Ford B-Max doors revealed

Ford has released a new image of its B-Max MPV, ahead of the cars public debut at the Geneva motor show 2012.

The new image shows the production cars Easy Access Door System, which features sliding rear doors and no central pillar. Ford says the system provides easier access to the rear seats than in rivals such as the Citroen C3 Picasso, Nissan Note and Vauxhall Meriva.

The unusual door layout gives the B-Max an unobstructed 1.5-metre opening space, which Ford claims is more than double that offered by the Vauxhall Meriva.

The B-Max was revealed as a concept car at the Geneva motor show 2011. The production version is all but identical, with the addition of door handles, an extra quarterlight, different light lenses and front grille trim the only noticeable changes.

The B-Max is based on the same platform as the Fiesta. Extra strengthening in the door itself, in the floor and through the roof is designed to compensate for the lack of a door pillar. Ford is confident the B-Max will achieve a full five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating.

Fords new three-cylinder 1.0 Ecoboost engine will be available for the B-Max. In the Focus, this engine gives CO2 emissions as low as 109g/km, so it should be at least as efficient in the B-Max. Diesel engines from the Fiesta range will also be available.

The B-Max goes on sale in September, with prices are likely to start at around 13,000.

Leo Wilkinson