Ford C-MAX – Automobiles Review

Ford Introduces 2015 C-MAX and Grand C-MAX

Ford has revealed the updated for the 2015 model year C-MAX family range yesterday consisting of the duo C-MAX and Grand C-MAX. Both vehicle feature sleek exterior design, beautifully crafted interior with improved stowage ideas, and major fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions improvements. C-MAX is a five-seater, while the Grand C-MAX – seven-seater, and they come to offer superior comfort and refinement. The models will introduce advanced technology including Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system.

The C-MAX range uses Ford’s innovative twin sliding doors and “walk-through” seat design for greater convenience, space and flexibility, remain available. The family of vehicles is available in new exterior colours Red Rush and a stylish brown-grey color called Caribou. The front end of the car was restyled and features dynamic styling, featuring company’s distinctive inverted trapezoidal grille.

Additionally, the sleeker, more chiselled front headlamps and more rectangular, elongated fog-lamps add to the bolder front end. At the back, we can see smoother and more sophisticated one-piece appearance. A compact tail lamp design rounds out the contemporary look. Both cars will be equipped with LED Daytime Running Lights, Bi-Xenon HID headlamps and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System.

Inside, the 2015 C-MAX and Grand C-MAX feature refined interiors. There is more intuitive layout and fewer controls and switches. The new black satin trim and chrome detailing contributes to a cleaner, modern look. There are also other higher quality trims across the entire range, a heated steering wheel, door-sill scuff plates and load-net fitting points behind both the first and second row seats.

In terms of safety, the new Ford C-MAX family is equipped with advanced technologies such as the Ford’s Active Park Assist and Park-Out Assist. Ford has also improved its Active City Stop collision avoidance system, which utilizes sensors at the front of the vehicle. In the case of moving objects C-MAX will utilize Active Braking. Also new to the range is the Adaptive Cruise Control technology. It enables drivers to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead, even when that vehicle is travelling more slowly than the cruise speed.

2015 C-MAX and Grand C-MAX family powertrain line-up comprises of the new 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine, delivering 120 hp (88 kW), the 100 hp (74 kW) and 125 hp (92 kW) versions of the multi-award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. More importantly, Ford will feature for the first time as a standard its Auto-Start-Stop technology on EcoBoost petrol and 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines, in order to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions.

2015 Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX will go on sale in the beginning of 2015.

Source: Ford

September 18, 2014

Ford Teases New C-MAX Family Range Ahead of Reveal on September 17th

Just in two days Ford will debut its all-new Ford C-MAX vehicle, promising that it has given it with an extreme makeover. The company has not only released a teaser picture of its upcoming two-car-family model, but also hasn’t released any information except for it will be spacious, comfortable and versatile. Basically, the C-MAX and Grand C-MAX multi-activity vehicles have been given an improvement to make them even better suited to the modern, active family. Also official news is that the new C-Max family will boast even more refinement, practicality and technology. And this is it!

After Ford has revealed its second generation S-MAX, obviously the company has decided to do so with its smaller sibling. From what we can judge from the teaser picture, the compact MPV is a little bit sleeker than the previous generation. In addition, it definitely looks more upscale: just take a look at the larger sweptback headlights. The trapezoidal grille has received chrome margins as well as bigger fog lights and a reshaped lower grille.

The facelifted C-Max will probably be powered by the brand-new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Just like the previous generation models it will be also offered with the other powertrain options. There is a chance for the vehicle to get the 1.5-liter EcoBoost and 1.5 TDCi diesel. At the top of the range will be the 2.0 TDCi, which currently delivers 163 horsepower (120 kW).

Alongside the seven-seater Grand C-MAX both vehicles will be officially premiered at the Paris Motor Show in October, and we eagerly wait to know more details around them, which will be available on 17th of September.

Source: Ford

September 15, 2014

Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept Reduces Emissions And Aims For The Future

Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is undoubtedly a first-of-its-kind. It is a sun-powered vehicle which does not depend on the electric grid for fuel. Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, the concept model draws power of the sun by using a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass, directing intense rays to solar panels on the vehicle roof.

The new concept vehicle delivers EPA-estimated 108 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway, and a combined 100 MPGe. In addition to this by the utilization of renewable power, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept will reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions.

