Ford B-Max opens clever doors

The B-Max -- which is on the cards for next year -- has hinged front doors and sliding rear doors that integrate the central body pillars, providing easy access for passengers and luggage.

The game-changing system is the culmination of intensive collaboration between designers and engineers to transform a tentative first sketch into a fundamental feature of the production-ready B-MAX.

The so called "Easy Door Access System" makes loading bulky items, or helping children in and out of the car in tight spaces, a breeze, as well as delivering excellent crash protection When fully open, a 1.5-metre wide unobstructed opening is created on either side of the car.

Most rear door openings provide around half that space.

In developing the concept, a team spent several days observing drivers in their daily routine to understand exactly what customers really wanted in a compact car.

Engineers then took on the challenge of producing a safe and practical vehicle which would meet those needs. They moved the high-strength body-structure from the central body pillars and integrated it directly into the doors to ensure excellent crash protection, particularly in the event of a side impact.

Special ultra-high-strength steels, which provide up to five times the strength of conventional mild steel, were used in key parts of the body and doors to create an extremely strong and stiff structure without adding extra weight.

The process involved intense testing and analysis at every stage. More than 1,000 detailed computer simulations were conducted over three years to optimize side impact crash performance.

The B-Max interior is packed with features which take maximum advantage of the Easy Access Door System. The rear seats and the front passenger seat can be folded flat to create a large, convenient load platform, to accommodate everything from bicycles to flat-pack furniture.