Speculation Sliding door gravity?

[xponents]

I was browsing the forum when I found a thread about gravity. Another user found a video with a frame of gravity's plannings in them:

Direct your attention to the black background picture at the top. To the right, it shows a three row configuration with one front door open... and what looks to be a sliding door to the rear.

God, please no. This will RUIN the gravity's reputation. Sliding doors are very nice functionally, but they are associated with minivans which the gravity should not be known for. This may lessen sales.
I just hope this prototype was just that, and does NOT make it to production. In other threads though, we have found evidence of sliding doors on the alpha... this isnt boding well.

 

[suchluke]

What's wrong with sliding doors? I find them very practical. Especially in tight parking spaces.

 

[lucidtouringman]

If it has sliding doors, my wife and I are gonna want it even more.. and I'm sure Lucid will have slick execution as usual too... not a concern at all for us and quite pleasantly surprised actually.. we're waiting to see the launch!

 

[suchluke]

Imagine you will get the best of both worlds: space and functionality of a minivan and looks and "cool" factor of an SUV. Also I am sure the ride will feel more natural to your normal SUV with ride adjusted height suspension (speculation) and low center of gravity. If they can somehow keep the price under $80K for tax credits, I think it will sell very well.

 

[xponents]

Imagine you will get the best of both worlds: space and functionality of a minivan and looks and "cool" factor of an SUV. Also I am sure the ride will feel more natural to your normal SUV with ride adjusted height suspension (speculation) and low center of gravity. If they can somehow keep the price under $80K for tax credits, I think it will sell very well.

I love sliding doors. Most misunderstood automotive feature ever, they function great, and automatic!

The issue is, will the general public like it? Most people who buy minivans don't want to spend 80k, and when you cross that you get to the SUV crowd. There is a negative stigma around sliding doors due to them being associated with minivans, which I suspect will be bad for sales.

 

[suchluke]

I love sliding doors. Most misunderstood automotive feature ever, they function great, and automatic!

The issue is, will the general public like it? Most people who buy minivans don't want to spend 80k, and when you cross that you get to the SUV crowd. There is a negative stigma around sliding doors due to them being associated with minivans, which I suspect will be bad for sales.

Instead of sliding doors just market them as pop-up doors and problem solved. Me personally, I would 100% select sliding door over the bird doors other company is selling.

 

[BACamster]

Perhaps sliding door is an option.

 

[manitou202]

I'm okay with sliding doors. Much more practical than the Falcon doors on our previous Model X. Sure they are associated with minivans, but the cross-overs today a really a mix of a wagon, SUV, and minivan. Why not mix the best features of all three. Higher ride height and ground clearance of an SUV, handling and driving characteristics of a sports wagon, and practicality of a minivan.

 

[xponents]

Perhaps sliding door is an option.

I also thought this, as to the left of the sliding door open one there is one with none. However, those doors are closed so it is up for debate.

 

[BACamster]

I also thought this, as to the left of the sliding door open one there is one with none. However, those doors are closed so it is up for debate.

What if sliding door is an option on a 7-seat configuration.

 

[xponents]

What if sliding door is an option on a 7-seat configuration.

I agree. In addition, the executive should have sliding doors as well.

Also, this is NOT a gravity.. first glimpse of midsize suv? Interesting how it has 7 seats as well.

 

[alamai]

Instead of sliding doors just market them as pop-up doors and problem solved. Me personally, I would 100% select sliding door over the bird doors other company is selling.

Or "POP-OUT" doors; very intrigued by the possibility of sliding doors on the Gravity.
I am more interested in a Sexy Profile, Sleek Front, and Voluminous and Aggressive Back. Whether the rear doors open forwards, backwards, upwards, or slide, is less important to me.

 

[alamai]

I was browsing the forum when I found a thread about gravity. Another user found a video with a frame of gravity's plannings in them:

View attachment 16062

Direct your attention to the black background picture at the top. To the right, it shows a three row configuration with one front door open... and what looks to be a sliding door to the rear.

