Autoblog

Paris 2010: Ford pondering bringing five-door C-Max to U.S. [w/poll]

Chris Paukert — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford

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

Following the second press day at the Paris Motor Show at a drive event in Southern France, Ford's global vice president of marketing, Jim Farley, let slip to Autoblog that Dearborn decisionmakers are mulling over whether to import the C-Max to the U.S. As you'll recall, Ford has already committed to bringing over the C-Max's larger line mate, the seven-seat Grand C-Max, a vehicle that Farley tells us won't hit American soil until early in calendar 2012 (likely as a 2013 model).

Unlike its bigger brother, the C-Max has conventional front-hinged rear doors (the Grand has a pair of sliders) along with a more aggressive roofline and rear graphic to complement its shorter wheelbase. Think of it as more of a pent-roof Focus wagon and less of a smallish minivan in the mold of the Mazda5 and you've got it.

Interestingly, Farley maintains that Ford won't necessarily wait until the Grand C-Max goes on sale in the U.S. to determine whether or not to bring the model to America, and it will actively solicit feedback from both journalists and consumers to see if there's a business case to be made. While such language is common among PR folks looking to assuage media members always clamoring for the importation of forbidden automotive fruit, Farley sounded quite optimistic. Further, he reminded us that there was "absolutely no plan" initially to market the next-gen five-door Focus in the States, but that all changed after the 2007 Verve concept was met with an enthusiastic response from media members and show goers. A few years ago, we probably would have discounted such talk, but with CEO Alan Mulally and product chief Derrick Kuzak pushing the One Ford agenda globally, who knows? It might just make it Stateside after all.

If Ford does decide to bring the C-Max to America, it may have a minor naming conundrum to deal with. At the moment, the Grand C-Max moniker is expected to be shortened to just 'C-Max' when it goes on sale in the U.S., or the MPV might take on the name 'Focus C-Max,' though a final decision has not yet been made. As the Blue Oval won't sell both models with the same name, the five-door model would ostensibly need a different name.

Do you think the short-wheelbase C-Max would sell? Check out our high-resolution galleries of both models and then be sure to vote in our poll below. We'll have firsthand drive impressions of the European-spec C-Max range to share with you next week, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2011 Ford C-Max

Gallery: 2011 Ford Grand C-Max

View Poll

Paris 2010: Ford pondering bringing five-door C-Max to U.S. [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:00:00 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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Autoblog Podcast #144

Dan Roth — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Podcasts, Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Lexus, Rolls-Royce

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #144 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam, and Dan took some time on Labor Day to ruminate over some automotive subjects, and it wound up being another near-epic length 'cast. The Frankfurt Motor Show is coming, and on that note, we start off with the Lexus LF-Ch, expected to debut there soon. More Frankfurt anticipation is built as we talk about the Ford CMax, and then we move on to the Rolls Royce Ghost, the debacle surrounding the Honda Crosstour and social media, Time Magazine's unexciting list of exciting cars, and wrap it all up with the disparaging remarks Audi's chief directed at the Chevrolet Volt. We hit the questions before calling it a night well past the hour and a half mark. Thanks for taking the time to listen, welcome to all the new listeners who've discovered us through everyone's reviewing efforts in iTunes, thanks for the help on the survey, and as always, hit us up at Podcast at Autoblog Dot Com. See you next week, but in the meantime, check out this, or this!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #144

Autoblog Podcast #144 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:15:00 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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