Geneva Ford B-max

[Biker16]

Stylish New Ford B-MAX Opens Doors to Practical Solutions for City Driving at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

 

• Ford B-MAX features stylish and original hinged front and sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars and delivering best-in-class access

 

• Class-leading petrol and diesel engines win on fuel economy and CO

 

_{2 emissions; 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost 120PS petrol engine achieves 15 percent lower fuel consumption than closest competitor}

 

_{• B-MAX is among Europe's most technologically advanced small cars, featuring Ford's voice-activated, in-car connectivity system, SYNC. Also features Emergency Assistance, designed to assist the occupants to call for help in the event of a crash}

 

_{GENEVA, March 5, 2012 –}

 

_{The new Ford B-MAX, revealed today at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, features a winning combination of unique design, unrivalled economy and what is among the most advanced small car technology in Europe.}

 

_{The B-MAX's Ford Easy Access Door System provides unobstructed entry and exit with hinged front doors and sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars.}

 

_{The new model also achieves class-leading fuel economy and the lowest CO}

 

_{2 emissions for both petrol and diesel engines^1.}

 

_{^{The innovative new B-MAX is the first European car to offer SYNC, Ford's voice-activated, in-car connectivity system featuring Emergency Assistance, which is designed to assist occupants to place a call to the emergency services in the event of a crash.}}

 

_{^{It is also the first vehicle in its segment to provide the added reassurance of the Active City Stop system, designed to help motorists avoid low speed collisions with stationary or slower moving traffic in front.}}

 

_{^{"The Ford B-MAX really challenges traditional small car thinking, and pioneers a concept not attempted by any other manufacturers," said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. "Its ingenious design opens the doors – quite literally – to exciting new ideas about what's possible with a compact vehicle.}}

 

_{^{"But this is more than just a smart and versatile small car," he added. "The latest Ford technologies mean the B-MAX is more fun to drive, offers enhanced safety and achieves class-leading fuel economy. It does things which other vehicles simply cannot do. We believe the Ford B-MAX will have a major impact on the market for compact cars."}}

 

_{^{New vision for compact vehicles}}

 

_²

 

_{^{Based on Ford's global B-car platform – shared with the highly successful new Fiesta – the B-MAX presents the company's vision for a premium compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV), combining outstanding space and versatility within a smart and stylish exterior.}}

 

_{^{Ford's global small car vehicle line director Joerg Beyer said, "The B-MAX is packed full of innovative thinking, from its unique door concept, to the advanced 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine to the powerful SYNC voice control system. Customers looking for a compact and versatile vehicle now have an exciting new choice."}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX is just over 4 metres in length, only 11cm longer than the Fiesta five-door and a full 32cm shorter than the new C-MAX; perfectly placing it to meet the fast-growing demand for downsized cars, suited to congested urban conditions without making any compromise on interior space or passenger comfort.}}

 

_{^{Unique Ford Easy Access Door System}}

 

_{^{The unique Ford Easy Access Door System delivers new levels of convenience, access and flexibility. It features conventional, hinged front doors and rear sliding doors, combined in a new body design. This integrates the traditional central pillar structure into the front and rear doors, rather than forming part of the bodyshell itself.}}

 

_{^{When both front and rear doors are open there is outstanding access to the interior, with a huge, clear aperture more than 1.5 metres wide. This is around twice the width offered by competitors with alternative door concepts and makes it significantly easier to enter or exit the rear seats, attend to children in child seats, or load and unload shopping}}

 

_^2.

 

_{^{B-MAX's twin sliding rear doors also offer added benefits in crowded streets or narrow parking bays when access via hinged doors could be awkward. The front and rear doors can be opened completely independently, so the front or rear cabin can be accessed as required.}}

 

_{^{Outstanding interior versatility}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX combines the Ford Easy Access Door System with a flexible and easy-to-use seating system. The 60/40 split rear seats can be folded flat with a simple 'one-hand, one-motion' mechanism. The front passenger seat can also be folded, creating an extensive flat load floor from front to rear, capable of swallowing exceptionally long loads measuring up to 2.35 metres in length.}}

 

_{^{The generous access makes it particularly convenient to load bulky items through the side doors, such as flat-pack furniture or even a bicycle. An adjustable load floor in the boot creates a flat load space when the rear seats are lowered, with extra room underneath for valuable items to be hidden from view.}}

 

