Consider, for a moment, the spork. Here’s an object that combines two dissimilar implements– spoon and fork–into one unified piece that attempts to do the job of both. The spork makes for a pretty horrendous fork, and as a spoon you can cause some damage to your lips if you aren’t paying attention. Still, having such a device beats the alternative of only having one or the other. The compromises of these types of products don’t seem to stop people from attempting even more. One possibly Nobel Prize-winning genius actually came up with the “sporkife”, which add tiny teeth to the bottom of the spork to allow it to perform the tasks of a knife as well (until it breaks in half after about thirty seconds).
Automotive Sporks
The automotive world is full of sporks. A very good example is the idea of making a station wagon (or enclosed SUV) that can turn into a pickup truck. Likely the first example of this was the Brooks Stevens-designed Studebaker Lark Wagonaire of 1963. The rear window on the tailgate rolls down and the rear section of the roof slides forwards to create an infinite-headroom situation over the cargo area. The idea didn’t really catch on, to say the least, but it didn’t stop General Motors from pursuing the same idea forty years later with the 2004 GMC Envoy XUV. Buyers stayed away in droves the second time around as well.
I mean, there’s many a Saturday morning that SUV owners wish they had a pickup truck to haul God-knows-what. Conversely, F-150 drivers would likely want more enclosed space at times instead. Why didn’t these do-both-tasks vehicles sell? Well, it’s pretty obvious that the GMC and Studebaker were pretty poor substitutes for pickup trucks in their open form. With the side windows fixed in place it limits access, and when in “pickup” format it’s not like you could take either of these through a rainstorm or carwash (even with the roof closed in the case of the Lark since they reportedly leaked like a sieve). Regardless, I still think we could make one that would work.
Unholy Alliance?
My basis for our “convertible” SUV/pickup is an unlikely source: an alliance between Ford and Tesla. Are you done laughing? Good. I get it–the Ford family will never want to relinquish any control of their firm, and Elon likely doesn’t want to deal with union and pension issues. Mark my words, though, that stranger things have happened. Ford is struggling to keep up with Tesla’s EV sales, but Ford could have had production Cybertrucks in garages by now with tremendous manufacturing capabilities Tesla still has to build or acquire. I mean, did you ever think a Big Three firm would use Tesla’s Superchargers? No, yet here we are. I mean, Ford leader Jim Farley spent years at Lexus, and if you’re my age you’ll remember when people were adamant that an upgraded, rebranded and Mercedes-priced Toyota would NEVER sell (you might already know this but Lexus turned out to be a success). Argue it out; that’s not what I’m here for. All I’m trying to do is present an industry consolidation that would likely create some strange vehicles; this could certainly be just that.
The Triple Row Open Air Pickup
The first car Farley and Musk would present to the world: a Ford Lightning-based Tesla called the Model T, for “truck” or something else:
“We are proud to collaborate with one of the first automotive innovators to give you the Model T, so named because the innovation shown by that pioneering vehicle inspired us to create an all-new class of machine together. Like the Model T Ford, our Model T will be a multi purpose product that could almost be all things to all people.” – Fictional Alternative Universe Elon Musk
The Model T is such a different vehicle compared to the Cybertruck and basic Lightning that neither side will feel like they’re getting some redundant machine. There’s very subtle changes to the F-150 styling to “Teslaize” it and smooth it out, but what makes it special is the roof. What looks like a stylized roof cargo box combined with a ‘sport bar’ at the back and high intensity lights across the front is actually something much more. You can transform the whole vehicle with a touch of your phone.
First, the Model T is a pickup, and I mean a REAL pickup compared to the GMC and Studebaker attempts.
You can roll down the rear backlight for great ventilation:
Once the window is down you’re able to fold the “midgate” back to allow access to the passenger compartment. If you fold down the back seat (“second row”) you’ll get an ultra-long cargo area from the tailgate all the way up the back of the driver’s seat.
The back surface of the midgate also folds up to expose a third row seat that, as you can see, can be partially outside of the car to become a sort of “rumble seat” for nice weather.
