Autoblog

Consumer Reports calls out Ford for false Fusion, C-Max hybrid fuel economy claims

Sharon Silke Carty — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford

Consumer Reports is calling out Ford, saying the new C-Max and Fusion hybrids don't get anywhere near the 47 miles per gallon the automaker claims.

Several automakers have faced backlash after consumers discovered their cars don't quite hit the lofty fuel economy figures promised by the companies, and Ford may be the newest casualty of all this pesky fact-checking by critics and watchdogs.

The magazine drove the cars 2,000 miles and consistently got around 39 mpg for the Fusion and 37 mpg for the C-Max. Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports, said this is the largest discrepancy between what automakers MPG claims and the actual real-world driving results.

"It's not to say these are bad cars at all; they still get excellent fuel economy," Fisher said. "But we've been doing this for a long time, and we've never seen such a difference between the EPA estimates and our numbers."

Ford said its figures were certified by the EPA, but the EPA only tests about 10 to 15 percent of the cars on the road. Ford said some early reports from customers showed the cars getting even better fuel economy than 47 mpg.

"This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary," said Wes Sherwood, a spokesman for Ford. For customers who want to optimize their fuel economy, the cars come with different driving coach software to help drivers get better fuel economy, he said.

Scroll down to watch the video report from Consumer Reports.

Continue reading Consumer Reports calls out Ford for false Fusion, C-Max hybrid fuel economy claims

Consumer Reports calls out Ford for false Fusion, C-Max hybrid fuel economy claims originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford C-Max pricing to undercut Toyota Prius V

Scott Burgess — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Wagon, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Toyota, Electric

Ford dealers have started taking orders for the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, the company announced today.

The gas-electric hybrid will arrive later this year with a starting price of $25,995, undercutting its most direct competitor, the Toyota Prius V hybrid, which has a base price of $26,550.

"C-Max Hybrid offers better fuel economy, performance, technology and functionality than Prius V - and C-Max Hybrid customers will pay less at the dealership and at the pump," said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, in a press release.

More importantly, Ford will provide some stiffer competition for Toyota, which has ruled the hybrid market, selling 77 percent of all hybrids in the U.S. this April. The C-Max will only be offered in the U.S. as a hybrid, similar to Toyota's Prius strategy. There will also be an all-electric version, known as the C-Max Energi, that arrives this fall.

Ford sells the C-Max, which is built on Ford's compact car platform, in Europe as a gas powered model. Since introducing this utility vehicle in 2010, Ford has sold more than 150,000 C-Max vehicles in Europe.

Continue reading Ford C-Max pricing to undercut Toyota Prius V

Ford C-Max pricing to undercut Toyota Prius V originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford uses dog-powered Rube Goldberg device to demonstrate C-Max park assist

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Humor

Ford C-Max Commercial - Click above to watch video after the jump

Ford has you covered if you're needing a video fur fix. The automaker has turned to a canine-powered Rube Goldberg device to help demonstrate the park assist system on its C-Max people mover. A pack of talented dogs play integral parts in a mechanism that unfurls a banner announcing the MPV's talents. Along the way, there are Hot Wheels cars, Nerf arrows and even a big wheel tricycle. We're not entirely sure what dogs and toys have to do with parallel parking, but we aren't in advertising, either.

To our eyes, this spot lacks the clever simplicity of the groundbreaking 'Cog' ad from Honda a few years back, and we're apparently not artistic enough to know why the colors in the video are so washed out (okay, so it's probably just a bad copy), but the good news is that it's still entertaining to watch a scruffy mutt parallel park a C-Max. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Ford uses dog-powered Rube Goldberg device to demonstrate C-Max park assist

Ford uses dog-powered Rube Goldberg device to demonstrate C-Max park assist originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Ford C-Max debuts, Grand C-Max bound for American shores

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:41:00 EST

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

2010 Ford C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Among the many cars available here in Europe that we pine for Stateside, you may be surprised that Ford minivans rank among them. We got a ride in the Galaxy-based S-Max on our way back from driving the new Fiesta in Tuscany and were thoroughly impressed, and from what we hear its Focus-based kid brother C-Max isn't half bad either. But today Ford unveiled a new C-Max, and we need pine no more, for the compact MPV is headed our way. At least, the seven-seat Grand C-Max version is, anyway.

Echoing Chrysler's minivans, the new C-Max is available in two formats: standard wheelbase and long-wheelbase Grand C-Max. The five-seater (green at right) has a sportier appearance with conventional rear doors, while the seven-seater (above in silver) gets sliding doors and a plane ticket across the Atlantic. Both are based on Ford's new global C-segment platform that will underpin the next-generation Focus and offer clever packaging with a compelling adaptation of the Blue Oval's kinetic design language. See for yourself in the high-res gallery of live shots below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ford C-Max

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Ford C-Max debuts, Grand C-Max bound for American shores originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford teases 2011 five-seat C-Max people mover ahead of Frankfurt debut

Chris Paukert — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford, Design/Style

2011 Ford Focus C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has just released a few images of its next-generation C-Max tall hatchback ahead of the model's Frankfurt Motor Show debut, and we're as intrigued as much by what lurks under its hard candy shell as we are with its Iosis Max-derived styling. You see, the EurOval's handsome C-Max "compact multi-activity vehicle" is built on the company's new global C-platform architecture - the very same chassis that will underpin the next Focus that arrives in late 2010.

Ford is not yet disclosing much about its new Euro-market model, but the 2011 C-Max will be powered by a new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. Like the larger EcoBoost powerplants available in Ford's U.S. products, that means that the little I4 will be equipped with turbocharging and direct-injection for better power and fuel efficiency. No output figures for the engine have been released yet, but we suspect Ford will release horsepower and torque numbers (and further information) when the car rolls out in Frankfurt later this month.

Those wishing to purchase the C-Max will have some time to think about whether they're interested in plumping for options like the promised blind-spot detection system or the semi-self parking feature, because the model isn't slated to hit EU dealer forecourts until the second half of 2010. As this five-seater isn't slated to come to the States at all, the rest of us will just have to slake our curiosity on the high-res images below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Ford C-Max

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford teases 2011 five-seat C-Max people mover ahead of Frankfurt debut

Ford teases 2011 five-seat C-Max people mover ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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