Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA): How Will Model X’s ‘Falcon Wing’ Doors Be Different From ‘Gullwing’ Doors?

If you have been closely following developments about the Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model X or comments being made by the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, you’ll be aware that the company plans to use a “falcon wing” design for the upcoming elective sport utility vehicle.

According to Digital Trends, Musk just confirmed that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) will indeed be incorporating the “falcon wing” design to the Model X’s doors.

“It’s been two steps forward, one step back. Really, it was important to me that the doors were not just a gimmick, but a fundamental improvement to the functionality of the cars,” the publication quotes Musk as saying at the recent Detroit Auto Show.

However, some of you may be wondering how is a “falcon wing” door different from a “gullwing door” such as those features in the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing?

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s “falcon wing” doors do open upwards but they do not swing out to go to their fully open position. Instead, the doors will take up less space for their swing as they also tuck inward. It’s not completely different from a “gullwing door” – they don’t just slide up, for instance – but the trick is enough to save some space and merit a new name from Tesla.

Nonetheless, according to Digital Trends’ Andrew hard, the new mechanism that Musk wanted so badly to work for his Model X has caused some problems with sealing. The new doors do make exit better though, he notes.

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is set to start arriving at pre-ordering customers’ doors later this year. If you want one, expect to get behind a long line as the initial batch of 2015 cars have all been sold out.

Hal Mintz’s Sabby Capital owned 32,663 Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares by the end of September 2014.