God, please no. This will RUIN the gravity's reputation. Sliding doors are very nice functionally, but they are associated with minivans which the gravity should not be known for. This may lessen sales.
I just hope this prototype was just that, and does NOT make it to production. In other threads though, we have found evidence of sliding doors on the alpha... this isnt boding well.

Where can we find the original video?

 

[xponents]

Where can we find the original video?

I will find the timestamp, this was obtained from another member.

EDIT: Its around 2:33, there are many more prototype drawings in this video

 

[SaaSManKS]

I understand everyone's POV above, however people like my wife; absolutely HATE minivans and she 1000% calls it a minivan after I asked her thoughts and said she would not drive it. Regardless of your preference, this feature is a limiting one. the point about the falcon doors, I do not think is the same as this, because those are something completely different, that was actually pulled from the MB Gullwing doors, which you could argue is a premium feature. sliding doors have always been minivans.

 

[xponents]

I understand everyone's POV above, however people like my wife; absolutely HATE minivans and she 1000% calls it a minivan after I asked her thoughts and said she would not drive it. Regardless of your preference, this feature is a limiting one. the point about the falcon doors, I do not think is the same as this, because those are something completely different, that was actually pulled from the MB Gullwing doors, which you could argue is a premium feature. sliding doors have always been minivans.

This was my thought. Sliding doors are better, but the negative stigma is hard to overcome. The tesla doors were successful because they were rare, new, and cool(not saying we should do those falcon wing doors)
Also, is it just me or do I find opening minivan doors extremely cheap(in terms of experience and feel)? There is always a delay before it opens and it feels like the handle is "soggy"

 

[hmp10]

I used to join in the levity aimed at sliding minivan doors from "real car enthusiasts". Then we bought our first Honda Odyssey. They are the most practical rear doors I've ever used. With the 2018 Odyssey (which we now own) finally managing to hide the rail track, they are not even discernible as sliding doors until they open.

With the Gravity being no compact vehicle and more parking spaces now being filled by gargantuan SUVs and pickup trucks the size of dump trucks, they are an eminently convenient way to get in and out of a back seat in today's parking lots. This is even more the case when one considers how long swing-out rear doors have to be to enable third-row ingress/egress on SUVs. We have had more than rear passenger wonder why sliders are so ridiculed after using them.

As no one has spotted sliding doors in the camouflaged Gravity test vehicle photos, I suspect that -- if the Gravity has sliders -- they are not noticeable as such.

I would seriously welcome sliding doors in the Gravity.

 

[hmp10]

I understand everyone's POV above, however people like my wife; absolutely HATE minivans and she 1000% calls it a minivan after I asked her thoughts and said she would not drive it. Regardless of your preference, this feature is a limiting one. the point about the falcon doors, I do not think is the same as this, because those are something completely different, that was actually pulled from the MB Gullwing doors, which you could argue is a premium feature. sliding doors have always been minivans.

Having once owned a Mercedes-McLaren SLR, I can assure you that the gull-wing doors might have seemed premium, but they were a real aggravation to live with. The sliding doors on the two Honda Odyssey's we've owned were orders of magnitude more practical.

 

[dingo]

I spent time with a Model X while evaluating it as a potential new vehicle for me, and boy I hated those falcon doors. It was in not one case a better option than a normal or sliding door.

Getting stuff out of the back seat, youre sitting there waiting for it to do its thing, and in my garage, it's a bit tight so it doesn't open far enough to be comfortable for entry and exit, even for my 7 year old...

All of that to say, I would welcome a sliding door on a non-minivan!

 

[xponents]

Having once owned a Mercedes-McLaren SLR, I can assure you that the gull-wing doors might have seemed premium, but they were a real aggravation to live with. The sliding doors on the two Honda Odyssey's we've owned were orders of magnitude more practical.

IMO, Koenigsegg did their doors the best: dihederals are functional, dont take up as much space, leave more space to get in, and look cool.