_{^{Drivers benefit from a higher 'command' seating position in the B-MAX, whose overall vehicle height is 12cm taller than the Fiesta. This also significantly improves rear seat legroom and headroom.}}

 

_{^{Engineered for outstanding safety}}

 

_{^{Ford engineers developed innovative solutions to ensure the B-MAX delivers the same outstanding levels of crash protection as vehicles with a more conventional structure.}}

 

_{^{"Retaining all the customer benefits of the door system, while maintaining occupant safety performance, was a central focus," explained Klaus-Peter Tamm, chief programme engineer, Ford of Europe. "With clever engineering solutions – which are the subject of 3}}

 

_{^{multiple patent applications – the development team has brought an exciting concept to full production."}}

 

_{^{The structure of both front and rear doors has been strengthened to deliver required performance in side impacts, with ultra-high-strength Boron steel in key load-bearing areas so the door frames work together to absorb energy like a virtual pillar.}}

 

_{^{Special safety interlocks and reinforced latch mechanisms help the doors to remain fixed to the roof and floor structure during an impact to enable them to act together to help protect the occupants. This and further structural enhancements to the bodyshell and the latest restraint system technologies create a body which is designed to offer high levels of crash protection.}}

 

_{^{High-strength and ultra-high-strength steels account for 58 percent of the body and door structure and ensure it is strong and rigid while remaining highly weight-efficient.}}

 

_{^{Compact, sporty and stylish}}

 

_{^{Ford has applied kinetic design language to create a compact, sporty and stylish car which adds its own distinctive character to Ford's MAV line-up.}}

 

_{^{"We set out to create a vehicle that captures the spirit of the S-MAX, but is smaller," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Design Director. "We wanted to show that a small car could be very spacious and practical inside, while still having the sleek, dynamic appearance that made the S-MAX so popular."}}

 

_{^{The vehicle's striking front-end features a bold new interpretation of Ford's signature trapezoidal grille. Other distinctive kinetic design elements include strong headlamp graphics, the muscular shoulder line with its powerful undercut, a characteristic window line with its kick-up behind the rear doors, and prominent wheel lips.}}

 

_{^{The bold three-dimensional surfacing of the body-sides helps to avoid the tall, blocky look which is common in this class of vehicle, and includes a unique new rocker treatment, with a stylish 'zigzag' form on the rear doors.}}

 

_{^{B-MAX is also true to the Ford fun-to-drive DNA with class-leading driving dynamics featuring Torque Vectoring Control for superior traction and agility.}}

 

_{^{Spacious premium interior}}

 

_{^{Bold graphics and sculptured surfaces develop the themes found in Ford's latest small and medium cars. Distinctive features include the slim, wing-like section of the upper instrument panel which reaches out to the door panels, and the prominent centre console, which flows down between the front seats.}}

 

_{^{High quality, contemporary materials emphasise craftsmanship and detailing, highlighting that small, practical cars can also be comfortable and well-equipped. An optional full-size panoramic glass roof enhances the sensation of space.}}

 

_{^{Best-in-class fuel economy for petrol and diesel}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX brings new standards of fuel efficiency to the compact MAV class with Ford's latest petrol and diesel powertrains equipped with low-CO}}

 

_{^{2 ECOnetic Technologies.}}

 

_{^{The petrol engine line-up is led by the three-cylinder 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine, available in 100PS and 120PS versions. Equipped with the Ford Auto-Start-Stop system as standard, the 120PS EcoBoost engine achieves class-leading CO}}

 

_{^{2 emissions of 4}}

 

_{^{114g/km and fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km (57.6mpg). Other petrol engine options include the 90PS 1.4-litre Duratec unit, or the 105PS 1.6-litre Duratec engine which is paired with Ford's high-efficiency PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission with advanced dual clutch technology.}}

 

_{^{B-MAX is available with a choice of two Duratorq TDCi diesel engines; each offering best-in-class fuel efficiency. The 95PS 1.6-litre engine delivers CO}}

 

_{^{2 emissions of 104g/km and fuel consumption of 4.0l/100km (70.6mpg). The 75PS 1.5-litre diesel, closely derived from the 1.6-litre engine, appears for the first time in Ford's European product range. It achieves CO2 emissions of 109g/km and fuel consumption of 4.1l/100km (68.9mpg).}}

 

