14/104RELEASE AT 23:01 ON 16SEPTEMBER, 2014
Smarter and More Stylish NewFord C-MAXand Grand
C-MAX Offer Families Enhanced Comfort and Refinement
- Stylish new C-MAX and Grand C-MAXdeliver significant improvements in fuel efficiency and CO2emissions;advanced technology; and smart new stowage ideas
- New C-MAX family inherits sleekexterior design with bold new face of Fordand anintuitive,beautifully crafted interior
- Hands-Free Tailgate andPerpendicular Parking available; improved Active City Stop collision avoidancenow works at speeds of up to 31mph
- Powertrain line-up for the UK includes a 1.5-litre TDCi engine offered for first time on C-MAX
BRENTWOOD, Essex, Sept. 16, 2014–Ford Motor Company today unveiled the stylish new C-MAXand Grand C-MAXwith a new sleek exterior design, beautifully crafted interior with improved stowage ideas, andmajor fuel efficiencyand CO2 emissions improvements.
The five-seat C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX will also offer superior comfort and refinement when they go on sale across Europe in early 2015. The models willintroduce advanced technology including Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system.
“Ford C-MAX has earned a reputation for providing a balance of great fuel economy, responsive, sporty handling and a flexible, roomy interior package,” said Stephen Odell, Ford executive vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa.“All powertrains benefit from CO2 improvements without sacrificing any of the car’s great driving dynamics.”
“The new Ford C-MAX family alsodeliverslevels of refinement often foundin larger,more upmarket vehicles – including the segment-first Hands-Free Tailgate that only requires a gentle kicking motion to gain access to the boot space.”
Ford first introduced the C-MAX in 2003 and since then has sold more than 1.2 million in Europe.**Now in its third generation, C-MAX has accounted for more than12 per cent of all MAVs sold in Europe so far this year.***
Flexible, comfortable, sporty and stylish
The five-seat C-MAX orthe seven-seat Grand CMAX, whichfeatures Ford’s innovative twin sliding doors and “walk-through” seat design for greaterconvenience, space and flexibility, remain available.
The Ford C-MAX family has been restyledto reflect the One Ford global design language and isavailable in new exterior coloursRed Rush and a stylish brown-grey shade called Caribou.The dynamicstyling delivers a stronger, sleeker front end,featuring Ford’s distinctiveinverted trapezoidal grille.The washer jets have been hidden underneath the windscreen to complement the cleaner look of the restyled bonnet.
Sleeker, more chiselled front headlamps and more rectangular, elongated fog-lamps add to the bolder front end.The tailgate has been given a smoother and more sophisticated one-pieceappearance using the latest laser-brazing technique,which applies cleaner and exceptionally strong welds to thin sheets of metal. A compacttail lamp designcompletes the contemporarylook.
The new FordC-MAX and Grand C-MAXinteriorsfollow the customer-led design refinements that have already been executed on new Focus. The more intuitive layout has fewer controls and switches, while the new black satin trim and chrome detailing contributes to a cleaner, modern look. Functions are simpler to use, such as the air-conditioning controls that now feature buttons that are easier to recognise and distinguish from each other.
A redesigned centre storage console offers increased space and features a sliding, integrated armrest. The new adjustable console accommodates a variety of bottles and cups with the capacity to hold a one-litre water bottle and a 0.4-litre cupsimultaneously, while the swing bin glovebox makes items stored inside easier to access. A deeper upper storage area significantly improves the capacity on top of the dashboardfor family belongings, and features a new USB connection point for integrating and charging mobile devices.
In addition, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX will be offered with 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.
Noise, vibration and harshness have been improved through the use of thicker side glass and more absorbentseals around the tailgateand rear view mirror. The engine bay heat shield has been filled with acoustic damping material to reduce powertrain noise, anddiesel cars are equipped with extra acoustic seals to further reduce noise intrusion.
Continuing under the bonnet, a retuned dual mass flywheel helps to reduce shaking forces when the engine is under load, while new engine mounts offer improved refinement during AutoStart-Stop operation. On the outside, stiffer, noise- and vibration-optimised alloy wheels have been designed to reduce resonant vibrations.
“We are committed to delivering clean, and intuitive interiors across the entire Ford line-up and C-MAX is the latest vehicle to benefit from our comprehensive restyling programme,”said Joel Piaskowski, director, Design, Ford of Europe.“The new C-MAX has received itsmost significant remodelling to date and is now more comfortable, more practical, and delivers the best driving experience in its segment.”
Sensing danger
The new Ford C-MAX familyisequipped with advancedFord technologies that help drivers avoid or mitigate incidents – from scrapes and bumps while parking to more serious, higher speed collisions.
Ford’s Active Park Assist system locates suitably-sized parking spaces and, at the push of a button, steersthe vehiclein to the space while the driver controls the accelerator and brake. CMAX and Grand C-MAX addPerpendicular Parking capability with the addition of two new ultrasonic sensors at the rear of the car. The systemhelps drivers reverse into spaces side-by-side with other cars.
