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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadSkoda's Twindoor: An innovative all-in-one trunk and liftback
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Frick @ Mar 7th 2008 6:06PM
Hate to say this considering the work that was put into this, but THAT IS POINTLESS.
The strength of a hatchback is increased utility
The strength of having just a trunk is increased noise insulation and increased structural rigidity.
This thing certainly does not have the positives of a trunk only design, while complicating the overall design. Might as well go with hatchback only. This overcomplication is pointless.
f3rg @ Mar 7th 2008 6:09PM
Yeah, I'm having a hard time seeing the point, but I don't dislike it. I've always thought more cars should have hatches, even if they want to disquise them as trunks.
bc @ Mar 7th 2008 7:38PM
These were my thoughts exactly. I suppose there is some utility in being able to open just the trunk in garages which have low ceilings, but the biggest advantage I can see is psychological/sociological; if this increases the acceptance of liftbacks and thus makes more of them available where they currently aren't it would be a good thing, although it seems an overly expensive solution. I look at cars shaped like the Altima coupe or sedan and just ask, why does that have a tiny decklid instead of a liftback?
psarhjinian @ Mar 7th 2008 9:40PM
I agree. I can't see the point of this either: you get the lack of rigidity and road isolation of a hatch, combined with the impracticality of a sedan. If you want a hatchback, why not just buy one?
Finally, there's nothing "crossover" about this. It's a hatchback. I know Americans have pretty much forgotten what one is, and American marketing execs develop facial ticks when people use the word, but that's what this is.
Yago Bal @ Mar 8th 2008 8:13AM
You're missing the most important advantage of a trunk (nowadays, the rigidity is hardly a problem for a properly engineered car): it's comfort.
When you open or close a trunk, the passenger compartment is isolated from the exterior air and, specially, when you close the trunk you don't expose the passengers to the air shock-wave it generates. ...but if you have that sort of comfort (and it's important: just check what citröen did to achieve that without loosing it's "hatch design") you'll loose the hatch versatility.
So, it's quite clear what the advantage of this system is, and it's a big one.
DjLdog @ Mar 9th 2008 2:19PM
Imagine you being kidnapped and put in the trunk , then you surprise the hell of the guy by ,opening the hatch and hitting it on the head with the snow shovel.. LOL