In this project, the high-efficiency solar cells on the roof were provided by SunPower. In order to make the solar-powered hybrid feasible for daily use, Georgia Institute of Technology supplied the car with amplifier of the sunlight.

In fact, the engineers at the institute developed an off-vehicle solar concentrator that uses a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of the sunlight by a factor of eight. In addition, this system can also track the sun as it moves from east to west, in order to gain as much power as possible, which in turn makes it equal to a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).

With a full charge, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to have a total range of up to 620 miles, including up to 21 electric-only miles. What is more, the car has also retained the charge port so that drivers retain the option to power up via the grid.

Without a doubt, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi can make an extremely positive environmental impact and envisions an emissionless future. The innovative concept car will make its official debut at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas.

Source: Ford

January 3, 2014

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid Delivers 550-Mile Range [VIDEO]

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid is expected to achieve great results. First it is promised to run more than 20 miles of electric-only range. Secondly, a 550-mile drive will be the overall range of the car.

In addition, Ford’s new vehicle delivers great combined fuel economy of 95 mpg. In details, C-MAX Energi operates just like a traditional hybrid. However it has two key differences: owners must plug in the vehicle using its charge port and C-MAX Energi has a larger battery pack.

C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi figure prominently in Ford’s rollout of five electrified vehicles this year. Ford’s other electrified vehicles include:

C-MAX Energi also advantages from 20 years of research and innovation in terms of software and hardware technology. In fact, the vehicles powersplit technology comprises of more than 200 patents alone.

The C-MAX Energi is able to generate total 188 hp (138 kW) which come from the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline, the C-MAX Energi uses the 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine.

The advanced lithium-ion battery in C-MAX Energi is charged via plug-in, the vehicle is able to achieve increased electric mode and total range. In addition the lithium-ion batteries are lighter, more efficient and more powerful than nickel-metal hydride batteries, which were used back in the days when Ford made the first-generation hybrids.

C-MAX Energi benefits from the latest generation of SmartGauge® with EcoGuide as well. It was created in order to help drivers get the most important information such as instantaneous fuel economy. It is displayed on one of two 4.2-inch LCD screens.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is already available to order with a starting price of $25 995.

Source: Ford

July 23, 2012

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid with a base price – $25 995

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid features innovative and fun-to-drive character shared with well-handling can be now ordered in the United States. The C-Max is in fact the first Ford hybrid vehicle and will be available with a starting price of $25 995.

What is unique about this car is that it combines fuel economy with performance, and of course delivers no less than best-in-class horsepower and torque.

In addition to that in this Ford vehicle are featured innovative technologies from which the customers could only benefit. One of them is the famou SYNC® with MyFord Touch®. Thank to it the drivers get features like hands-free liftgate, SmartGauge® with EcoGuide, regenerative braking and an advanced lithium-ion (li-ion) battery pack.

Another benefit of the C-MAX Hybrid is the roominess and spaciousness it offers. In particular, the vehicle has a high roofline (63.9 inches) delivering interior space and flexibility. Moreover, there are 99.7 cubic feet of passenger space and greater headroom in both front and rear seats (41/39.4 inches).

Of course, C-Max is perfect for loading as well thank to its 60/40 split-fold rear seats that can easily fold flat with 54.3 cubic feet of space behind the first row and 24.5 cubic feet behind the second row.

Important highlight here are the innovations featured. The newest one is the Ford’s hands-free liftgate. What it does basically is to allow quick and easy access to the cargo area without messing with keys.

How it works? A gentle kicking motion under the rear bumper opens the liftgate when used in combination with a key fob the user keeps in their pocket or purse that tells the car it’s correct to operate. The same motion can close the liftgate.

2013 Ford C-Max also includes the latest version of MyFord Touch. This one helps the driver stay informed. In addition it also shows multiple ways for customers to operate with their phone, navigation, entertainment and climate functions through voice commands.

Furthermore, C-MAX Hybrid also comes equipped with the next generation of SmartGauge with EcoGuide. This one is specifically designed in order to help drivers get the most from the C-MAX Hybrid. This EcoGuide for instans shows important information about fuel economy.

What is more important here is the technology that makes this car move. C-MAX Hybrid is powered through the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor.