The extra sensors also enable two additional technologies that help drivers as they manoeuvre out of parking spaces:
- Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them. Operating with radar at a range of up to 40 metres (131feet), the system will issue three distinct warning signals if it detects a vehicle approachingfrom either side
- Park-Out Assist helps drivers as they exit a parallel parking space. After the driver has chosen either the left or right hand side the system operates the steering while the driver operates the accelerator and brake
Ford has also improved itsActive City Stop collision avoidance system, which uses sensors at the front of the vehicle to look for stationary objects in the road ahead and pre-charges the brakes if the vehicle is approaching an object too quickly. If the driver still does not respond the system reduces engine torque and automatically applies the brakes to reduce the impact of collisions.New C-MAX offers the latest system that now operates at speeds of up 31mph, up from 19mph.
In the case of moving objects Active Braking works in a similar way to Active City Stop but with a vehicle speed range of between 5mph and 112mph. It supports drivers at higher speeds, for example on the motorway, by issuing warnings and applying braking as required.
Also new to C-MAX, Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control technology enables drivers to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead, even when that vehicle is travelling more slowly than the cruise speed. For occasions when Adaptive Cruise Control is not active, Distance Indication enables drivers to set a preferred distance they would like to maintain with the vehicle ahead. Should the driver get any closer, the system issues a three-stage dashboard display warning – from grey to yellow to red.
Better connected with SYNC 2
The new Ford C-MAX family is equipped with Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system that features a high-resolution, 8-inch colour touch screen and advanced voice control for hands-free operation of audio, navigation, climate control and connected mobile phone functions.
SYNC 2’s navigation system is supported by map services provider HERE, and offers a split-screen display with detailed intersections, spoken street names, 3D highway junctions, landmark viewsand the MICHELIN guide.
SYNC 2 enables drivers to issue simpler “one-shot” navigation destinations, and to ask the system to “play” a desired artist. Simply pushing the voice control button and saying “I’m hungry” will provide a list of local restaurants, which you can then get directions to via the navigation system.
“We have developed SYNC 2 so it is simple and intuitive for drivers to use, and it seamlessly
switches between touch screen and voice commands,” said Christof Kellerwessel, chief engineer, Electronic and Electrical Systems Engineering, Ford of Europe. “Drivers will be able to control more in-car systems than ever before, while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”
Thenew Ford C-MAX will also be offered with a premium sound system that incorporates10 Sony speakers, including a subwoofer (bass speaker) to deliver a more rounded and deeper sound.
Powerful and efficient
The new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX offer significantly improved CO2figures and for the first time feature as standard Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop technology on EcoBoost petrol and 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines.The most improved model is expected to offer a 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
The new C-MAX family powertrain line-up will be offered with Ford’s new1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine, delivering120PS. The C-MAXfamily will continue to be offered with 100PS and 125PS versions of the multi-award winning1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.
During the first seven months of 2014, more than a quarter of C-MAX models sold in Europe** were equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine,whichin 2014 was named International Engine of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutiveyear.
The new 120PS 1.5-litre diesel engineis expected tooffer up to a sixper cent improvement in CO2compared to the 1.6-litre diesel it replaces, while delivering 5PS more power. The revised 2.0-litre diesel is expected to improve emissions by up to 20 per cent and power by over four per cent.
“These powertrains will also help make C-MAX the first car in its segment to comply withthe latest EU Stage VIemissions regulations across the entire range from launch,” Jim Baumbick, Ford’s global C-car vehicle line director.
Brighter future
The new Ford C-MAX family is offered with LED Daytime Running Lights,Bi-Xenon HID headlamps and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System that adjusts the headlight beam angle to one of seven settings depending on traffic and road conditions. For example; when cornering at lower speeds, the system will project a beam towards the side of the road to make cyclists and pedestrians more visible. The system also will support drivers cornering at higher speeds by directing light further into the bend.
The new C-MAXand Grand C-MAX will for the first time offer Ford’s MyKey technology, which enables owners to programme a key – usually for younger drivers – that restricts the top speed, reduces the maximum volume of the audio system, and can disable the audio system altogether if driver and passengers are not using safety belts. The system can alsoprevent the driver from deactivating safety technologies such as Traction Control.
“C-MAX and Grand C-MAX deliver a more relaxing experience with chassis and interior enhancements and, with sophisticated driver assistance technologies,” Baumbicksaid. “The ability to see more clearly in challenging conditions, to detect potential accidents and to keep less experienced drivers safeprovide additional assurance and reduce stressfor drivers whether at the wheel or not.”
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* The declared fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Results in MPG also correspond to this European drive cycle and are stated in imperial gallons. The results may differ from fuel economy figures in other regions of the world due to the different drive cycles and regulations used in those markets.
** Ford Sales Reporting figures. Ford’s 20 European main markets are Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
*** Based on Ford’s analysis of the latest Polk global vehicle registration data for 2014.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information about Ford and its products worldwide please visit .
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individualmarkets and employs approximately 50,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford MotorCredit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturingfacilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venturefacilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company wasfounded. European production started in 1911.
Contact: / Charlotte Ward / Oliver RoweTel: 01277 252835 / Tel: 01277 252216
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