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2013 Ford C-Max Energi

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Ford, First Drives

Adding EV Capacity To Ford's Ultra-Flexible C-Max

The world of the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle is evolving at a far more rapid pace today than it has at any other point in its 12 or so years of existence. The emergence of newer, more compact and more powerful batteries, with quickly rising expectations for fuel economy on the part of the American consumer, as well as regular spikes in gas prices have all worked to create conditions that are excellent for hybrid-car development.

To date, Toyota has been the best at surfing this ever-growing wave of hybrid demand, but in the last year, Ford's plan to offer the most fuel efficient product in every market segment has started to bear fruit. From comparatively frugal turbocharged V6 power in its pickup trucks and utilities, all the way to fully electric vehicles, the current and pending line of Ford vehicles hopes to set economy standards for the rest of the industry. The C-Max, Ford's tall, narrow and capacious ode to European people movers is, perhaps, the most apt at carrying forward the message of the brand's new found fuel-frugalness, with both a hybrid model and this new plug-in hybrid, the C-Max Energi.

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2013 Ford C-Max Energi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford C-Max Hybrid officially gets 47 mpg across the board; Energi hits 85 mph in EV mode

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Ford, Electric

Two new announcements about Ford and its upcoming C-Max line of vehicles arrived today, emphasizing the vehicles' efficiency and electric performance.

For the C-Max Hybrid, the previously predicted miles per gallon rating of 47 mpg is now official, per the EPA, and will apply across the board. That means city, highway and combined mileage ratings are all 47. As anyone Ford can reach with a PR blast knows, this beats at least one of the mpg numbers for the Toyota Prius V by seven mpg. The world's most popular hybrid lineup, in V guise, gets 44 mpg in the city, 40 on the highway and 42 combined. The standard Prius Liftback version, of course, gets 51 city, 48 highway and 50 combined.

More interesting, perhaps, is the news that the plug-in Energi model will be able to go up to 85 miles per hour in all-electric mode. Once again, Ford is hammering the Prius comparison, saying that speed is "more than 20 mph higher than Toyota Prius plug-in." The C-Max Hybrid can go up to 62 miles an hour in EV mode.

To engage EV mode in the C-Max Energi, Ford uses a "unique EV mode button allows customers to deliver electric power on-demand." We're not sure what makes it unique (other plug-ins have powertrain mode selector buttons), but it does have three modes: EV Now (where the car is only moved by battery power, as long as it's available), EV Auto (normal operation, with both battery and gas engine used for propulsion) or EV Later, a "battery-saving mode that reserves the pack power for later use." (Think of the Chevrolet Volt mountain mode.) The Energi goes on sale in limited areas this fall and nationwide in early 2013.

Oh, Ford also says, "With a fully charged battery, C-MAX Energi is rated at 195 horsepower, versus 188 horsepower for Toyota Prius." It's pretty clear which competitors Ford is going after here, isn't it?

Continue reading Ford C-Max Hybrid officially gets 47 mpg across the board; Energi hits 85 mph in EV mode

Ford C-Max Hybrid officially gets 47 mpg across the board; Energi hits 85 mph in EV mode originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid priced at $29,995 after tax credit

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Ford

The U.S. federal tax credit for plug-in vehicles maxes out at $7,500 for cars with batteries that are 16 kWh or larger. The Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid doesn't have that big of a pack, so the most the feds will grant you for buying one is $3,750. Still, the Energi's just-announced price of $33,745 is competitive in the plug-in space, since most people will end up paying $29,995.

Ford calls the Energi "America's most affordable plug-in hybrid," but that would seem to be just barely the case. The $33,745 price includes destination fees. The Toyota Prius Plug-In, with those fees, is priced at $32,760, and it qualifies for $2,500 in federal tax credits, so it comes to $30,260 in the end. That's just $265 more than the Energi. To make another comparison, the regular hybrid C-Max will cost $25,995, including destination. Both of these Ford vehicles will be available later this year.

The C-Max Energi is Ford's first production plug-in hybrid and has a 20-mile all-electric range and 95 miles per gallon equivalent rating. If you'd like to build your own Ford C-Max Energi, the configurator website is here.

Continue reading Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid priced at $29,995 after tax credit

Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid priced at $29,995 after tax credit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford says Focus Electric will get 100 MPGe, C-Max models also ready to compete

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Oh, what a difference one seat makes. Ford just announced that the Focus Electric will be, "the first all-electric vehicle to achieve a 100 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) fuel efficiency rating." But wait, you're saying, what about the Mitsubishi i, which gets 112 MPGe? Ah, this is when you finish reading Ford's sentence, which ends, "with seating for five." The i is rated as a four-seat (two-plus-two) vehicle while the Focus is a "normal" five-seater.

100 MPGe is just one selling point for Ford's upcoming EV. The other is faster charging technology that allows the Focus EV, "to charge in half the time of a Nissan Leaf using 240-volt outlets." That means a three- to four-hour recharge time.

On the plug-in hybrid side, Ford also announced that the C-Max Energi is expected to have "miles per gallon equivalent rating in electric mode better than Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid" and the C-Max Hybrid (non-plug-in) should get "better fuel economy than Toyota Prius V." The C-Max Energi "is expected to deliver a better fuel economy equivalent in electric mode than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid with a 500-mile overall driving range, more than Chevrolet Volt." Even though it's not ready to give us a lot of numbers for the C-Max models quite yet, it's clear that Ford is getting ready to take on the best-selling fuel-efficient cars in the U.S. in 2012.

