Ford Launches 'Bumper Kick' Car

The days of having to put down bags of shopping in order to open the car boot could soon be over, after Ford unveiled a door that opens when the car’s rear bumper is kicked.

Using sensors in the bumper that are programmed to detect a person’s shin and kicking motion, the boot door will open so long as the car’s owner has the keys somewhere on their person.

The technology will put an end to the hassle of having to put down heavy shopping bags at the end of a trip or, worse, fumbling for keys in the rain as the weekly shop gets wet on the pavement.

The so called ‘kick-activated automatic tailgate’ will also work the other way round. Drivers will be also able to close their boot door with a gentle kick when they unload their shopping once they arrive home.

Ford unveiled the development yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show. The bumper will be available as an optional add-on for people who buy the Ford Kuga model later this year, a spokesman said.
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