Where’d My Pickup Go?
Ah, but today you don’t want a pickup truck. You’d like to have a two or three row SUV. Grab your phone and Tesla app and hit “SUV”; the app will alert you to fold the backrest down on the third row seat if it’s raised and clear out any objects above the level of the bed top, but other than that just sit back and watch.
First the roof slides back to the end of the tailgate; once it reaches that point, a window rises out of the tailgate to seal off the back.
Next, what Tesla refers to as “reverse falcon glass panels” pivot down from the headliner to fill the openings on the side of the now extended roof (again, why you need to have the seats folded flat to clear the windows). Congratulations, you now have an Expedition-sized SUV.
All of this seems to be rather complex mechanically, but take a look at the mechanism on any retractable hardtop offered today; those are easily as complex as this.
Certainly the cargo area in back when in closed form will not be nicely finished like in a standard SUV, but that’s a small concession. I do wonder if there could be a Dynamat-type of material put behind the bed liner to keep the interior more quiet when in SUV mode. Telsa could even offer carpet mats or what-have-you to make the interior in back seem more indoorsy. If that’s the only compromise, then this thing isn’t doing too badly.
Would the Tesla Model T truck be a Swiss Army knife, or would it be a vehicular spork? Worse yet, is it a spork with knife teeth on the side? You must decide for yourself.
Our Daydreaming Designer Imagines The Tesla Of Ride On Lawn Mowers – The Autopian
You are gonna need some serious safety interlocks. And still, people being human, some Instagramer will bypass some so he can flex his extension while rollin’. And, inevitably, the janky bypass will allow the motors to over-amp, heat up, and catch fire, and Mr Instagram will be a rapidly charring lump in the street—and finally famous.
Ok, that went a bit dark, but you know what I’m saying
Boy I really struggle with this truck/SUV conundrum. I’ve had both and the only advantage of a truck bed is those occasional times you need to carry something oversize – and even then the 4 door/short bed is limited compared to an old-school 8 foot bed. That and the bed being a “dirty” zone separated from the “clean” interior – which is eliminated in any convertible, mid-gate setup.
Otherwise a truck bed is a bit of a hassle. No security, no weather protection, stuff slides around. An SUV is more practical – more seating, more security, more weather protection. The MOST practical of course, would be a big old van. Even modern minivans – drop the seats and you can carry a 4×8 sheet of plywood. So the most PRACTICAL answer would be a high-roof 3-row van with seats that drop into the floor, AWD and a tow package.
But van’s don’t sell and trucks do. Why? They look cool! So what you really need is a vehicle with cool features and a cool aesthetic that can carry people and some stuff most of the time and big stuff just occasionally. What does that look like?
It would look like the modern equivalent of an early 4-Runner with a robust accessories package. Rear seats would fold flat. Third row would be a rear facing seat that drops into a “trunk” (like the trunk in the original Honda Ridgeline) or maybe a bolt-in jump seat. Tailgate/lifting glass at the back and a removable rear cap and some kind of rollbar (also removable?) – just like the early 4-runner. Lifting glass can be detached, and both the fixed cab roof and removable cap would have large glass roofs. A fabric cap would also be an option, as well as a snap-in waterproof liner for the storage area and a bed extender that will sit on the open tailgate.
Aesthetically – the goal would be SUV/Bronco/Jeep, not SUV/Truck. Convertible SUV/trucks don’t work because people don’t really want the functionality, they want the cool factor. Sliding/stowable panels are too expensive for how rarely they are needed for practical reasons. But, the open body bronco/jeep look is cool, and so it will get used more often. Also a removable cap/optional fabric cap is much easier to waterproof than sliding/stowable stuff. Also, also – aftermarket options – fabric midgate, tonneau covers – the great thing about jeeps is also the stuff you can buy for them! Stuff is cool! Customization is cool!
