- Ford said its new C-Max compact crossover will be built and sold in the U.S. next year as a dedicated hybrid vehicle.
- Ford will produce two versions, the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi, a plug-in version.
- Ford changed its mind and will not offer a gasoline-only version of the C-Max in the U.S.
DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Company said its new C-Max compact crossover will be built and sold in the U.S. next year as a dedicated hybrid vehicle. In announcing plans to expand production of the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford said it had changed its mind about offering a seven-passenger gasoline-only version of the C-Max in the U.S.
The C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi will compete against Toyota's upcoming Prius V crossover. All three hybrids are designed to seat five passengers. A seven-passenger edition of the Prius V will not be offered in the U.S.
General Motors also is considering whether to offer a five-passenger crossover variant of the Volt in the United States. A concept version was unveiled at last year's Beijing auto show, badged as the Volt MPV5.
The C-Max is based on the compact Ford Focus. Ford is also planning to introduce a battery-powered version of the Focus later this year in the U.S.
Ford said those vehicles "will be followed by another next-generation hybrid in 2012," but did not provide details.
Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of marketing, sales and service, said: "Whether people want a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles."
Inside Line says: It's a bold move by Ford to cut the gasoline version of the C-Max from its future U.S. lineup.
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begilled says:
07:36 AM, 09/17/2011
I'm surprised Ford won't be offering a gas or diesel version of the C-Max.
their are alot of people that may not know that Lithium batteries, once used up, can only be disposed of via landfills. Not to mention the largest lithium mine is in the middle east.
I would even consider natural gas, instead of battery power.
redk2 says:
01:19 PM, 08/16/2011
I was looking forward to the 7-passenger C-Max. I saw one at the auto show and thought it was looked like a nice package. We drive a Mazda5 and are pretty satisfied with it. I would like more driver legroom and the HVAC controls are fiddly. It is also really hard on tires; the right side tires wear much faster than the left. Because it uses 205/50x17 tires there are very few that do not have directional treads thus cannot be rotated from the right to the left side of the car. I was hoping Ford would have an alternative since we are inclined to stay with this class/size of vehicle. It is the right size and the added passenger seats get lots of use when we visit the grandkids (Wife, me, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren = 6. I wouldn't go on a long trip in the third row, but it works just fine for short trips.) Sadly that will not be the case. I really don't know what market Ford is targeting with the 5-passenger smaller C-max, but I am going to guess it will not last long - especially as a plug-in. Electric cars got lots of hype at the beginning of this year, but I will bet there haven't been many Volts or Leafs sold. I have yet to see one on the road. Anyway, I am disappointed and will have to stick with the Mazda5, poor driving position, goofy HVAC controls, tire wear, and all. You lost me, Ford.
leokbelo says:
03:36 PM, 06/12/2011
"Whether people want a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles."
So where's the new Focus Wagon?
.....
sevenseas says:
08:29 PM, 06/10/2011
I had been waiting over 1 year in anticipation of the c-max, its too bad Ford decided to ax the 7-seater with the turbo engine. personally I'm not a fan of hybrid cars and would never purchase one.
I wont bother writing a letter to Ford asking them to reconsider. Years ago I wrote to them about providing a 4 cyclinder engine in the now discontinued Mazda 6 wagon. They sent me a response telling me they were not interested in my opinion (its true and not an exaggeration).
A letter to Hyundai regarding a suggestion was handled professionally. I appreciated Hyundai treating me in that manner.
I rented the Ford Flex for 1 week and liked it but it was too big for me and did not like the blue lighting for the instrument panel. Gas mileage was just so so. Maybe I'll consider a Subaru Forester once the 4-speed transmission is replaced.
jstodola says:
01:41 PM, 06/10/2011
And no Duratorqs. It'd be a lot more attractive to me (any smaller car would, really) with a nice diesel rather than a hybrid. Looking at Ford's UK site, the 140 hp, 236 pound feet 2 l Duratorq at 46 mpg combined might be pretty attractive.
But, no. No diesels for you!
ford_flexer says:
10:57 AM, 06/10/2011
they sould have kept the gasoline version now that their not i still believe ford will pull it off
ed124c says:
10:32 AM, 06/10/2011
For taking a trip, the Mazda5 is just a four passenger car. The third row eats up most of the rear cargo area, so it would be quite difficult to take 5 people on a trip if luggage is required, and utterly impossible if you were hauling six people. (The Mazda5 has three rows of two seats per row.)
The Grand C-Max would have been a seating improvement over the Mazda5, since it would seat 5 in the first two rows, preserving the cargo area while still offering the option of seating for 7.
So, the only reason for buying the US C-Max would be gas mileage. There are tons and tons of relatively small 5 passenger CUVs. Welcome to the fray, Ford. You could have had a niche of one with the Grand C-Max.
davicho says:
10:15 AM, 06/10/2011
se_riuosly...
If you counted right my family would be of six not seven including me...
"leaving one of them home so that my wife, my three OTHER kids and myself can fit into a 5-passenger vehicle?
I used to own a Mazda5 and although we fit just fine, there was not much room for anything else when going on trips. So we decided to upgrade to a CX-9. Which also sits cozy inside my garage and only comes out to play every other weekend...my daily beater is a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe, thank you very much!
wjtinatl says:
09:17 AM, 06/10/2011
Bummer... Grand C-Max looked to be a cool ride. Regular C-Max appears to be a slightly larger Focus.
jmess says:
07:21 PM, 06/09/2011
I was thinking the C-Max might be my first ever Ford car, looks like that won't be happening.