Operating mechanism for rear hinged fully sealed independent side operating doors

A vehicle door comprising:

• a door panel slidably operable between a secured position within a door aperture and a staging position partially distal from the door aperture;
• and
• a latch engaged with a striker path during operation of the door panel between the secured and staging positions, and selectively disengaged from the striker path to define open and closed positions of the door panel when the door panel is in the staging position, wherein the striker path is defined by an elongated striker that is fixedly coupled to a vehicle frame and extends longitudinally in a direction parallel with an exterior surface of a forward door, and wherein the latch is fixedly secured to the door panel.