When the power comes from the gasoline engine, the hybrid car uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine. On the other hand the electric motor of the C-MAX Hybrid is powered by an advanced li-ion battery system which optimizes the use of common, high-quality components.

Furthermore, C-MAX Hybrid also has powersplit architecture. This means that it allows the electric motor and gasoline-powered engine to work in collaboration or separately. The aim is to maximize efficiency.

Of course, the powerful engine unit also can work alone and charge the batteries or deliver power to the wheels as needed. At the same time the motor alone can offer enough power to the wheels in low-speed, low-load conditions and work with the engine at higher speeds.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid has a li-ion battery pack which is recharged when the gasoline engine is in operation. Additionally, the regenerative braking system can recapture more than 95 percent of the braking energy that would be used to help charge the battery. This means that C-MAX Hybrid requires no plug-in charging.

Source: Ford

May 17, 2012

2012 Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost Titanium

2012 Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost Titanium is to deliver great fuel efficiency and emit low number of CO2 emissions thanks to its groundbreaking 100 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoos engine.

The new Ford Focus is equipped with the innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which produces 100 hp (74 kW) and thus is able to deliver lower fuel costs than any other Ford before.

What it does in particular is that the Focus new 100PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine achieves 58.8mpg. However, despite that number, it is still able to deliver great performance, combined with power and even more torque (than previous models of Focus for instance).

Furthermore, what must be highlighted here is that Ford’s new EcoBoost petrol engine utilizes the latest technology. It includes enhanced and advanced turbocharging and direct injection. The consequence is that it is able to deliver the performance of a traditional 1.6-litre engine with the fuel economy of a 1.0-litre one!

Another important fact is that thank to all these innovations and modifications, the new engine takes not only fuel economy, but also CO2 emissions to new levels for a petrol family car. As mentioned, it achieves up to 58.8mpg, and the CO2 emissions are 109g/km CO2. Not forgetting that all this comes together with excellent performance and refinement, which makes it the perfect choice especially for city driving.

Ford’s fuel-efficient new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will be also offered in the Ford C-MAX and the all-new Ford B-MAX.

2012 Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost Titanium — Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost Titanium (2012)

Source: Ford

April 5, 2012

Ford B-Max at Geneva

Good news for family people as Ford are planning to unveil a production-ready B-MAX at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. It is a debut that comes exactly one year after the concept debut at the previous Geneva Show. The multipurpose vehicle will come with a sensible, clever drivetrain lineup and an even more clever design.
The innovative 1.0 EcoBoost petrol unit we talked about a few days ago, will be available for the B-MAX range and so will be the Duratorq TDCi diesel plants. Sales in Europe are expected to start later this year.
Ford CEO and President Alan Mulally himself will drop the curtain at the unveiling. Also present, will be the chairman and CEO of Ford Europe Stephen Odell who already sounds excited enough:

“The B-MAX combines an exciting, innovative design with features that only previously have been found in bigger cars,” said Odell. “It’s a brand new car that responds to the needs of an increasing number of customers who want much more from their small cars.”

It’s the design that gets us though. Ford say that the B-MAX boasts a class-leading load-space and flexibility, a highly configurable environment and clever pillar design but what we really can’t get enough of are the sliding rear doors which bring to mind other clever MPV’s such as the Peugeot 1007 and the bigger brother, Ford C-MAX.

Source: Ford

February 1, 2012

New Turbo 1.0 EcoBoost for Ford Focus

Ford-EcoBoost-Turbo thumbl 21st century tech thinking seems to be something along these lines: “smaller is better”. Just thing about the many product advertisement campaigns that use the words “slim” or “nano” or even just putting “lighter” as a quality. Ford are aware of that and have developed a new engine within the consumer-friendly EcoBoost range – a 1.0 Litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged petrol unit that, on paper, is just as powerful as a standard 1.6 litre one. Yet the economy figures that go with the engine (that is to be placed in a Focus) are worthy enough to make any diesel engine in the world green with envy.

