Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Opel Meriva mule caught brandishing suicide doors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/spy-shots-opel-meriva-mule-caught-brandishing-suicide-doors/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/spy-shots-opel-meriva-mule-caught-brandishing-suicide-doors/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/20/spy-shots-opel-meriva-mule-caught-brandishing-suicide-doors/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Opel Meriva concept shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show had a nifty set of rear doors that employ that less-than-nifty epithet: suicide doors. According to all the spy shots that have surfaced, the production model won't exchange the concept's novelty for more sedate, rear-hinged doors at the rear.

The latest prototype caught out has a fake set of door handles at the back of the rear door. However, there are shots of the sheetmetal from the inside, and you can plainly see the recessed hinge mounting areas at the rear of the panels. General Motors calls the arrangement FlexDoors, and evidently unlike other such setups, the rear doors will be able to open independently of one another (most such setups require that the front door be opened first). GM says the design will make the new Meriva safer and more convenient.

Gallery: Opel Meriva Concept




[Source: Carscoop]

Spy Shots: Opel Meriva mule caught brandishing suicide doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossovercuvflexdoormerivaminivanmpvopelopel merivaOpelMerivaspy shotsSpyShotssuicide doorsSuicideDoorsFri, 20 Mar 2009 17:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Rolls on a roll: Phantom Coupe sold out already]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/rolls-on-a-roll-phantom-coupe-sold-out-already/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/rolls-on-a-roll-phantom-coupe-sold-out-already/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/rolls-on-a-roll-phantom-coupe-sold-out-already/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click for more high-res images of the Phantom Coupe

Rolls Royce has been on a roll of late, with a 25-percent increase in global production in 2007, and the gorgeous new Phantom Coupe ready to add to last year's record totals. Since the official announcement of the ultra-luxury two-door, 200 orders have already been taken, which represents all production for 2008. Even more impressive is the fact that two-thirds of the orders come from customers who have never before owned a Rolls. It doesn't hurt that the Phantom Coupe's Drophead sibling is sold out through summer 2009, which means the fixed-top Phantom has little short-term competition on the show floor.

It's hard to blame the filthy rich for sopping up Phantom Coupes so quickly. The luxury-liner's incredible contours, stunning materials, and mind-blowing suicide doors make us lie awake at night thinking of ways to become wealthy enough to one day own one. So far all we've thought of is more blogging, which means we'll have to settle for something a bit less well-heeled.

[Source: Auto News (subs. req'd)]

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Rolls on a roll: Phantom Coupe sold out already originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Phantom CoupePhantom Drophead CoupePhantomCoupePhantomDropheadCoupeRolls RoyceRollsRoyceSuicide DoorsSuicideDoorsMon, 10 Mar 2008 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[GM plans 'suicide-style' rear doors for future models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/gm-plans-suicide-style-rear-doors-for-future-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/gm-plans-suicide-style-rear-doors-for-future-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/gm-plans-suicide-style-rear-doors-for-future-models/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image to view high-res gallery of the Opel Flextreme Concept

For those unfamiliar with the suicide-style rear door, it's basically a car door with the hinges located closer to the rear of the car, usually on the C-pillar. The design isn't new, but it recently had a renaissance with cars like the Mazda RX-8 and Rolls-Royce Phantom adopting the unique style.

The rear opening doors will soon be featured on some General Motors products, as revealed by its Vice Chairman Bob Lutz on his blog. GM recently previewed its design, dubbed FlexDoor, on its new Opel Flextreme at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. Engineers were able to do-away with the center B-pillar, which means opening both doors on a single side of the car leaves one giant opening the size of two doors. This was important because designers learned from focus groups that people, especially those who use child-seats, wanted easier access to the rear compartment.

The Flextreme itself is only a concept and Lutz was coy about when we might see them on a production car, so we suggest you don't hold your breath.

[GM Fastlane Blog via The GM Source]

Gallery: Opel Flextreme Concept

GM plans 'suicide-style' rear doors for future models originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E-flexFlexDoorFlextremeOpel FlextremeOpelFlextremesuicide doorsSuicideDoorsFri, 14 Sep 2007 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Why no suicide doors on the Lincoln MKR?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/why-no-suicide-doors-on-the-mkr/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/why-no-suicide-doors-on-the-mkr/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/why-no-suicide-doors-on-the-mkr/#commentsFiled under: ,



Thanks to the 1961 Continental, one of the first things many car fans imagine when they hear "classic Lincoln" is suicide doors. Therefore it's only logical we'd come to expect them on any signature Lincoln show car. The 2002 Continental concept had them, and so did the 2003 Navicross concept. So why did Ford decide to leave them off the striking MKR concept? Automotive News quotes the MKR's exterior designer, Xitij Mistry, saying conventional doors were used on the concept because they're easier to put into production. Hmmm. That's interesting. Does this mean the MKR is a shoo-in for production? Could be. "I love it, love it, love it. To me, it almost looks like a production car, and that was a bit of a surprise. It's real, and that's a good thing," said Pat Schiavone, director of the design team at the beginning of the MRK project.

One more interesting design note on the MKR after the jump.

[Source: Automotive News]

Continue reading Why no suicide doors on the Lincoln MKR?

Why no suicide doors on the Lincoln MKR? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jason baldasJasonBaldaslincoln conceptlincoln mkr conceptLincolnConceptLincolnMkrConceptmistrymkrmkr doorsmkr suicide doorsMkrDoorsMkrSuicideDoorssuicide doorsSuicideDoorsTue, 02 Jan 2007 09:27:00 EST