IRELAND - Fords new C-Max and Grand C-Max launches with more fuel efficient engines and better tech.

Ford’s new fuel-efficient, flexible and stylish C-MAX and Grand C-MAX which have just arrived in Ireland, offer modern and active families advanced driver assistance technologies, convenience features, and higher levels of comfort and safety.

The new five-seat C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX multi-activity vehicles (MAV) offer enhanced refinement and ride quality with revised chassis, body and interior designs. The C‑MAX family also offers segment-first Hands-Free Tailgate that enables customers to access the boot with a simple kicking motion, and an enhanced version of the Active City Stop system designed to help avoid or mitigate incidents.

“C-MAX has been a popular choice for families in Ireland thanks to its style, roominess, functionality, high seating position, overall economy and 7-seat option”, said Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland.  “And the new version comes with new driver assistance technologies, including the segment first ‘kick activated’ tailgate which we first saw on the Ford Kuga”.

Efficient and powerful engines

The new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX offer reduced running costs with significantly improved fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions, while retaining high performance and responsiveness with downsized engines including:

• Ford’s new 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine, offered with 95 PS and 120 PS, both delivering 105 g/km CO₂ – a 12 per cent improvement in CO₂ compared to the 1.6-litre diesel it replaces, while delivering 5 PS more power
• 100 PS and 125 PS versions of Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, the first engine ever to be awarded the International Engine of the Year trophy three years in a row

Auto-Start-Stop technology is offered on C-MAX as standard on EcoBoost petrol and 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines for the first time, helping deliver up to 17 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions, with power increased by 7 per cent.

Driving Dynamics

The Ford C-MAX family delivers class-leading driving dynamics. The new models feature enhancements including:

• Stiffer suspension bushes, which help deliver a more controlled and intuitive driving experience, and reduced body roll
• Retuned dampers, which help enhance the agile steering feel while maintaining ride comfort and feature a new valve design that reduces squeaks and rattles to improve interior refinement
• Electronic Power Assisted Steering tuned to deliver greater steering precision and stability.

New C-MAX in Ireland

The car is available in two series in Ireland: Zetec and Titanium. In terms of engine line up, there are three powertrains (all Euro Stage VI):

• 1.0 EcoBoost 100 and 125PS (both 117g/km)
• 1.5 TDCi 95 and 120PS (both 105g/km)
• 2.0 TDCi 150PS (114g/km)

Specification details for each series is as follows:

C-MAX Zetec: 16” alloys; front fogs; Quickclear windscreen; SYNC 1; air conditioning; Privacy glass; leather steering wheel; driver seat lumbar adjust; MyKey; and Power front windows

Grand C-MAX Zetec adds:

Rear sensors; powerfold mirrors; and 3^rd row of seats

The C-MAX Titanium series includes in addition:

17” alloys; cruise control; chrome doorline; LED daytime running lights; dual zone climate control; power rear windows; centre armrest; keyless start; ambient lighting; auto lights and wipers; and scuff plates.

Grand C-MAX Titanium adds:

Rear sensors; powerfold mirrors; 3^rd row of seats; roof rails.

Full pricing details are as follows:

Compact Zetec 1.0 EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 100PS (117g/km).…….…...€25,755

Compact Zetec 1.5 TDCi Diesel 95PS (105g/km)…………….………....€26,500       

Compact Zetec 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS (114g/km) ………….………….€28,700      

Compact Zetec 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS Powershift (124g/km)….……..€30,300       

Grand Zetec 1.0 EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 100PS (119g/km)…………..…€28,355      

Grand Zetec 1.5 TDCi Diesel 95PS (113g/km)……………………...……€29,100

Grand Zetec 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS (119g/km)……………………...….€31,300       

Grand Zetec 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS Powershift (129g/km)………........€32,900       

Compact Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 125PS (117g/km)…..….€28,205   

Compact Titanium 1.5 TDCi Diesel 95PS (105g/km)……………………€28,500

Compact Titanium 1.5 TDCi Diesel 120PS (105g/km)…………………..€29,500

Compact Titanium 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS (114g/km)…………………..€30,700

Compact Titanium 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS Powershift (124g/km)…......€32,300

Grand Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 125PS (119g/km)………....€30,805

Grand Titanium 1.5 TDCi Diesel 95PS (113g/km)……………………….€31,100

Grand Titanium 1.5 TDCi Diesel 120PS (113g/km)……………………...€32,100

Grand Titanium 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS (119g/km)……………………...€33,300

Grand Titanium 2.0 TDCi Diesel 150PS Powershift (129g/km)………...€34,900

Ford updates the "Max" range of cars, now better value for money, if not that stunning in design.

• New five-seat Ford C-MAX, seven-seat Grand C-MAX and all-new S-MAX models ready for early summer UK deliveries
• The addition of low emission Euro 6-compliant B-MAX completes Ford’s four-model Multi-Activity Vehicle range

Ford has announced prices for its new C-MAX and S-MAX Multi-Activity Vehicles, which join B-MAX in UK dealerships by the summer.

Ford’s small, medium and large Multi-Activity vehicle range offers the practicality and style prioritised by a growing number of buyers and is available from £13,095 for B-MAX, £18,195 for C-MAX and £24,545 for S-MAX.

