Hit the remote trunk release on the key fob of most of the cars in our long-term fleet, and the lid simply unlatches. If you're lucky, it pops up an inch so you can give it a grab to open up all the way.
Not so in our longterm 2009 Audi S5, and in a good way -- when you hit the S5's remote trunk release on the key fob, the lid rises fully up with no manual intervention required.
It's a nice little touch, especially when your hands are already full. And unlike the similarly wide-opening trunk of our uber-lux BMW 750i, closing the Audi's decklid is light and easy.
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
pezzy669 says:
05:03 PM, 12/16/09
My '06 Jetta is the same way (must be a VW/Audi thing) - the only time it does not spring open is if the temps get chilly (sub 40ish).
Kind of surprised the Audi has gooseneck hinges since the $17k Jetta has the non-intrusive scissor style hinge.
majin_ssj_eric says:
07:40 PM, 12/16/09
Why don't all cars with key fob trunk buttons do this???
bc1960 says:
11:40 PM, 12/16/09
In my experience many cars will do this as long as the torsion springs (gooseneck hinges) or gas struts (scissor hinges) are newish and properly adjusted. I presume luxury cars that use gooseneck hinges do so in order to more easily implement motorized open/close as an option; if this isn't offered, I don't know why, because they reduce usable cargo volume.
bimmerjay says:
11:18 AM, 12/17/09
@bc1960,
"I presume luxury cars that use gooseneck hinges do so in order to more easily implement motorized open/close as an option; if this isn't offered, I don't know why, because they reduce usable cargo volume."
Correct. Sheathed goosenecks reduce usable volume in some applications. But struts reduce the width of the decklid opening, again in some applications. So neither is perfect. But unsheathed goosenecks are crude no matter how you look at it.
I wish lesser BMWs with struts would pop all the way open on release like the S5. I really like that feature.
cr_driver says:
04:13 PM, 12/18/09
Yeah, it should be that way on every car.
ddkk10 says:
10:33 AM, 01/31/10
my old honda accord had a trunk that popped open like that. it's so handy. wish my bmw would do that considering how much i paid for it versus the accord....