slidey doors all the rage?

[midMOdan]

jalopnik.com/photogallery/iosismax/1007459941


I'll stick with my 'b' pillar, tho', thank you.

 

[coolmazda5]

I think it is just the concept feature. I agree, it looks weird

Striking people carrier concept debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

Take a look at the future of Ford! This stunning machine is the Iosis MAX – a concept car that reveals how the next generation C-MAX and Focus family cars will look.

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the head-turning model boasts the latest example of Ford's kinetic design language, which was first revealed by the S-MAX back in 2004. It has been penned by Martin Smith, who presented the car along with his design team.

Showing off a new front end with a six-bar lower grille and long stretched back headlights the Iosis-MAX gets similarly eye-catching tail-lights and a split tailgate that opens up in the same style as a Skoda Superb.

Other neat touches include a full length glass roof – and all these details will be carried over to the production version of the C-MAX. Details that will remain strictly concept-only include the sliding rear doors, roof spoiler, lack of B-pillars and 'floating' seats.

While this four-seater concept is a lot smaller than the current C-MAX, the production version will be available in full five-seat specification – most likely staying as close as possible to the sporty shape of the show car – and, for the first time, in seven-seater trim too.

Expect the finished model to get a development of the striking multi-surfaced dashboard shown here, with a new Human Machine Interface control system, digital dashboard display and rear-facing camera. It will also be available in the bright yellow, known as Limelight, in which the concept is displayed.

It will also get the same 178bhp 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, automatic stop-start and a Powershift twin-clutch gearbox. The new engine – built at Ford's Bridgend plant – will first debut in the S-MAX and Mondeo ranges, though, within the next 12 months.

As for the arrival of the new C-MAX, it was first thought that the people carrier would debut in 2010. But there's currently a debate raging within Ford about whether it'll actually be the third generation Focus that brings the new compact family car look to showrooms first.

Bosses are weighing up whether to make the Focus a global car – i.e. a model sold across all world markets – and if that happens, it'll go on sale first, possibly as early as 2010 with the C-MAX arriving in 2011. Both projects are being worked on in parallel and a decision will be made imminently.