Ford B-MAX, launched in 2013, receives the latest EU Stage 6 compliant powertrains including Ford’s new 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

New C-MAX

The stylish new five-seat C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX, with a sleek exterior design, beautifully crafted interior and smart new stowage ideas, offers major fuel efficiency and emissions improvements.

The new C-MAX, priced from £18,195, introduces advanced technology including Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system, Perpendicular Parking and improved Active City Stop, first seen on the new Focus.

The new Grand C-MAX, with prices starting at £20,295, continues to feature Ford’s innovative twin sliding doors and “walk-through” seat design for greater convenience, space and flexibility. Both the new C-MAX and Grand C-Max now offer Hands-Free Tailgate, a segment first.

All-new Ford S-MAX with SYNC 2 as standard

Ford’s SYNC 2 connectivity system, capable of voice controlled navigation, in-car entertainment, climate control and linked mobiles, is standard on all series of the all-new S-MAX range.

Priced from £24,545 the Ford S-MAX Zetec, the range rises to Titanium and Titanium Sport – with the option of the popular Titanium X packs on the highest series.

As well as SYNC 2, all-new Ford S-MAX models will be equipped with front and rear parking sensors, keyless start, sports seats and DAB radio.  The Titanium series adds privacy glass, auto lights, rain-sensing wipers and technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition to remind the driver of the last speed sign passed, lane keeping aid, cruise control and LED running lights.

The top-of-the-range S-MAX Titanium Sport gains a full body styling kit, rear spoiler and sports suspension.  Adding one of the X packs available for either Titanium models further enhances exterior looks and comfort, with Dynamic LED headlights, which adopt the optimum beam pattern for the road type and weather conditions, and 10-way power front seats.

Over 75 per cent of UK customers specify a Ford S-MAX Titanium.  There have been almost 82,000 Ford S-MAX registrations in this country since the car’s launch in 2006 and update in 2010.

One in five of all new Ford's in Europe is powered by the award winning 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine.

• One in five all-new Ford vehicles sold in Europe in first half of 2014 were equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost; customers opt for 1.0-litre in a third of Focus and Fiesta cars  
• Ford’s fuel-efficient and surprisingly powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is Europe’s best-selling turbocharged petrol engine
• Compared with the first six months of 2013, Ford this year sold 15 per cent more vehicles equipped with 1.0-litre EcoBoost
• The 1.0-litre EcoBoost is the first engine ever to win International Engine of the Year three times running

Fresh from an unprecedented third successive International Engine of the Year award, Ford’s small yet surprisingly powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is Europe’s best-selling turbocharged petrol engine for the first six months of the year, according to Ford figures.

So far this year, one in every five vehicles Ford sold in Europe was equipped with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost,* the engine block of which is small enough to fit on a sheet of A4 paper.  

From January through June 2014, Ford sold approximately 120,000 1.0-litre EcoBoost vehicles, compared with 104,000 during the first six months of 2013 – an increase of more than 15 per cent. For the first half of 2014, 1.0-litre EcoBoost models made up 47 per cent of all B-MAX multi-activity vehicles sold, 33 per cent of Focus sales, and 30 per cent of Fiesta sales.**

“Customers are clearly enjoying the benefits from a small engine that offers great fuel efficiency with no compromise to refinement or performance,” said Barb Samardzich, chief operating officer, Ford of Europe. “The range of models offering the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will rise to 11 when the all-new Mondeo is launched in the coming months, and the new 140 PS version in the Fiesta Red Edition and Black Edition shows there is even more potential.” 

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine was in June again named the 2014 International Engine of the Year for its drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology – fighting off competition from premium brands and supercars.

“This year’s competition was the fiercest yet, but the 1.0-litre EcoBoost continues to stand out for all the right reasons – great refinement, surprising flexibility and excellent efficiency,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 16th International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine, who presented the award. “The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is one of the finest examples of powertrain engineering.”

The engine has now won 13 major awards. In addition to collecting seven International Engine of the Year awards in three years – including Best New Engine in 2012 – the 1.0-litre EcoBoost also has been awarded the International Paul Pietsch Award 2013 for technological innovation in Germany; the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in Great Britain; and in the U.S., the Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine. Ford also is the first automaker to win a Ward’s 10 Best Engines trophy for a three-cylinder engine.

Launched in Europe in 2012 with the Ford Focus, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost is now available in the UK in a further nine vehicles: Fiesta, B-MAX, EcoSport, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Tourneo Connect, Grand Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect and Transit Courier.  In the UK, of the 211,722 Ford vehicle sold in the first half of 2014, 23 per cent, or 48,693 vehicles, were powered by the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine.

Already available with power outputs of 100PS and 125PS, Ford recently debuted a new 140PS version of Europe’s best-selling sub-1.0-litre the engine in the new Fiesta Red Edition and Fiesta Black Edition models; the most powerful volume production 1.0-litre road cars ever, achieving 0-62 mph in 9sec, a top speed of 125mph and delivering 62.8mpg and 104g/km CO₂. ***

More than 200 engineers and designers from Ford’s research and development centres in Aachen and Merkenich, Germany, and Dagenham and Dunton, U.K., spent more than five million hours developing the three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost.

“Setting a new global benchmark in powertrain engineering, this 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is proving a big success with the judges that matter most – our customers,” said Samardzich.