Ford B-Max

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Ford B-Max
Ford B-Max Titanium - Frontansicht, 22. Februar 2014, Ratingen.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Ford Europe
Model code B232
ProductionJune 2012 – September 2017
AssemblyRomania: Craiova (Ford Romania)
Designer Ernesto Rupar
Eugen Enns [1]
Body and chassis
Class Mini MPV (B)
Body style 5-door estate
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform Ford global B-car platform
Related Ford Fiesta Mk VI
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission 5-speed manual
6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,489 mm (98.0 in)
Length4,077 mm (160.5 in)
Width1,751 mm (68.9 in)
Height1,604 mm (63.1 in)
Chronology
Predecessor Ford Fusion
Successor Ford EcoSport
Ford Puma (crossover)

The Ford B-Max (stylized as Ford B-MAX) code name: B232, is a mini Van (M-segment) manufactured by Ford Europe from 2012 to 2017. Built on the Ford global B platform, it was initially unveiled as a concept car at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, [2] and was officially launched at the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. [3]

Contents

Production began in June 2012, and marketing of the first units started during late July. [4] It was launched in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2012. [5] The B-Max is based on the Ford Fiesta, and its main rivals were the Fiat 500L, the Citroën C3 Picasso and the Nissan Note. [6]

Overview

The styling of the B-Max continues the Ford Kinetic Design theme, and has rear sliding doors with no B-pillars. [7] The B-Max is available with the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine of the Ford EcoBoost family, that features turbocharged direct injection and start-stop system. [8]

This engine officially won the title of "International Engine of the Year 2012". [7] The 1.6-litre Duratec engine can be fitted with the PowerShift six speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. [9]

It has three different trim levels: Studio, Zetec and Titanium. The Studio is the basic model, and it is available only with the 1.4-litre engine. [10] The first B-Max was bought by the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, on 25 June 2012, directly from the Craiova plant. [11] In September 2017, production of B-Max ended, due to dwindling demand for the model, as well as a general decline in sales of mini MPVs.

Unusually for a Ford, this model did not receive a mid-cycle facelift in order to boost sales, the closest successors were intended as the EcoSport as well as the Fiesta Active, transitions from MPV to SUV design.

Technology

The B-Max features the "Intelligent Protection" system. It also featured Ford's Torque Vectoring Control, which improves handling and agility, and the SYNC and Fold Flat systems. [7] Ford's Emergency Assistance feature alerts local emergency services operators after an accident, in the correct language for the region. It was available in more than thirty countries, mostly in Europe. [12]

Safety

The Ford B-Max was tested by Euro NCAP in September 2012, receiving a five star safety rating. [13]

TestScorePoints
Overall:Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgN/A
Adult occupant:92%33
Child occupant:84%41
Pedestrian:67%24
Safety assist:71%5

Reviews

The Telegraph reviewed the B-Max on 28 August 2012. The reviewer, Andrew English, gave the car a 4 out of 5 stars, and his verdict was that it “brings something new and useful to the market”. [14]

What Car? magazine rated the B-Max with 4 out of 5 (later 3 out of 5) [15] stars, giving the car a positive review. [16]

Engines

EngineTypeDisplacementPowerTorque0100 km/hTop speedCombined consumptionCO2 emissions
Petrol engines
1.0
Ecoboost
I3 999 cc101 PS (74 kW)169 N⋅m (125 lb⋅ft) at 1,4004000 rpm13.2 s175 km/h (109 mph)4.9 L/100 km (58 mpgimp; 48 mpgUS)112 g/km
1.0
Ecoboost
I3999 cc120 PS (88 kW)201 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) at 1,4004500 rpm11.2 s188 km/h (117 mph)4.9 L/100 km (58 mpgimp; 48 mpgUS)112 g/km
1.4
Duratec
I4 1,388 cc90 PS (66 kW)127 N⋅m (94 lb⋅ft) at rpm13.8 s171 km/h (106 mph)6.0 L/100 km (47 mpgimp; 39 mpgUS)139 g/km
1.6
Duratec
I41,596 cc105 PS (77 kW)150 N⋅m (111 lb⋅ft) at rpm12.1 s180 km/h (112 mph)6.4 L/100 km (44 mpgimp; 37 mpgUS)149 g/km
Diesel engines
1.5
Duratorq [17]
I41,498 cc75 PS (55 kW)190 N⋅m (140 lb⋅ft) at rpm16.5 s158 km/h (98 mph)4.1 L/100 km (69 mpgimp; 57 mpgUS)109 g/km
95 PS (70 kW)215 N⋅m (159 lb⋅ft) at rpm13.0 s174 km/h (108 mph)4.0 L/100 km (71 mpgimp; 59 mpgUS)98 g/km
1.6
Duratorq [18]
I41,560 cc97 PS (71 kW)215 N⋅m (159 lb⋅ft) at rpm13.9 s173 km/h (107 mph)4.7 L/100 km (60 mpgimp; 50 mpgUS)104 g/km

Sales

YearEurope [19]
201215,871
201368,557
201453,889
201546,147
201640,474
201743,339
20183,545
20193

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References

  1. "Ford B-MAX Concept: design images". Car Body Design. 2011-03-03.
  2. "Nouvelle ford B-MAX" [New Ford B-Max] (in French). The Web Consulting. 2011-03-02. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26.
  3. "Ford B-MAX Debuts at 2012 Mobile World Congress". Autoevolution. 2012-02-28.
  4. "Ford vinde în România noul model B-Max" (in Romanian). Capital. 2012-03-22. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  5. "2012 Ford B-Max". motoring.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  6. "2012 Ford B-Max Overview". What Car?. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  7. 1 2 3 "New Ford B-Max Brochure". Ford. 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  8. "Genève 2011 : Ford B-Max" (in French). Autosblog. 2011-02-28. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
  9. "FORD B-Max (2012 - Present)". Autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  10. "Ford B-Max Trim Levels". Ford. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  11. Ionescu, Cristian (2012-06-25). "Ford a lansat astăzi producția modelului B-Max la uzina din Craiova. Traian Băsescu - primul client" [Today, Ford launches B-Max production at its Craiova plant: first client - Traian Băsescu]. evz.ro (in Romanian). Evenimetul Zilei. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28.
  12. "Ford B-Max va apela automat "112" în caz de accident" [Ford B-Max to automatically dial 112 in case of an accident] (in Romanian). Autobis. 2012-07-23. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25.
  13. "Ford B-MAX". Euro NCAP. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  14. Andrew English (2012-08-28). "Ford B-Max Review". The Telegraph.
  15. "Ford B Max MPV Review". What Car?. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  16. Tullin, Pete. "Ford B-max Review". What Car?. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  17. http://www.ford.de/cs/BlobServer?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3Bfilename%3D%22Ford_B-MAX-Broschuere.pdf%5B%5D
  18. http://www.ford.ro/cs/BlobServer?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3Bfilename%3D%22Brosura+B-MAX.pdf%5B%5D
  19. "Ford B-Max European sales figures". carsalesbase.com. 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2021-03-28.