Ford’s New Door Design: Step Backward or Forward?

A new Ford patent could change the way vehicle doors open, but this might be a step backward instead of forward. Let’s see what’s going on.

Winged doors are spectacular and show up on some of the top-end vehicles that attempt to push things forward or over the top. The DeLorean DMC-12 has a set of gullwing doors that we loved in the Back to the Future movie series. Another vehicle with similar doors is the Tesla Model X which has these doors for the rear passengers. Gullwing doors open using a large hinge on the roof.

Has Ford ever used gullwing doors?

Ford has put gullwing doors on some vehicles, including the most recent concept version of the 2016 Lincoln Navigator. These large gullwing doors could be pretty cool, except they only serve one purpose on the Navigator concept; to showcase the interior of the vehicle better than traditional doors. Very few automakers utilize winged doors for several reasons. The added engineering required to ensure the doors open up and stay in position can be cumbersome and adds a lot of extra weight to the top of a vehicle. Some SUVs are already top-heavy and prone to toppling over; adding more weight to the roof is not the way to ensure a vehicle can function properly.

Does the new Ford patent call for something different?

Unlike gullwing doors, the new Ford patent calls for a single door on the passenger side of the vehicle to open the entire side up and out o the way. This asymmetrical door would lift up and over the top of the vehicle to offer access to the interior for all passengers. This new door is mounted on four arms that pivot, taking away the hinge portion of door openings. This could change the way doors open on vehicles, but there might be something we’re not considering.

How does the driver enter the vehicle with this large single door?

Ford thought of this and added a single traditional door to allow access to the driver’s seat. This means you’ll only need to open the massive asymmetrical door when passengers ride along with you. This new door system could be pretty cool, but do you see the problem with this new door system?

Is this new Ford door system taking things backward?

The early days of vans and minivans gave us one sliding door on the side of the vehicle for passengers to enter the rear two rows of seats. Some commercial vans still offer this single door on the side for cargo and passengers. At some point in the evolution of minivans, a second sliding door was added to the mix, giving us access to both sides of the vehicle in the rear two rows. Using a single, massive door that lifts and moves away would only take us back to the early days of minivans, no move things forward along vehicle evolution.

Not only would a single large door become impractical for some families, every time one passenger rides along, this massive door must be opened to allow access to the front passenger seat. At least minivans had a separate door for passengers to get in and enter the front seat without using the sliding doors. Imagine how fast the pivoting door arms will wear out of this massive door that is used every single time a passenger goes along for a ride.

What else does this Ford patent offer?

Another aspect of this patent shows a side rocker panel folding down to provide a step that makes it much easier for passengers to enter the vehicle. This could be useful and similar to the power side step running boards that are part of some large trucks and SUVs. Some people have trouble getting their feet up to these running boards, and additional steps could make entering and exiting a vehicle much easier.

The Ford patent also goes further to show a bench seat situated transversely inside the cabin along the side wall in front of a console. Ford adds that a video screen would be hidden in the console where a storage compartment is located. This whole system could move forward and backward inside the cabin.

Will these items come to reality?

Most of the patents filed by automakers never see the light of day. Sometimes these patents are filed years in advance of anything close to the features being developed. Still, a patent must be filed, or others could pounce on the ideas. Only time will tell whether or not this new Ford patent will become a reality.