MINI presents Scissor Doors as new equipment option.


Munich.

With the new equipment option “Scissor Doors”, the British brand
is now making it easier for customers to squeeze their MINI into
even the tightest of parking spaces.

Initially only available for MINI 3 door, MINI Paceman and the
new MINI Convertible, this option will also be available for MINI 5
door, the 6-door MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman as of model year
2017 at a price of EUR 1,959.-.

The “Scissor Doors” are based on a particularly refined body
concept comprising two wing doors that both open vertically. Thereby
providing the perfect solution to increasing parking space problems
– especially in multi-storey car parks.

By applying the “clever use of space” development principle and
using electrohydraulically activated wing doors, it was possible to
reduce the required parking space width – including the space
required for entry and exit on the driver and front passenger side –
by almost 30 per cent from 2,681 to just 1,930 millimetres. With a
vehicle width of 1,727 millimetres, the MINI 3 door fits into
virtually any parking space, however tight, and allows convenient
entry and exit for drivers and passengers.

From an engineering point of view, the wing door concept has
been fitted with numerous comfort features as standard and also has
selective technical preparations for the installation of new
technologies in the future. According to Dalf Rietmann, Head of
Special Equipment Management with MINI, “the doors can be opened and
closed as standard via remote control. In conjunction with Comfort
Access, which is subject to an additional charge, the MINI can be
opened and closed by means of a button on the door handle without
having to use the remote control. It is sufficient for the ignition
key to be in the user’s trouser pocket, for example. In the future
the idea is to enable opening and closing of the car via smartphone
using the MINI Excitement App.”

“In order to achieve maximum safety, the wing doors not only
feature highly rigid side impact protection elements,” says Malph
Rahler, Head of MINI Production Innovations, “but also a
pyrotechnical emergency opening system known as ‘Pyrotechnic
Emergency Exit’, or PEE for short.” Powerful propellants ensure that
the doors are reliably blasted off within milliseconds in the event
of an emergency, giving rescue workers fast access to passengers.