In California, New York and New Jersey, the first orders for the 2012 Focus Electric were taken in November. Fifteen more launch markets will open up next year. The Focus Electric has started production at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant. The C-Max models also go on sale in 2012.

Continue reading Ford says Focus Electric will get 100 MPGe, C-Max models also ready to compete

Ford says Focus Electric will get 100 MPGe, C-Max models also ready to compete originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford cancels seven-passenger C-Max for U.S., focuses solely on Hybrid and Energi models

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

2012 Ford C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Turns out Americans won't be getting another crack at a Euro-style mini minivan. Ford has officially canceled plans for its seven-passenger C-Max for the United States. Fans of small-in-stature MPVs may still be able to find what they are looking for in the Mazda5, but definitely not in Ford dealerships.

The retraction of the seven-seater means the U.S. market will be left with the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi electric vehicle. These vehicles eschew the minivan-spec sliding side doors in favor of four regularly hinged portals and a rear hatchback. The Hybrid is expected to boast better than 41 miles per gallon on the highway, while the plug-in Energi promises to boast 500 miles of driving range from its battery and gasoline engine combined, along with better fuel efficiency than the Chevrolet Volt. We look forward to verifying those claims.

Ford is keen to point out that the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi (yep, spelled with an 'i') models will be built alongside its 2012 Ford Focus and Focus Electric at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. Why is that important? Assuming all goes to plan, Wayne will be the first plant in the world to produce gasoline-powered vehicles, full-electric vehicles, hybrid and plug-in hybrids under the same roof.

If you'd like, you're free to peruse the official press release after the break, which is not surprisingly focused much more on the two promised green-mobile five-seaters than on the death of the seven-seater. Now, if you'll excuse us for a moment, we're going to don our solid-black Sunday Bests and mourn the passing of Ford's planned seven-seater. Poor thing never even had a chance...

Continue reading Ford cancels seven-passenger C-Max for U.S., focuses solely on Hybrid and Energi models

Ford cancels seven-passenger C-Max for U.S., focuses solely on Hybrid and Energi models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi mixes plugs and petrol

Chris Shunk — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:41:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Ford, Electric

2013 Ford C-Max Energi - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ford C-Max combines the look and feel of a hatchback with the people and cargo-hauling capability of a crossover. And did we mention that Ford is striving for best-in-class fuel economy at the same time? That's a formula sure to intrigue buyers, but there are some who will want all that utility with the added bonus of even better efficiency.

The first step up the efficiency ladder is the C-Max Hybrid. Ford promises efficiency above and beyond that of the Fusion hybrid, which means more than 41 miles per gallon in the city and an EV-only top speed of at least 47 miles per hour - not a big surprise given improvements to Ford's Powersplit technology. The C-Max hybrid will also utilize Ford's 2.0-liter engine running on the Atkinson cycle, which is quite a bit smaller than the 2.5-liter mill motivating the Fusion.

A quantum eleap beyond the C-Max hybrid is the Energi; an extended range people-mover that can be motivated via battery power, gasoline or a mix of the two. Ford isn't ready to spill beans on the Energi's EV-only range, but The Blue Oval is willing to tell us that owners can expect to travel over 500 miles with a full tank and a complete charge. The Energi's battery pack will be built in-house and based on lithium technology, which tells us this green-approved CUV should be able to drive several miles on batteries alone. And Ford will make it easier for smartphone owners to check out battery life with its upcoming MyFord Mobile app.

Both the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energy will be produced at Michigan Assembly Plant starting in 2012. Click on the galleries below to peruse the high-res images.

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi: Detroit 2011

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid: Detroit 2011

Detroit 2011: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi mixes plugs and petrol originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid offer two options for fuel-sipping MPVs

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Ford, Electric

Ford C-Max Energi - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've already told you about the 2012 Ford C-Max, the Blue Oval's new mini-minivan that's set to launch here in North America later this year. The C-Max story doesn't end with just the one gasoline-powered model, though - Ford is bringing two more versions of its small people mover to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show: the C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid.

What's important to note is that while the gasoline C-Max with sliding doors is actually based on the three-row Grand C-Max that Ford sells in other markets, the Hybrid and Energi use conventional front-hinged rear doors and seat five, just like the shorter-wheelbase C-Max available in Europe. The automaker's kinetic design language is in full force here, and the Aston Martin-like grille on these smaller C-Max models resembles what first debuted on Ford's Focus Electric at last week's Consumer Electronics Show.

The C-Max Hybrid uses the Blue Oval's next-generation gasoline/electric powertrain technology, and we're told that fuel economy will be higher than the 41 miles per gallon that's currently on tap in the Fusion Hybrid sedan. By building upon the powersplit technology currently used in the automaker's hybrids, Ford says that the C-Max Hybrid will be able to operate in electric mode at speeds higher than 47 miles per hour.

The big story here, however, is the C-Max Energi, which is essentially a range-extended plug-in hybrid that's not completely unlike the Chevrolet Volt. Ford is targeting an overall driving range of more than 500 miles using both the battery-backed motor and Atkinson-cycle engine, and much like the Focus Electric, the automaker's new MyFord Mobile software will allow users to monitor the C-Max Energi's charging state while on the go.

Both the C-Max Hybrid and Energi will be built alongside the standard C-Max at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant starting in 2012, with European models being built in Valencia, Spain starting in 2013. Follow the jump for the full details in Ford's press release, and check out each version of the new C-Max in our high-res galleries below.

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2013 Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid offer two options for fuel-sipping MPVs

2013 Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid offer two options for fuel-sipping MPVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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