Thursday 1st September 2011

Russian Car Maker Reinvents The Door

Could Yo-Auto concept car herald the next big thing in supercar doors?

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What next for the supercar door? Lamborghini's scissor-door thing has been done to death, McLaren and Mercedes have the Gullwing nailed, and the Koenigsegg Agera's mechanism, while undoubtedly cool, precludes the car's owner from parking within three feet of a kerb.

Well, Russian company Yo-Auto (yes, it really is called that) might have the answer. The fledgling car maker, which is about to launch a trio of hybrid vehicles, has a rather intriguing concept set for the Frankfurt motor show.

It's called the Yo-Concept, and what appears to be most Yo-unusual (sorry) about the car is its door mechanism. These don't open outward or even upward. Instead they slide back and up into the rear of the car.

They must be an engineering and manufacturing nightmare, but it's a novel idea, and might even make a super-wide supercar garageable...

 

[The Danimal]

I'd like to see steel roller-shutter doors on the next generation of supercars... stylish, practical and secure.

[GTRene]

wow, never seen such type before
have seen them sunk in the side panel like Z1 and seen some slide under the car, but this is also very special when the mechanism is strong.

[Cotty]

Must make it interesting getting things out of the boot with the doors open.

[Schermerhorn]

I had that idea when I was 12 years old. Even then I thought it was daft.

[Gadgeroonie]

i would like to see you get out in an accident

i feel a side impact may wedge the door shut

[Japcarnut]

Have they thought this through properly or is it just a marketing/promotion exercise? I can see issues here, such as...

- getting out in a garage
- decapitating pedestrians
- opening doors when in a car park with car/wall etc behind you
- etc.

[zcacogp]

Cotty said:

Must make it interesting getting things out of the boot with the doors open.

Not to mention the rear 3/4 view, and the fact that there must be some big gaps at the back of the car with exposed mechanism. Dread to think what happens when that mechanism gets wet and dirty and jams ...

Nice idea. But it'll never see production.


Oli.

[TonyHetherington]

Japcarnut said:

Have they thought this through properly or is it just a marketing/promotion exercise? I can see issues here, such as...

- getting out in a garage
- decapitating pedestrians
- opening doors when in a car park with car/wall etc behind you
- etc.

Look at what the current, traditional door opening method is. To each of your points it's infact worse than the concept shown above.

[anonymous-user]

I like it, no more car park dinks..

[GTRene]

also a very nice idea what I like is this type on the Peugeot 607 Feline



you just move the roof/window part to the front, and have separate doors.



there are also some wich the hole top goes up and then you can get out, don't know the name anymore, there were several car types that have that, also some kit-kar types.

[cookie1600]

Cotty said:

Must make it interesting getting things out of the boot with the doors open.

Or indeed out of the vehicle when you've parked in the garage up against the rear wall. Of course you can always go in forwards and not close the garage door?

[Perd Hapley]

[GTRene]

not only the roof can go to the front, the doors go into to front wings too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfAUh6fxM8

[Baz Tench]

Ultimate recipe for rust traps I would have thought.....

[Guvernator]

IMO the best door design ever has to go to the BMW Z1. At the press of a button they simply disappear into the floor and you step out. No worries about tight spaces, car park dings, opening a door into someone etc. Elegant and simple. I really don't know why more cars haven't used that design.

[Boatbuoy]

I'm sure they have no warranty issues with that whatsoever, ahem!

In all seriousness, it's a pretty slick concept, and quite an eye catcher. But from a feasibility point of view I'd suggest it's not going to make it to the showroom.

[Mrlol]

I doubt it will catch on.

Anybody remember these ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtkoje4-eM

[Frimley111R]

Mrlol said:

I doubt it will catch on.

Anybody remember these ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtkoje4-eM

TBH that's a excellent way to open the doors.

[JohnoVR6]

TonyHetherington said:

Japcarnut said:

Have they thought this through properly or is it just a marketing/promotion exercise? I can see issues here, such as...

- getting out in a garage
- decapitating pedestrians
- opening doors when in a car park with car/wall etc behind you
- etc.

Look at what the current, traditional door opening method is. To each of your points it's infact worse than the concept shown above.

Might work for the first of the bullet points, but I'm struggling to work out how having a wall behind the car prevents you opening a door on the side? And then how said door can decapitate a pedestrian? Unless you drive a 4x4 and your target is the little 'un out of the Krankies?!

[Crow555]

Am I the only one who wants to drive it with the doors in the open position? It kinda looks like a ridiculous wing like that.