Ford continues the slow strip tease of its all-new B-MAX small MPV prior to the production model's grand premier at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in the beginning of March.
This time we get a full-blown photo of the B-MAX's innovative hinged front doors and sliding rear doors that integrate the central body pillars, which Ford called "Easy Access Doors".
The design allows for 1.5-metre (close to 5 feet) wide unobstructed openings on either side of the B-segment multi-activity vehicle.
“Door systems like this have been a designer’s dream for many years,” said Stefan Lamm, exterior design director, Ford of Europe. “We have taken the concept from an idea on a designer’s sketch pad, to a stylish and versatile product on the showroom floor.”
To make sure that the car offers the same crash protection as any other vehicle with a B-pillar, especially in the event of a side impact, Ford's engineers used special ultra-high-strength steels that provide up to five times the strength of conventional mild steel in key parts of the body and doors, without adding extra weight.
“We engineered the body to keep all the benefits of the new door concept, while making the structure strong, stiff and light,” said Darren Palmer, Product Development Quality Director, Ford of Europe. “Creating a strong, stable body is great for handling. The B-MAX is just as stiff as the latest Fiesta, and will be just as fun to drive too.”
9 Comments:
Very nice, the sliding doors and glass roof are very trick. All that access would even make it a good choice for an in town taxi.
This is not innovative! Remember the Nissan Prairie that was released back in 1982, thirty years ago with the exact same doors arrangement! So, big deal and 30 years too late, Ford!
Ford says that the doors have been reinforced, so the lack
of a B-pillar does not compromise the van’s structural integrity.
The doors don't slide back far enough to make it worth the effort of all that 'design'. Fail.
Looks really good. I'm going to be interested in seeing video of the front and side crash tests. It seems that it would be so easy for the floorpan and the roof to balloon outward in a frontal crash.
Seen quite a few concepts ditching the B-pillar, is this the year that B-pillarless cars start going into production? Essentially the rear door has the B-pillar judging by that picture, so when closed the doors and side of the car is just as strong and safe, it's just when open that its more vulnerable.
c-pillar(s) fail.
The difference being Nissan Prairie was garbage because of excessive body roll where this Ford's is better engineered.
Just a shame about the awful styling. This is a period in Ford Styling that will go down in infamy - not that there was ever a heyday for them. The first generation Focus being a rare highpoint......
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