The Disappearing Car Door

Engineering firm Jatech LLC promises to rid the world of parking lot door dings with a technology designed to enable doors to disappear. The "rotary drop door" rather than opening out would operate on a hinge and slide beneath the car, preventing the door from slamming and people from having to squeeze out of their vehicles in a tight parking space. Similar to an earlier innovation in BMW's Z1 model, Jatech's design resembles a mini-van's sliding door -- except it moves from up to down, providing an easier and safer entry and exit for passengers.