Ford C-Max Hybrid and Energi
All eyes were on Ford as they unveiled the new 2012 C-MAX Hybrid
and Energi at the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit. Geared toward the modern couple wishing to grow their
family while reducing their carbon footprint and save a bucks
in the process, the multi-passenger vehicle promises high mileage
and low emissions.
Sporty, fuel-efficient, and just plain cool, the C-Max is definitely
not your typical minivan. Let's take a closer look:
- Premiere motor - The C-Max showcases Ford's brand
new 1.6-liter Ecoboost 4 cylinder engine, a fully aluminum
motor boasting a twenty percent reduction in fuel consumption
without sacrificing muscle. At 168 hp and 173 ft-lbs of torque,
the C-Max packs an impressive punch. The Ford C-Max Hybrid,
when it is offered in 2012 will have a power-split full hybrid
system. The Ford C-Max Energi will be a plug-in hybrid with
a 500-mile range and will achieve Advanced Technology Partial
Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) status.
- Flexible seating options - Ford anticipated the skepticism
that some may express about this compact van's seating capacity
by dubbing it a "5+2" passenger rather than a full
7. While it is possible to squeeze seven people in, it wouldn't
be a comfortable ride unless you had several small riders,
which, in Ford's defense, you very well might if you're considering
this automobile.
- Muchos Cargo Space - The only thing supersized in
this microvan is its cargo space. Virtually everything in
the rear of the vehicle is foldable, allowing for plenty of
space for stuff when you're short on passengers.
- Intelligent Access - Ford's Intelligent Access system
allows drivers to access and start the vehicle without the
need for a key. Keyless entry and start-up and dual sliding
doors are enhanced by an added entry feature-the automatic
liftgate. A movement sensor situated underneath the bumper
enables automatic opening, a nifty convenience for those times
when you're carrying an armload of groceries to the car.
- Modern-Day Bells and Whistles - The cutting-edge
technology options available for this vehicle put to rest
the allegations that the C-Max is a recycled version of old
Mazda prototypes. Ford's version of an on-board, online directory
is a system called SYNC that controls just about everything
in the vehicle from climate control to navigation to entertainment
options, and offers a highly desirable in-car mobile hotspot
for surfing the Web on the go. Drivers and passengers can
control the SYNC system by simply touching the 8-inch screen
or activating it using voice commands.
- Trendy Touches - There's a reason that the boxy minivan
has a bad rap. Using what Ford calls a kinetic exterior design,
the C-Max offers a sleeker, trendier alternative for families
needing to graduate to a larger vehicle without the bigger
gas bill associated with a large SUV. The C-Max's sculpted
profile, low front-end, stylish headlamps, and subtle spoiler
gives the vehicle just the right amount of glam without overdoing
it.
The C-Max Hybrid and Energi are testimonies that the U.S. market
is finally ready for meaningful change when it comes to driving
new, high tech automobiles. While hybrids have been normalized
over the past 10 years, plug-ins will follow the same route
and the Ford C-Max will help us to get right where we are yearning
to be.
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