Photo: Splido on Reddit
With the Tesla Model X drawing closer and closer to its launch, prototypes are now being spotted more often than expected and the most recent one brings the crossover's Falcon Wing rear doors into the spotlights.
The white prototype you see in the image above was recently seen testing in Newark, CA. We have to admit it's difficult to focus on anything else but the alignment of the rear doors. The gaps that can be seen here are large enough to draw anybody's attention.
We'll remind you the Model S has had a few issues in this department, with certain owners reporting larger panel gaps than expected. Given this, a few people on Reddit, where the images showed up, were concerned about the quality of the Model X finished product.
Such a failure on the part of the user can lead to latch failure, or at least door closing mechanism damage. It can also affect the overall structure of the vehicle when travelling at high speed and this is what Tesla seems to be doing here.
This means that, if you're among those over 24,000 people who have reserved a Model X, there's probably no reason to worry.
For one thing, the Falcon Wing doors at the rear of the Model X have been one of the major reasons that have caused Tesla to delay the introduction of their electric crossover. The Model X was supposed to arrive as a 2014 model year, but it became a 2015MY expectation and has now turned into a 2016 model year, with the vehicle set to be launched next month.
These doors, which open like gullwing doors, but then fold onto themselves, are here to boost practicality. And while they'll require less space to open, they also serve the marketing aura of the Model X.
Sure, Tesla seems on an extremely tight schedule, making such alignment tests with such little time until the vehicle's debut. But we doubt they'll afford to deliver anything less than perfect functionality.
We'll remind you the Model S has had a few issues in this department, with certain owners reporting larger panel gaps than expected. Given this, a few people on Reddit, where the images showed up, were concerned about the quality of the Model X finished product.
Tesla is, most likely, testing latch failure here
On certain occasions that require it, automakers from around the world decided to test what happens when somebody doesn't close the doors, hood or trunk lid properly.Such a failure on the part of the user can lead to latch failure, or at least door closing mechanism damage. It can also affect the overall structure of the vehicle when travelling at high speed and this is what Tesla seems to be doing here.
This means that, if you're among those over 24,000 people who have reserved a Model X, there's probably no reason to worry.
For one thing, the Falcon Wing doors at the rear of the Model X have been one of the major reasons that have caused Tesla to delay the introduction of their electric crossover. The Model X was supposed to arrive as a 2014 model year, but it became a 2015MY expectation and has now turned into a 2016 model year, with the vehicle set to be launched next month.
These doors, which open like gullwing doors, but then fold onto themselves, are here to boost practicality. And while they'll require less space to open, they also serve the marketing aura of the Model X.
Sure, Tesla seems on an extremely tight schedule, making such alignment tests with such little time until the vehicle's debut. But we doubt they'll afford to deliver anything less than perfect functionality.
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