People carrier – rear cap on, rear facing seats deployed. Carrying something long? tailgate open and bed extender on, drop the 2nd row seats. Long and bulky? pop out the lifting glass. Tall? open the sunroof. Refrigerator? take off the cap – its requires some work and you have to leave it at home, but who buys a refrigerator on a whim? Just want to look cool? Take off the cap and open the sunroof, bolt in the rollbar Put up the fabric cap if weather is bad. Carrying something messy? Put in the snap-in liner and go do it. Take the cap off if its going to smell bad. Take out the liner and wash it out when you’re done.
I’m a Transformers fan and love the creativity, so I’m on-board. There might be a little Photoshop wizardry on the dimensions of the retractable back fitting the bed and still fitting under the cab roof? But as genius as I think this is, I think it’d be a spork. Truck people complain about wet stuff in the bed but like being Truck People™. And the Envoy proved that SUV folks don’t really want to be truck people, plus they can either rent a truck for the day or throw bags of mulch on a tarp in the back of their 3-row. It’s odd that a transforming truck-SUV requires serious commitment. “But how many times will we really convert it to a truck?”
Don’t care how bad it leaks, I WANT a Lark Wagonaire. That ridiculous thing ticks all the boxes for me!
But I digress, this convertible pickup/suv thing could actually work with the basic design premise proposed here… not sure how I feel about that?! I come here for the batshit crazy ideas, but this is just crazy enough it might work. Nicely done.
There’s also the good spork aka luha.
https://www.varusteleka.fi/pictures/thumbs500a/4012459f8447d4d127.jpg
The existence of Studebaker in this alternate universe implies the further existence of two fractalized sub-universes:
I have no use for either an SUV or a truck, but I want this.
I’ve always felt you were designing under the influence of various mind-altering substances, but this! … has real potential!
Automobiliaobsessive- so huffing works, right? At least sometimes
I already have a pickup that can turn into a SUV (or a convertible), unfortunately you have to do more than push a button to make it happen and you do need a space to store that extra top.
Scoutdude- Assuming your name references the vehicle you own? If so I also assume you need to remove about umpteen bolts before you hoist the roof off?
To remove the Cab Top it is 10 bolts, actually should be 11 but I leave the center bulkhead bolt out. a dozen for putting on the Travel Top. The Cab Top is doable by one person by standing in the bed but you do need two people or a hoist to deal with the travel Top.
All it takes are two stumbles by Tesla for its stock to dive and either GM or Ford to scoop up Tesla for its IP, so your Ford acquisition is not too far fetched.
Speaking of acquisitions, I’ve often wondered about the alternative universe where a sharp-eyed and brave accountant responsible for the Studebaker-Packard acquisition throws off enough warning flares about Studebaker’s woeful finances that the deal never occurs. Rather than Studebaker-Packard bowing out of the market ~10 years later, Packard could have joined the AMC merger. Maybe a Packard, Nash and Hudson merger would have given AMC enough resources to survive longer.
Overlanding- actually, most people say that the valuation of Telsa means that they would be the buyer. I’m skeptical about that, of course.
Yes, it was way, way, way before my time but I know that Packard was a premium brand that got quickly devalued after the Studebaker merger. Honesly, Packard could have been a premium brand for AMC, since those guys were never able to get into the upscale market during their lifetime (well, if you don’t count the Grand Wagoneer).
This is a better design than the Cybertruck in so many ways, I’ve lost count
I’d say make the reverse falcon wing doors cloth with plastic windows for the cheap non Lincoln version. They automatically roll into the back of the cab pillars. Careful design of the channel they ride in should keep water out in the top and bottom.
Nothing says “Quality!” like a Farley/Musk collaboration! Random fires! Panel gaps you can drive a … convertible truck/SUV through!
I love this series though. 🙂
Sure hope they use some of that unbreakable Cybertruck glass from for those reverse falcon windows.
The Tesla Model T will be less of a spork/SAK and more of a “knife-wrench“.
Good drawings though, always a pleasure to see your articles.
It’s totally safe!
BaronUsurper- glad that you like it!
