Autoblog

2012 Ford B-Max spreads its little wings over Europe

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:32:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford

Between the Fiesta ST, Tourneo van concept and the new Kuga (that's Escape to us Yanks), Ford had plenty to showcase this year at the Geneva Motor Show. But one of the most pivotal - for its European operations, anyway - is the B-Max.

A mini-minivan based on the Fiesta platform, the B-Max takes an innovative form. At least, its doors do. Because as Ford has highlighted (and we dutifully reported) recently, the automaker has managed to eliminate the entire B-pillar, integrating it into the door itself to form an extra wide opening on both sides of the extra-small people-mover.

It strikes us as a useful feature, and while the B-Max itself will not be making the transatlantic voyage back with us from Europe to North America, we're hoping that the door system will, in some shape or form, anyway. In the meantime, you can admire from afar in the gallery of high-res live shots from the Palexpo show floor and delve into the press release after the jump for all the details.

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2012 Ford B-Max spreads its little wings over Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford showcases wide-opening Easy Access doors on new B-Max

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford

Every year the auto show circuit is packed with concept cars (usually crossovers and minivans) that do away with the B-pillar to tease us with easy access and a wide aperture to the cabin. It's what Ford's European exterior design director Stefan Lamm calls "a designer's dream". But none of them ever make it into production. That is, until now.

Ford first showed off a compact MPV concept called the B-Max at the Geneva Motor Show last year that, like many others, did without a B-pillar altogether. Earlier this month, the Blue Oval automaker announced it was putting the Fiesta-based minivan into production - and that the pillar would stay out. But this is the first image we've received of the production B-Max with its wide-opening doors actually, you know...open.

The combined aperture of the conventional front-hinged doors and sliding rear doors, unencumbered by the pillar you'd usually expect to find there, comes in at a whopping 1.5 meters (nearly five feet) wide - nearly twice that of the Opel Meriva with its innovative rear "suicide" doors - and is made possible by strategic use of high-strength steel incorporated into the doors.

Follow the jump for the full press release and stay tuned for the vehicle's debut at the upcoming Geneva show. While we might hope for the Easy Door Access System to find its way into Ford's American offerings in the near future, we wouldn't expect to find the B-Max you see here in U.S. showrooms any time soon.

Continue reading Ford showcases wide-opening Easy Access doors on new B-Max

Ford showcases wide-opening Easy Access doors on new B-Max originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford previews 2012 B-Max MPV ahead of Geneva debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford, Design/Style

You've seen the S-Max. You've seen the C-Max. Now get ready for the B-Max.

The latest European-focused mini minivan from Ford was previewed in concept form at last year's Geneva Motor Show, but has now been confirmed for production release at the 2012 edition of the same expo this March. Based on the Fiesta (the C-Max is based on the Focus), the new B-Max will arrive into a highly competitive segment overseas, so it will need to offer some alluring features to make its mark.

The edgy design should help, but the party piece for this diminutive people carrier is that it has no B-pillars. And we don't mean that the windows have no frame: we mean the entire pillars are incorporated into the doors themselves, so that when you open the doors there's no encumbrance to loading and unloading of passengers and cargo alike.

Motivation is provided by a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, with Duratorq diesels also on offer. After its unveiling in Geneva, the new B-Max will go on sale at dealers across Europe later this year. Follow the jump for the full press release and click the thumbnails below to view the pair of images released thus far in high resolution.

Continue reading Ford previews 2012 B-Max MPV ahead of Geneva debut

Ford previews 2012 B-Max MPV ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder finds a home in the Euro-spec Focus

Chris Shunk — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

Ford's EcoBoost offerings may have started off big and powerful, but the Blue Oval is quickly moving towards small and thrifty. Ford will soon offer its smallest turbocharged offering yet, as a new 1.0-liter, three-cylinder has been announced in advance of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new EcoBoost engine will be available in the Ford Focus, C-Max and B-Max, and it will be available in 99 horsepower and 118 hp variants. A respectable 125 pound-feet of torque is available from a scant 1,300 rpm thanks to a turbocharger that can spool up to 250,000 revolutions per minute. Ford was able to extract so much power out of such a small, boosted engine thanks to improved twin variable camshaft design and an exhaust manifold cast that is cast into the cylinder head. And get this: While other EcoBoost offerings start with an aluminum block, the 1.0-liter includes an iron engine block, which isn't only cheaper, it reduces engine warmup time by 50 percent.