_{^{ECOnetic Technologies fitted as standard to all B-MAX vehicles include Electric Power Assisted Steering, which requires less energy than hydraulic power assisted steering systems, Gear Shift Indicator to highlight the most efficient gear changing points, and the Ford Eco Mode driver information system which helps drivers adopt a more economical driving style. Smart Regenerative Charging, which charges the battery at the most economical point in a journey, is also featured on the 1.0-litre EcoBoost and 1.5/1.6-litre Duratorq engines.}}

 

_{^{Ford SYNC technology with Emergency Assistance}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX will be among the most technologically advanced small cars in Europe when it goes on sale in late 2012.}}

 

_{^{SYNC is an advanced voice control, device integration and connectivity interface. It enables users to connect mobile phones and music players by Bluetooth or USB, make hands-free telephone calls and control music and other functions using voice commands. It can automatically transfer contact information from a connected Bluetooth device to the vehicle, allows calls to contacts to be activated using straight-forward voice commands and reads text messages aloud from phones connected using Bluetooth MAP.}}

 

_{^{The system is already a huge success in the U.S. and is expected to appear on more than 3.5 million new vehicles in Europe by 2015. SYNC also enables the B-MAX to offer the innovative new Emergency Assistance feature which is designed to assist the occupants to call the local emergency services operator in the event of an accident.}}

 

_{^{Emergency Assistance is the most advanced system of its type, capable of communicating with emergency services in more than 30 countries and provided to customers free of charge for the life of their vehicle. Through the GPS locator in the vehicle, it is able to ensure communications with the emergency services operator in the correct language throughout Europe to provide peace of mind and potentially life-saving technology to the B-MAX customer.}}

 

_{^{'Right-sized' for modern motoring}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX features premium technologies demanded by buyers looking to 'right-size' their new car. Around 40 percent of B-MAX customers are expected to choose B-MAX after previously owning a larger vehicle.}}

 

_{^{Comfort features to satisfy these customers include an exclusive eight-speaker Sony audio system, Key Free system, Ford Power Button, Rear View Camera and full leather upholstery with premium embossed leather.}}

 

_{^{The B-MAX has placed a particular focus on achieving the kind of agility and manoeuvrability which will prove especially valuable in the cut and thrust of city driving.5}}

 

_{^{It is also the first vehicle in its segment to provide the added reassurance of the Active City Stop system, designed to help motorists avoid low speed collisions with stationary or slower moving traffic in front.}}

 

_{^{"We believe the all-new Ford B-MAX is the right vehicle at the right time," said Stephen Odell. "Its combination of style, versatility and premium technologies brings something new to the compact car market, and will attract many new customers to the Ford brand."}}

 

 

for those with Questions about saftey.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sps0DI80dwc

 

 

seats

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ebmrX6h6c

[Biker16]

interior

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-73_gfi4u0

[timmm55]

Anybody else thing this could be a cool on a Lincoln? Ala suicide doors?

[FordBuyer]

Bring it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cautitlian or however you spell it needs the work, and America needs another very space efficient B vehicle that gets exceptional fuel mileage at an affordable price. Ford needs to expand its B lineup. Expand the C and B lineup at the same time. In high density, congested urban areas, smaller footprint matters to buyer. Not all of America is wide open Montana. Some of us live where parking space is a premium and getting harder to find every year.

[akirby]

Bring it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cautitlian or however you spell it needs the work, and America needs another very space efficient B vehicle that gets exceptional fuel mileage at an affordable price. Ford needs to expand its B lineup. Expand the C and B lineup at the same time. In high density, congested urban areas, smaller footprint matters to buyer. Not all of America is wide open Montana. Some of us live where parking space is a premium and getting harder to find every year.

 

If Americans want B cars then why are the Focus, Cruze, Corolla and Civic outselling their B car counterparts 2 or 3 to 1?

 

B cars only get a 1-2 mpg advantage over C cars. I'm not saying they won't sell but they won't come close to the C car volume anytime soon and with only a 1-2 mpg advantage higher gas prices won't change that.

 

What it might change is C-max and other hybrid sales.

[NLPRacing]

Anybody else thing this could be a cool on a Lincoln? Ala suicide doors?

 

I think this Ford owned patent would work even better...

[Biker16]

If Americans want B cars then why are the Focus, Cruze, Corolla and Civic outselling their B car counterparts 2 or 3 to 1?

 

B cars only get a 1-2 mpg advantage over C cars. I'm not saying they won't sell but they won't come close to the C car volume anytime soon and with only a 1-2 mpg advantage higher gas prices won't change that.

