV if you can't put a kayak on the roof.
Priusmaniac - 8 years ago
Classic doors are old but actually very good.
Not only do they allow roof racks but they still open if your car lands on its roof after an accident.
In more they are indeed simple efficiently self balanced and extremely reliable.
So that's not where I would look for innovation, but rather electromagnetic suspensions for exemple.
norwegian#2 - 8 years ago
Putting falcon wings on Model Y would be a BIG mistake for the northern european market. We love our roof rack / box options on cars.
Forget the extra row of seats, just make a spacious trunk and normal doors = an Awesome, versatile, vehicle!
Sandy - 8 years ago
I find the Xs falcon wing doors awesome. BUT they have created so much delays, complaints, recalls, and other TECH issues, they must be let go for a smaller cheaper eSUV, for these and other reasons. Roof racks, after-crash-openability, side impact...
I don't expect them in any other full-size Tesla vehicle.
As a matter of fact, I would like to see a Model X WITHOUT them, in the (near?) future...
Joe - 8 years ago
Falcon wings are the reason that the second row seats don't fold down. There is no place to attach the seatbelt but to the seat itself and a fold down seat would not be strong enough to meet the 5 star safety rating. So not only is there reduced utility for roof racks but a great deal of reduced utility for internal storage. This is not worth the trade off for for convenient placement of baby seats etc.
Bill H - 8 years ago
I love the falcon wings on my Model X, and I would either keep them or make one change for the Model Y. Imagine if you had conventional doors for the second row, but supplemented them with the roof openings of the FWDs. You could with a button push roll down the side window and open half of the roof (the same part of the roof the FWD opens). You get the benefit of easy reach in without having to worry about the roof, but without all of the overhead sweeping angst of the FWDs. From an engineering sense, just opening a small roof opening with no special hinges will be much easier to engineer. You would also recover the option of leaving the roof shut and using a roof rack. You get ninety percent of the FWD access for twenty percent of the cost, and you gain the roof option. I think this stub wing option would be unconventional and flexible and utilitarian.
Dale - 8 years ago
The vehicle manufacturing industry is stuck in a very stale design slump. Vehicles still feature knobs and switches to operate most interior functions. Its been this way since the automobile was invented. Its about time we see a company like Tesla pushing the limits of design and leading the way in innovation. I feel they are making a statement with these doors and other design features. A statement like "hey were aren't like everyone else and we don't need to be." They are able to add features to their vehicle with the push of a button (software updates). Tesla is the future and leader of innovation. They continue to prove that, day in and day out.
an average Norwegian - 8 years ago
For all of us skiers or snowboarders or surfers or kayakers, or kiters etc, the falcon wings are effectively, and sadly, disqualifying the Model X from even coming to a short list of vehicles.
No possibility to have a roof rack for carrying SPORTS equipment on a SPORT utility vehicle is a major design fault IMHO.
"Bus type" ski racks on the hitch is not a substitute for a roof ski box I'm afraid - we stopped doing that on cars in the fifties or something.
I am expecting no front doors, just one falcon wing on each side, plus a hatch in the back. This eliminates the b pillar and makes for an incredibly versatile vehicle- perhaps a good place to picnic out of the sun?
I perceived Tesla as a practical functional and efficient company. That falcon or Gullwing door is the most impracticable equipment on any model Tesla as far as I am concerned. I recently saw a futuristic picture of the Model Y with the rear van sliding doors. Maybe they don't have the cool factor to most but it looked good in the photos and seems more practical for those that use the roof racks. I personally would rather see those or a regular door over the falcon doors. PS I really wanted that Model X when I first saw it and the next photo ruined that for me with the unnecessary falcon doors in the next picture. Hoping for a better decision on the door situation in the future.
The falcon wing doors offer only minor utility with the expense of additional weight and mechanical reliability. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should.
I voted with falcon wing doors then I'm reading the comments and I see the problems with roll overs and roof racks. As far as access, could the falcon wings provide access to both front and rear seats? A 2 door as it were?
Just not a SUV if you can't put a kayak on the roof.
Classic doors are old but actually very good.
Not only do they allow roof racks but they still open if your car lands on its roof after an accident.
In more they are indeed simple efficiently self balanced and extremely reliable.
So that's not where I would look for innovation, but rather electromagnetic suspensions for exemple.
Putting falcon wings on Model Y would be a BIG mistake for the northern european market. We love our roof rack / box options on cars.
Forget the extra row of seats, just make a spacious trunk and normal doors = an Awesome, versatile, vehicle!
I find the Xs falcon wing doors awesome. BUT they have created so much delays, complaints, recalls, and other TECH issues, they must be let go for a smaller cheaper eSUV, for these and other reasons. Roof racks, after-crash-openability, side impact...
I don't expect them in any other full-size Tesla vehicle.
As a matter of fact, I would like to see a Model X WITHOUT them, in the (near?) future...
Falcon wings are the reason that the second row seats don't fold down. There is no place to attach the seatbelt but to the seat itself and a fold down seat would not be strong enough to meet the 5 star safety rating. So not only is there reduced utility for roof racks but a great deal of reduced utility for internal storage. This is not worth the trade off for for convenient placement of baby seats etc.
I love the falcon wings on my Model X, and I would either keep them or make one change for the Model Y. Imagine if you had conventional doors for the second row, but supplemented them with the roof openings of the FWDs. You could with a button push roll down the side window and open half of the roof (the same part of the roof the FWD opens). You get the benefit of easy reach in without having to worry about the roof, but without all of the overhead sweeping angst of the FWDs. From an engineering sense, just opening a small roof opening with no special hinges will be much easier to engineer. You would also recover the option of leaving the roof shut and using a roof rack. You get ninety percent of the FWD access for twenty percent of the cost, and you gain the roof option. I think this stub wing option would be unconventional and flexible and utilitarian.
The vehicle manufacturing industry is stuck in a very stale design slump. Vehicles still feature knobs and switches to operate most interior functions. Its been this way since the automobile was invented. Its about time we see a company like Tesla pushing the limits of design and leading the way in innovation. I feel they are making a statement with these doors and other design features. A statement like "hey were aren't like everyone else and we don't need to be." They are able to add features to their vehicle with the push of a button (software updates). Tesla is the future and leader of innovation. They continue to prove that, day in and day out.
For all of us skiers or snowboarders or surfers or kayakers, or kiters etc, the falcon wings are effectively, and sadly, disqualifying the Model X from even coming to a short list of vehicles.
No possibility to have a roof rack for carrying SPORTS equipment on a SPORT utility vehicle is a major design fault IMHO.
"Bus type" ski racks on the hitch is not a substitute for a roof ski box I'm afraid - we stopped doing that on cars in the fifties or something.
I am expecting no front doors, just one falcon wing on each side, plus a hatch in the back. This eliminates the b pillar and makes for an incredibly versatile vehicle- perhaps a good place to picnic out of the sun?