Ford B-MAX

The Ford B-MAX is a good-looking car I think, with an ingenious system for the doors. I think the inclusion of the B pillars in the doors is a great idea, and something I think more cars should have, for easier access
For those of you who may not know, the B-MAX has no B pillar,  and  it is instead incorporated into the drivers/passenger front doors and sliding rear doors.

"Easy-access" door system.

This is an idea that I'm surprised hasn't caught on, because (As I said before) it is a great idea, and it allows much easier access into the front and back, without the fear from drivers of their kids bashing the back doors when they're getting in and out. I was amazed at how easily the back doors slid, as they can be a bit awkward to open, and then how easy it was to close them again. No more awkward twisting around: Ford has had the insight to put handles on the integrated B-pillars. The front seatbelts have been subtly included into the backs of the front seats ( since there is no pillar to mount them on) with the elegance of a BMW cabrio. Another thing that surprised me was the sheer amount of space inside. My dad could put the front seat right back, and I would still have plenty room in the back. (I'm 6")

New car, Dated interior.

Although there were a lot of good things about the car, there was a couple of little niggles that I spotted. the first one was the positioning of the rear window switches. In a normal car, they're in the door armrests or by the inner door-releases. In the B-MAX they're situated on the door, but they're so far forward that a front seat passenger would have an  easier time reaching them. It also has large plastic wings (I can't really describe them better) by the rear seats , to stop people falling out, I think. They're in just the right place for when you want to sleep in the back seat, but they stick out fairly far,  which means that you have to get into the car and move backwards to sit in the seat. The final t=niggle is the radio. It looks so old fashioned, with buttons and a (non-touch) screen. I think this is something that Ford really needs to improve, as it makes their cars look dated, even the brand-new ones (I can't talk for some of the more upmarket cars, but I assume they're the same)

To summarise then, the B-MAX is a great car, and it has an ingenious door situation and tons of space inside, but is let down by a few small things, things that you'd probably get used to while using the car. Another shorter Post for you lot today, and I apologise for the lack of posts at the weekend, I was on the boat and on the beach.

Discovery

I assume you know of the Land Rover Discovery? One of the best selling 4X4s, bought by everyone from farmers to inner-city dwellers who don't want a Range Rover. It has gone through several bodystyles, the most recent ones being very minor changes, and a brand-new one has just been announced. I saw it in TopGear magazine earlier today, and I was surprised to say the least.

First of all, the radical new design. It is taller than it is wide, with a (quite obvious) step at the windowline, the sweeping C-pillars (I think they're the C-pillars) and the fact that it gets skinnier at the boot. These all contribute to a horrid looking car, in my opinion. Whilst it looks meh alright from the 3/4 view, seeing it from any other angle just makes it look weird. The rear wheelarches stick out wider than the rest of the body at the back, and it's obvious how LR have tried, unsuccessfully, to subtly copy some of the RRs features (Lights, crease along the side and massive wheels (22in!)) There is also the pointless step up to the LR badge where the number plate goes, which makes the car look uneven (I have OCD, can you tell?) and I don't like the features that make the car look taller, like the vertical air intakes, Tailpipes and skininess. 

New Disco. Ugly car, good tech.

Although the new Disco is utterly terrible, it does have some redeeming features. Take the clever windows and glass roof: They can tint on demand, and the roof can show a pretty pattern. The seat-mounted screens are a cool feature too, along with the HUD (Head-Up-Display). JLR have recently previewed some new tech to do with the HUDs in their SUVs. It has cameras under the engine and bumper, which allow the car to see what is going on underneath it, and it can project these images up to the HUD, which then makes the driver able to look through the bonnet and engine block, to see exactly what's under his(or her) car: the wheel position, where rocks and ruts are, the lot. 

Overall then, a terrible SUV, with some good features that I would like to see on a lot of other cars in the near future. As I read in TG magazine, someone at JLR said that these next 15 years will see cars advance like we've never seen them do before. Personally, I sincerely hope this is true, as I think some of thee new innovations are amazing. It leaves me sitting here, at 5 to 10 wondering what cars will be like in 20 years time, when I think this tech will be available in the mass market. Anyways, leave me a comment saying what you think, and what I should look at next time.