One of the neat aspects of EVs is that most of their powertrain components are sized such that a single large compartment isn't really necessary. The batteries mostly fit in the floor, and the motors and inverters are small enough that they don't take up an entire engine bay or much of the cargo area. Since there are still aesthetic and safety reasons to keep traditional shapes, though, most EVs have a conventional nose section and a big area where something other than an engine could go. Now many automakers choose to just turn this space into another cargo hold, but Porsche seems to have a more fun idea: a lounge chair.
A Design That Will Do A 180 On Tailgating
Refreshingly, Porsche's patent, which was published in Germany according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, is pretty self-explanatory. It's also rather thoughtful. Pop open the hypothetical hood, and the floor of the frunk has panels that can unfold. One is hinged at the rear and unfolds to become the seat back, and the other is hinged at the front and folds out to become the leg rest, which simultaneously protects the front bumper. Porsche doesn't want you sitting on hard plastic panels, though. To that end, the panels have inflatable cushions built in. This way, you have a more comfortable seat in the lounge configuration, and then they can be deflated so that everything folds up easily and compactly. That also means that the frunk can still hold extra cargo as needed. Porsche further describes the ability to make adjustments to the recline of the seat back and leg rests for optimum comfort.
We See A Couple Of Hitches
The first issue is that Porsche's idea isn't that original. Lucid already sells folding cushions to turn the frunk of the Gravity into a slightly more comfortable seat. Of course, that cushion literally follows the contours of the trunk, including the vertical rear wall, so it's not nearly as comfortable (or comfortable-looking anyway) as the design Porsche has envisioned.
Originality aside, we also noticed a practical hurdle to Porsche's design. It's clear in the drawings that Porsche is imagining a vehicle on which the hood includes a significant part of the front fascia. This is necessary for there to be a comfortable opening where people can have their legs dangle. Unfortunately, neither of Porsche's electric SUVs have a hood design like this. Both the Macan and Cayenne EVs have hoods that stop high up on the front fascia, not even dipping below the headlights. So, the two seemingly most suitable Porsche EVs for a feature like this won't be getting it anytime soon.
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