The key benefits sought from engine downsizing, of course, are improved fuel economy and lowered emissions. In this scenario, Ford promises 120 g/km C02, which works out to right around 45.5 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the European cycle. That 120 g/km figure, in case you're wondering, is identical to the much smaller Scion iQ, which gets a 36 city / 37 highway EPA rating. The diminutive engine will be fitted with five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions.

The three-liter EcoBoost will start off as a Europe-only affair, arriving early in 2012. Ford hasn't announced any availability of this engine in the U.S., though presumably consistently high fuel prices could change that over time. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release.

Continue reading Ford 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder finds a home in the Euro-spec Focus

Ford 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder finds a home in the Euro-spec Focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Ford B-Max Concept is a roomy Fiesta MPV

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:42:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford

Ford B-Max Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is mulling diving into the realm of mini people movers. The Ford B-Max is a compact minivan concept which rides on the same platform as the Fiesta. Its body sits 4.3-inches longer and taller than the Fiesta, and rear-seat passengers will have a much easier time getting in and out of the back seats thanks to the unique door construction.

A pair of sliding rear doors work together with the front doors to create an opening nearly five-feet wide. This is accomplished, in part, by the apparently lack of a B-pillar. However, the B-pillar is still part of the B-Max but it's integrated into the front and rear doors. When closed, they act together in the same manner as a traditional support pillar.

Once those doors are closed, you can twist the key and bring the three-cylinder, 1.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine to life. We don't have any stats on the engine, but considering it's a part of the EcoBoost family, we expect a flat torque curve and solid fuel efficiency.

While officially labeled a concept, you can bet your bottom dollar (and your top one, too) that the B-Max is headed for European showrooms very soon.

Gallery: Ford B-Max Concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Ford B-Max

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Ford B-Max Concept is a roomy Fiesta MPV

Geneva 2011: Ford B-Max Concept is a roomy Fiesta MPV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford debuting B-pillarless B-Max in Geneva

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Ford

Ford B-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ford S-Max and C-Max have a new little sibling, and its name is B-Max. Making its global debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the very compact minivan rides on the same platform as the Fiesta and is just 4.3-inches longer than that model's five-door hatchback. Aiding in the action of ingress/egress, the B-Max ditches B-pillars entirely so occupants can easily glide past the dual sliding rear doors.

The B-pillar appears to be completely removed but are in fact integrated into the front and rear doors. When closed, the two work together and behave in the same manner as a traditional pillar.

Doors closed and occupants protected, forward motivation is provided courtesy of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine, the latest and smallest of Ford's EcoBoost engine family. With the aid of Start/Stop technology, the EcoBoost engine should even better fuel economy than a similarly powerful four-cylinder engine.

For more information on the Ford B-Max, follow the jump and peruse the press release. And stay tuned to our live coverage of the Geneva Motor Show, as we'll bring back live images of the B-Max just as soon as we can.

Gallery: Ford B-Max

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford debuting B-pillarless B-Max in Geneva

Ford debuting B-pillarless B-Max in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford B-Max minivan concept coming to Geneva

Zach Bowman — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford

It sounds like Ford is getting ready to square off against the Opel Meriva small minivan in Europe. According to Automotive News, Ford will be bringing an all-new B-segment van to next year's Geneva Motor Show. The Blue Oval's European arm is keeping the details of the vehicle close to its chest, but from what we understand, the new minivan should begin production toward the end of 2012. The company has already made it clear that its Craiova, Romania facility will be tasked with constructing a new B-segment fighter sometime soon, and news has it that the vehicle will be more people mover than hatchback.

If true, that means that the new van is likely to carry the B-Max moniker to keep in line with creations like the C-Max and S-Max. In Europe, Ford has relied on its aging Fusion people mover to carry the company in the small-car segment, and the aging platform has begun to slip over the past few years. While it once held the number two slot, the Fusion has fallen to be the fifth most popular vehicle among the B-segment vans.

Regardless of whether or not the B-Max can knock the Meriva off of its throne, we aren't likely to see it here in the states.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Ford B-Max minivan concept coming to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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