ENGINEERS at Ford are claiming a world first in the way they have designed the sliding doors on the new B-MAX mini MPV.

The Fiesta-sized car, which will make its debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show, has doors which open to create a 1.5-metre gap on either side giving easy access for passengers and luggage.

With the front doors of the B-MAX opening normally and the back ones sliding to the rear, the challenge was to build in extra strength and protection to compensate for the lack of a central door pillar.

"Door systems like this have been a designer's dream for many years," said Stefan Lamm, exterior design director, Ford of Europe.

Using special ultra-high-strength lightweight steels, which are up to five times tougher than conventional mild steel, the B-MAX team has created a super strong vehicle which can withstand side impacts as well as any other car.

Ford says its Easy Door Access System makes loading bulky items or helping children in and out of the B-MAX in tight spaces easier than on conventional vehicles.

Most rear door openings provide around half the space and even the rear-hinged door arrangement on the Vauxhall Meriva - a B-MAX competitor - has a gap less than 0.7 metres wide.

As well as the wide opening doors the rear seats and the front passenger seat on the B-MAX can be folded flat to create a large load platform big enough to fit bicycles into a supermini sized car.

"The door concept means you can load really large items, more than 2.3 meters long, through the side doors," said Ernst Reim, Ford of Europe's chief interior designer.