Ford has opened up the innovative sliding doors of its all-new Fiesta-based Ford B-Max for the first glimpse of the new baby MPV’s interior. The new model will make its public debut at the Geneva motor show.
The rear sliding doors – called Easy Access Door System by Ford - in a car of its size are made possible by incorporating the B-pillars into the doors themselves. This creates an opening into the car as wide as 1.5 metres. The B-Max’s main rival, the Vauxhall Meriva, can only offer access as wide as 0.7 metres with its rear-hinged ‘FlexDoors’.
See official pics of the new Ford B-Max
The rear doors are partly constructed from ultra high-strength steels, which are up to five times stronger than conventional steels. While being stronger and stiffer, they also offer no weight penalty.
Ford says the interior takes advantage of this extra space by incorporating a series of new features. The rear seats and the front passenger seat can be folded completely flat to create a large load platform. Items up to 2.3 metres in length can be loaded into the B-Max through the side doors.
Read more on the new Ford B-Max
Ford of Europe’s exterior design chief Stefan Lamm describes the rear doors as “a designer’s dream”. He added: “We set ourselves the challenge of reimagining the small car. People are struggling with the spatial challenges of city driving and we wanted to find a new solution.”
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Re: Ford shows B-Max's sliding doors
wonderful. I have 2 problems with this picture:
i) the car seat is empty (no baby!) as anyone who has had to handle a baby seat will know, once it's loaded with your precious little one they become remarkably heavy and cumbersome items which have a great tendency to try and do one's back in at any opportunity. I'd like to see her holding it like that with a 10-15lb baby in it.
ii) she's apparently putting it in the car facing forward. Infant car seats (up to c.9months old) have to be rear facing, which if it's not on an isofix base (which this clearly isn't), requires you to lean in and around the seat to fit and secure the seatbelt. Might be kind of hard with that slab of a door in the way......
..just saying...
Re: Ford shows B-Max's sliding doors
That naive? wow.
I think Ford was listening to us moan.It's released photos of a B-Max Concept (sic) being 'loaded' by a yummy....
Re: Ford shows B-Max's sliding doors
You would also notice you are doing the work on the pictures of THE CONCEPT. I'd prefer to make my decision when I see the final one...