Vehicle independent rear access panel with four bar hinge

A vehicle body comprising:

• a structural body member defining at least one side edge of a user access opening in one side of the body;
• a closure panel for closing the access opening and openable for permitting user access to the vehicle, said panel having longitudinally opposite edges positioned in the closed position with one edge adjacent the structural body member and an opposite edge spaced longitudinally adjacent an opposite side edge of the opening;
• and
• a four bar linkage including a pair of load arms, each pivotally connected at one end to the structural body member and at another end to the closure panel intermediate said opposite edges;
• said linkage being configured for pivotally guiding the panel in a predetermined opening motion between a closed position closing the access opening and a fully open position longitudinally adjacent said one side edge of the opening and generally parallel with said side of the body;
• said motion including varying the angular orientation of the panel while pivoting the panel in a generally longitudinal direction such that said one edge of the panel first moves outward to clear the structural body member at said one side edge of the opening and said other edge of the panel first rotates and moves longitudinally away from said opposite side edge of the opening as the panel first pivots outward and then inward to said fully open position.