Around 200 engineers in the UK (At Dunton and Dagenham) were tasked to work on an engine that is remarkably frugal while delivering sharp and refined performance seen in all Fords so far. The end result is a small (“A4 sheet of paper” small) powertrain that goes into the 5-door Focus and delivers either 100PS or 125PS, depending on customer choice – the first one has a combined economy cycle of 58.9mpg and 109g/km of CO2 emissions. The 125PS however is the one to go for as it has a barely noticeable drop in the economy performance (56.5mpg) and yet it has more power to move around in the not-so-light Focus shell. Carbon emissions on that one are 114g/km. Peak toeque is170Nm (200Nm with overboost) and is available between 1,400 and 4,500rpm.

Graham Hoare, European executive powertrain director based at Dunton, said: “This is the third addition to our acclaimed EcoBoost engine family. Joining the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost engines which span 150PS to 240PS, this 1.0-litre EcoBoost signals a new era of downsized, super frugal engines for the sub-130PS segment. During development our UK engineers focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up.”

The new Ford Focus array consists of vehicles priced from £13,995 on the road. The EcoBoost engine is priced £250 (on the road) more than the 1.6-litre 125PS engine. The freshmen, single litre is also expected to feature in Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and all-new Ford B-MAX later this year.

Source: Ford

January 30, 2012

2011 Ford C-MAX Price – £17 445

The 2011 C-MAX is now available from just £17 445. The compact MPV will also come with a new ultra-efficient 1.0-litre 125PS Ford EcoBoost petrol engine, which combines impressive performance with outstanding fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

2011 Ford C-MAX and its 7-seat Grand C-MAX sibling picked up their first BusinessCar award.

“Ford has deservedly taken both MPV awards thanks to a pair of products that successfully combine practicality and efficiency with a sense of style not previously available in a sector aimed squarely at family transport.”, commented BusinessCar editor Paul Barker.
“Both the Ford C-MAX and S-MAX offer good running costs as well as great handling and are deserved winners of this award, decided by the readers of BusinessCar – the very people using these products for their business and their company drivers.”, he added.

The 7-seat Ford Grand C-MAX accounts for 40% of overall C-MAX volumes in the UK. Twin rear sliding doors reveal an innovative walk-through seating concept, where the second row middle seat folds under the outer seat to enable easy access to the third row.

Source: Ford

January 25, 2012

Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in and C-MAX Hybrid to Freshen Up the Market

Ford has announced that two new, super economy MAVs (Multi Activity Vehicles) are set to go on sale during the second half of 2012: So welcome to the C-MAX Energi (spelled correctly) plug-in hybrid and the C-MAX Hybrid. They are both expected to trash their counterparts in terms of economy – The Toyota Prius plug in hybrid and the Toyota Prius v respectively

It is not so much of a surprise that this is the next phase of the company’s plan to target more fuel-efficiency-minded customers. Here is what Amy Machesney, the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Marketing manager had to say:

“The C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi are designed to meet the needs of customers looking to ‘plus-up’ and optimize their hybrid car experience. These customers are living more environmentally responsible lives and may have bought a hybrid in the past. They are now ready for more hybrid choice, combined with style, better performance and additional versatility.”

See, Ford’s goal for 2012 is to have a third of it’s whole lineup to consist of 40 mpg and above capable vehicles. For that to happen they need to triple production capacity of its electrified vehicle range. In North America, the C-MAX Energi and Hybrid will be only two out of five scheduled electrified debuts.

With many years of experience behind, Ford is not banging rocks together here. They have around 500 patents all relating to hybrid technology and hundreds more waiting in line. They have an abundant stock of data gathered from their Ford Espace plug-in hybrid test fleet. The software and hardware which represent the C-MAX nervous system has had more than 20 years of research and innovation. Everything is done in-house to ensure a perfect, synchronized efficiency system. And now the vessels of that technology are the C-MAX platforms which have been a major success on the European market since their launch in 2010 with over 100 000 units sold. Even the place where they will be making them is a high-tech utopia – Ford’s assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan which is partially powered by the state’s larges solar system.

The C-MAX Hybrid should hit better urban and extra urban mpg than its equivalent, the Toyota Prius v. while the C-MAX Plug-in hybrid will have a driving range of more than 500 miles, more than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid or Chevrolet Volt. And it is also claimed that the driving experience will remain exciting.

“With C-MAX, you get road-holding capability, sportiness and performance in addition to leading fuel economy, great versatility, great features and great technology in a package designed to exceed customer expectations.” says John Davis, C-MAX chief nameplate engineer. If all that turns out to be true, no doubt that Ford will skyrocket to the leading position of the fuel economy race.