I don’t need a third row, but I like this concept instead of storing a hard shell when you aren’t using it (or just keeping it on all the time, as I do now).
I like the flexibility of a retractable shell conceptually (I also don’t need a 3rd row). Been many times in my truck owning life where keeping things out of the elements vs. carrying awkwardly shaped or large items was a concern. Went with a removable tonneau cover on my last one, it’s the best compromise for my use case, but this idea has merit. But no way it would be cheap, though.
Myk-El; this would absolutely not be cheap. It would intentionally cost more than the F150 Lightning and even Model X as a premium large SUV/Truck that wouldn’t cannibalize any of Ford, Lincoln, or Tesla’s models.
The way you have it designed, because the SUV cap is nestled, when expanded over the bed would it would actually be slightly smaller than the bed itself…which might look less than ideal.
If we consider the cap end the “E” pillar, you could remove the “D” pillar entirely and have a completely full-width cap that just slides along and snaps up next to the base truck’s “C” pillar.
(I should also add that, as a huge fan (and previous owner) of the Escalade EXT, I would buy this truck in a heartbeat!)
I’ve been wanting this type of vehicle for a long time. The envoy was a lazy attempt at this, that Studebaker looks interesting though, some good ideas in that design.
Dodge teased a 3 row pickup/SUV with its electrified ram concept I believe? I was diggin that. I need to fit my 2 kids, large dog, and tow a trailer. Sometimes I need a truck, sometimes I need an SUV. I can’t be the only one. What I dont need is to buy more vehicles. Well I WANT to buy more vehicles but my wife unfortunately has an opinion.
74Jensen- the RAM did in fact tease that, but they never showed a picture of them deployed. They look like they’d be less than useful if you have legs
Non-constant sealing surfaces, hundreds of sealing lines, and a square seal mold? That’s going to leak like the titanic. Burn it with fire before the rain comes
Could we shorten the rear glass and have it raise from the bedsides? Maybe a flying buttress over the wheel well (Avalanche) and sacrifice the third row?
tbird- I did that with the Rivian I did a little while ago (see link at bottom) that converted to a third row, but I just couldnt find a way to get enough room for the glass to drop into the bed sides in this application. Maybe if the buttresses and second roof went back further? But then it reduces available height in that area.
WHY and app when a dash button would be just fine?
4jim- because it’s app based, man! Don’t pay your subscription fee? You can’t convert it to an SUV until you do. Or something like that…don’t say it won’t happen
I know. I am so over an app for everything. fro example, the Minnesota department of natural resources partnered with an app to pay for state forest campgrounds many of which are out of cell phone range.
And if you unsub/resub too many times, Elon bricks your retractable top mid-deployment.
Tesla is manufacturing this? There would be so many cabs flying off these things on the highway…
no problem- the cabs will have wheels on them to autonomously drive back to rejoin the truck
The Tesla Model T, followed soon after by Models C, L, and I, but not in that order. Because Musk.
-Not looking forward to lifting that tailgate with glass in it.
-How are the seatbelts for the 3rd row secured?
-Given the attention to detail/fit and finish reputation of these two companies, that “sealed” cover is going to be a wind noise nightmare.
v10omous- a couple of (possible) answers:
-there were tens of thousands of sixties to eighties station wagons built with a power rear window in the tailgate. We had one and it worked fine
-Could possibly attach to the seats themselves; many cars do that as well
-always going to be issues but, as I said, if you can make a retractable hardtop work you could probably make this work.
Also a bajillion broncos with a power window in the tailgate. Not really heavier than the tailgate on a new super duty. A little on the heavier side, but manageable.
If you motorize the tailgate, who cares what it weighs? You also remove the slam factor. Since its a Lincoln, it doesn’t need to be 30-years-as-a-farm-truck durable
YES! Something like this is what the Tesla pickup/big SUV should be. The Model X was never the SUV fighter that was supposed to be, and the Cybertruck… needs no introduction.
It might not need an introduction but it damn sure needs an explanation and several apologies.