 

What it might change is C-max and other hybrid sales.

 

negative Rep dude strikes again, BTW I am not him.

 

Damn following your logic we should stop selling large cars too, even B-cars outsell them.

 

Do we expect the segment to grow?

 

Does ford have the right prodcuts to benifit from that growth?

 

Will the B-max be able to take adavantage the growth in the segment.

 

with the EB 1.0 It should easily best 40mpg.

[Edstock]

I think this Ford owned patent would work even better...

Really clever. IMHO, these are the kinds of designs that gain market share.

[ausrutherford]

Ford does need more product in Mexico, especially after the Fiesta starts production in Brazil as well.

[4d4evr-1]

This looks interesting to me. I have thought the new Escape would be our next as we are retired and the extra height for entering and exiting would be preferable but this might do better.

[akirby]

negative Rep dude strikes again, BTW I am not him.

 

Damn following your logic we should stop selling large cars too, even B-cars outsell them.

 

Do we expect the segment to grow?

 

Does ford have the right prodcuts to benifit from that growth?

 

Will the B-max be able to take adavantage the growth in the segment.

 

with the EB 1.0 It should easily best 40mpg.

 

What evidence or theory tells you that the B segment is going to grow significantly in the U.S.?

 

If the B max can get 40 mpg with the EB 1.0 then the C-Max and Focus can do 38 mpg.

[Edstock]

The B-Max addresses The Lard-Bucket Accessibility Problem: obese Americans and B-size sleds. With no B-pillar, the opening is big enough that 400-pounders can have a go. The B-Max'll pack a lot of porkage.

[ANTAUS]

B-Max, C-Max, whichever it is, as long as Ford can make a profit, bring it here...they need new product and a Mazda5 sized vehicle would be a good compliment...if they need to do it with "B" size to make it financially feasable, why not.

[esevans]

The B-Max addresses The Lard-Bucket Accessibility Problem: obese Americans and B-size sleds. With no B-pillar, the opening is big enough that 400-pounders can have a go. The B-Max'll pack a lot of porkage.

 

A few years ago at work, a minivan pulled up. Sliding door opened. Out rolled one of the biggest dudes you ever saw. Was sitting on the floor, seats removed from van.

[PREMiERdrum]

The B-Max addresses The Lard-Bucket Accessibility Problem: obese Americans and B-size sleds. With no B-pillar, the opening is big enough that 400-pounders can have a go. The B-Max'll pack a lot of porkage.

 

"This is way more comfortable than my Hoverround!"

[2b2]

Anybody else thing this could be a cool on a Lincoln? Ala suicide doors?

6-door for largest 3-row Lincoln Scuv (my Territory-based Navigator)

but

for sedans, think I'd like to see/try one big back-sliding door per side (with a 'stop' for front only) and then it would angle out (parallelogram) as well as slide a bit farther back for full access

powered of course

&

making a cool psssh sound

Edited March 6, 2012 by 2b2

[fou_bleu]

Do we know if the back windows are fixed or not, I've forgotten if we've covered that...

[silvrsvt]

 

 

Do we expect the segment to grow?

 

 

How much do you really expect it to grow? Given that a B-car is aerodynamically challenged vs a C-sized car and you'll be lucky to see an increase of 2 MPG...are people willing going to downsize that much (giving up space/flexiblabity etc) just to save $156 bucks a year at $5 dollar a gallon gas?!

 

Heck I bet the 2013 Fusion 1.6L I4 Fusion will come close to the MPGs that Focus gets...

[FordBuyer]

What evidence or theory tells you that the B segment is going to grow significantly in the U.S.?

 

If the B max can get 40 mpg with the EB 1.0 then the C-Max and Focus can do 38 mpg.

 

The Kia Soul and Nissan Versa sell in the 10,000+/month range, and both offer good packaging. And it does look like $3.50 gas at the lowest is the new norm, new CAFE standards are still coming, and yes, B segment sales can only go one way, UP. How much is anyone's guess, but they will go up. I also believe companies like Ford will continue to tweak their pricing between segments so that B segment vehicles are clearly and significantlly the most affordable vehicles they offer. Furthermore, I would say it's inevitable that minis the size of KA will be coming ashore in the future also. I'm sure Ford is looking at the sales rate of the Fiat 500 and certainly will pay attention to Chevy Spark when it goes on sale. With 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day, you better believe the big auto companies are paying atttention to the new driving generation coming up and what they want and can afford.I would imagine affordability, fuel efficiency, and space efficiency are the most important. A B-Max without B pillar is certainly intriguing to say the least.

