For some time now Ford has been letting the B-MAX concept pop up at auto shows and exhibitions. Recently shown off in Geneva, Ford believes that this little vehicle, which is part minivan, part crossover, and part compact, will revolutionize the industry. With it’s European designed chassis, the B-MAX will be small enough to get unprecedented gas mileage and will have a spacious interior for plenty of storage space.
As one can see from the picture, the B-pillar (pillar between front and back seats) has been removed by Ford designers which results in incredibly smooth lines and improved visibility. The challenge of removing the pillar was compounded by the fact that without a B-pillar most vehicles wouldn’t fair to well in crash testing. To fix this, Ford has developed high strength materials to use in the doors to give the protection of at pillar without the encumbrance. Sliding back doors will allow easy access to back seats while front passengers get in through conventional opening doors.
“We engineered the body to keep all the benefits of the new door concept, while make the structure strong, stiff, and light,” said Darren Palmer, Ford Europe’s Product Development Quality Director. “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.”