So what wizardry will they employ to achieve this? As expected from hybrids, the power for both of the C-MAX MAVs comes from a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor. The gasoline unit is an already efficient yet powerful 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine. It is one of Ford’s cleverest naturally aspirated engines ever. The electric motor is powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs which can be up to 50 percent lighter and 30 percent smaller than the nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) ones used in previous generation hybrids.

The C-MAX hybrids utilize Ford’s next generation powersplit system which allows the engine and the motor to work separately or at the same time. Alternatively, the petrol unit can be left to idle independently in order to charge the driving electric motor. Under proper conditions (light load, low speeds), the electric motor alone will be capable to bring power to the wheels.

The C-MAX Hybrid’s battery pack can be recharged while the engine is running and while braking. 95% of the energy, that is usually wasted upon braking, is now channeled towards the battery and hence the difference between the Hybrid and the Energi plug-in. The Energi needs charging in a standard 120-volt outlet or at a 240-volt charging station.

All that technology needs to be converted in figures for the driver to see. This is where gadgets like SYNC® and MyFord Touch® com into place. It is a complex interface system that allows the smooth and efficient operation of things such as climate control, navigation, the entertainment system. It is all very accessible too as the driver can manage all that with voice commands as well as controls on the steering wheel and touch screens and buttons and knobs etc. To further inform abut the mode of driving and economy there is the thing called SmartGauge® which employes EcoGuide – a thingamajig on the dashboard that offers instant fuel economy while there are also indications about average economy. Efficient braking advisory system called Brake Coach helps you optimize the use of the regenerative units by braking as efficiently as possible. In the C-MAX Energi you can even utilize your smartphone or your computer which will then tell you all kinds of information about the remaining charge and distance so you never run out of juice prematurely. Then there’s the standard stuff like active park assist, start button and AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony® Audio, HD Radio™.

The appeal grows even more as we keep mind that the C-MAXes are practical as well. We get loads of space inside (slightly less in the C-MAX Energi), an overall height of 64 inches for each vehicle so that good for headroom, and seating for five including the split, fold-flat second-row seat. Access to the cargo area is made easy because of an innovative hands-free liftgate. All you need is a key fob to be somewhere near the car (ideally your pocket) so that the cars knows it is okay to open and than a gentle kick under the rear bumper will trigger the door.

Let us not forget to mention that safety has also been addressed with numerous features that come as standard. Seven airbags and a direct line with 911 emergency services vie the SYNC 911 Assist™

program can be very handy in an accident. Should you lend your car to your rebellious teenage kid but worry about speeding. Well worry no more because the MyKey® system allows parents to set a speed limit and restrict radio stations with explicit content. There is also a constant nag system that can tell if someone in the car is not wearing a seat belt. What comes as standard also are the Curve Control, that is designed to slow the vehicle when it’s cornering too fast, the Torque Vectoring Control, which helps accelerate through a turn when necessary. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ (RSC) and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) are also included.

Source: Ford

December 14, 2011

Ford Evos Concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Ford is currently exhibiting Evos Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The vehicle showcases the new ideas of the company in terms of style. Evos is a four-door coupe featuring aggressive front end, LED headlights and center-mounted exhaust at the rear housed by a sporty diffuser.

“The Ford Evos Concept unites three key elements which are at the core of our One Ford global product strategy: outstanding design, smart technologies and fuel economy leadership,” commented Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development.

“With its compelling design and innovative technology experience, this is a clear demonstration of the exciting vision we have for the Ford brand. While you will never see this car on the road, the next generation of Ford products around the world will display many of the distinctive design ideas and advanced technologies it showcases.”, he added.

Ford Evos Concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain providing the same next-generation performance and fuel economy as the Ford C-MAX Energi scheduled for introduction in North America in 2012 and Europe in 2013. The powertrain includes a 2.0 liter petrol engine helped by an electric motor.

Source: Ford

September 16, 2011

Loder1899 Ford C-max

Loder1899 has released an exclusive, beautifying program for the Ford’s compact MPV – C-Max, fitting it with sleeker style, aggressiveness and extra power kick. (more…)

March 22, 2011

Tag: Ford C-MAX