[NickF1011]

The Kia Soul and Nissan Versa sell in the 10,000+/month range, and both offer good packaging.

 

They are both also nearly C-segment sized vehicles. They both also sell well because the more traditional C-segment vehicles for both of those brands are rather weak offerings.

[FordBuyer]

How much do you really expect it to grow? Given that a B-car is aerodynamically challenged vs a C-sized car and you'll be lucky to see an increase of 2 MPG...are people willing going to downsize that much (giving up space/flexiblabity etc) just to save $156 bucks a year at $5 dollar a gallon gas?!

 

Heck I bet the 2013 Fusion 1.6L I4 Fusion will come close to the MPGs that Focus gets...

 

You are forgetting about price. Some buyers do pay attention to that. A 2013 Fusion will cost at least $10,000 more than Fiesta. I imagine a base B-Max would be under $20,000 while even now an SEL Fusion I4 stickers for around $28,000. The SE is up to around $24,000. As the Fusion moves up the price slot, there is room for slotting in B segment vehicles, and more than just the Fiesta. You just know other manufacturers are going to offer more than just one B segment model. And the Fiesta hatch lacks fold flat rear seats. I certainly knew that Focus would be a very high volume vehicle, but there is still room for more B segment vehicles.

[NickF1011]

an SEL Fusion I4 stickers for around $28,000. The SE is up to around $24,000.

 

You are off by a couple grand on both counts. SEL starts at $25,425. SE starts at $22,975.

Edited March 6, 2012 by NickF1011

[silvrsvt]

You are forgetting about price. Some buyers do pay attention to that. A 2013 Fusion will cost at least $10,000 more than Fiesta.

 

No duh...purely looking at MPG numbers vs costs of a car (avg cost of a car is what 26-28K a year) and the given point that CD sized cars are the best selling segment in North America...how much do you really think are going to downsize?

 

Say you can afford a 25K car...you can get a decent Fusion, a pretty nice Focus, or a really nice Fiesta for just under 20K..but you also have 2 children under the age of 7 and the assorted field gear needed for them that you need to stuff into the trunk....so what do you get? I'd say the Focus then the Fusion and the Fiesta is a distant third.

 

There is nothing wrong with offering more choices, but at the same time how many do you want to offer before it becomes unprofitible to offer them? You could offer a Fiesta, B-max and maybe an EcoSport in the market, but if they only sell 150K of them at less then 25K each in the US...is it really worth it? The Flex can (or seems like it can make money) at lower numbers because it starts at 30K and goes up to 50K...its harder to make money on a car that already costs close to 10K in raw materials and not figuring labor costs etc....

 

 

 

 

[akirby]

Yes - the Versa sells like gangbusters. It's also DIRT CHEAP which is why it sells so well. That's the only way to get big numbers in the B segment right now. If B cars offered significantly better fuel economy than C cars then that would be a selling point - but THEY DON'T.

 

How much money does Nissan make on a Versa? It can't be very much. And that's what's keeping Ford from investing in the segment more in the U.S. - there are many more vehicles to invest in with much higher profit margins. And as long as they have the vehicles in Europe they can easily bring them here if the market suddenly shifts.

 

But I see C vehicles, hybrids, PIHs and EVs taking off as gas prices rise, not B cars.

[FordBuyer]

You are off by a couple grand on both counts. SEL starts at $25,425. SE starts at $22,975.

 

I hear you, but just about every Fusion SEL I4 sitting on lots around here and there are hundreds of them sticker for $28,000. And the SE's are all in $24,000 range. So if like most you want a new Fusion fast out of inventory, that will be sticker price you start dealing from minus incentives and how badly dealer wants vehicle off lot. Finding the cheapest Fusion in inventory is like finding a sub $30,000 F-150 on lot....impossible. Again, there is some wiggle room for more affordable vehicles like C of course and more B segment vehicles if not smaller. Entry level vehicles are still important segment for full line manufacturers. You know the Asian manufacturers are not going to give up on them and will expand the offerings, so the domestics better keep up. And like them, Ford has no intentions of building them on U.S. soil, so they can at least break even on them. I would imagine that if most B segment buyers get a few options, Ford makes a few bucks. You know dealers don't order them stripped for their inventory.