A least five vehicles, the Mazda RX-8, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the Mini Cooper Clubman, the Honda Element, and the 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe feature reverse-opening car doors, better known as ’suicide doors’ in the pimped car world. The doors were common on cars and trucks in between the 1930’s and the 1950’s, particularly among European manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Peugeot. They were also featured on several American cars, such as the Tucker and the 1960s Lincoln Continental. Don’t expect to hear the automakers talk about suicide doors though. Toyota prefers calling them “clamshell” doors, and Mini prefers “Clubdoors”.
‘Suicide doors’ eliminate the need for a B-pillar and make it easier to enter and load cargo on these vehicles. With today’s chassis design and side air bags, B-pillars are not that crucial to passenger safety.
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