Ford B3 platform | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
Also called | Ford B2E platform Mazda DY platform Mazda DE platform |
Production | 2002–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Subcompact platform (B) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ford B platform Mazda D platform |
The Ford global B-car platform (for "B-class") is a subcompact automobile platform that is jointly developed by Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Company at centers in Europe as well as North America and Australia. [1] Previously, Ford has used the Mazda-engineered D platform for its B-segment Ford Festiva (hatchback). This new global B-platform project was initiated by Ford in Dearborn, MI and is equipped with front MacPherson strut and twist-beam rear suspension. [1] The front suspension arms (wishbone) are attached to a pressed-steel welded subframe, which is directly bolted onto the bodyshell. The design is made to accommodate diverse engine options.
The first iteration of this platform was known as the B3. Vehicles utilising this platform include:
The new B2E platform was designed and developed as Ford’s global B-segment platform. It is the first B-platform developed by Ford's global product development process. [2] [3]
This global platform has been used since 2008 on the following vehicles:
The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car (B-segment) produced by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen since 1975. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, and estate variants throughout its production run. As of 2018, six separate generations of the Polo have been produced, usually identified by a "Series" or "Mark" number.
The Ford Ka is a small car manufactured by Ford Motor Company from 1996 to 2016 as a city car and from 2014 to 2021 as a subcompact car. It entered its second generation in 2008, produced by Fiat in Tychy, Poland. A third generation was introduced in 2016.
The Ford Fiesta is a supermini car that was marketed by Ford from 1976 to 2023 over seven generations. Over the years, the Fiesta has mainly been developed and manufactured by Ford's European operations, and had been positioned below the Escort.
Ford Duratec engine is a brand name of the Ford of Europe used for the company's range of gasoline-powered I3, I4, I5 and V6 passenger car engines. The original 1993 Duratec V6 engine was designed by Ford and Porsche. Ford introduced this engine in the Ford Mondeo. Over time, "Duratec" became an umbrella name for Ford's gasoline engines unrelated to the original V6. The Ford Zeta engine, Ford Sigma engine and Ford Cyclone engine all carry the Duratec name, but are otherwise unrelated to each other or the original 1993 Duratec V6. The ambiguous use of the name is similar to Ford's use of the Zetec for the previous generation of gasoline engines, the Duratorq name for diesel engines, and EcoBoost for turbocharged gasoline engines.
The Mazda Demio is a subcompact/supermini/B-segment small car manufactured by Mazda since 1996. While sold across four generations in the domestic Japanese market, the Demio nameplate was rarely used outside of Japan, where it was usually called the Mazda2. The Demio nameplate was retired in 2019 as Mazda changed over to "Mazda2" for their home market as well.
The Volkswagen Group A platform is an automobile platform shared among compact and mid-size cars of the Volkswagen Group.
Ford Courier is a model nameplate used by Ford since the early 1950s. The Courier moniker has been used on a variety of vehicles all around the world since it was first used in North America for a sedan delivery. The Courier nameplate was also used by Ford for a series of compact pickup trucks and would also see use by Ford of Europe denoting a Fiesta-based panel van. Ford Brazil used the nameplate for a Fiesta-based coupe utility pickup marketed across Latin America.
The Mazda Z-series is a smaller gasoline inline-four engine ranging in displacements from 1.3 L to 1.6 L. They are the evolution of the cast-iron block B-engine.
The 4F27E is an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transaxle transmission developed by Mazda and Ford. Mazda's name for this transmission is FN4A-EL, Ford's name for this transmission is 4F27E. Mazda's FS5A-EL is the 5-speed successor to this transmission which shares many of the same parts.
The BC-series manual transmissions are a range of manual transaxles produced by Ford in Europe for its front-wheel-drive automobiles from 1976 onwards. Originally debuting in the Mk.1 Ford Fiesta, the unit was later used in Ford's other front-wheel-drive vehicles, most notably the Ford Escort and Orion.
Ford of Europe GmbH is a subsidiary company of Ford Motor Company founded in 1967 in Cork, Ireland, with headquarters in Cologne, Germany.
Ford India Private Limited was a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company for its operations in India. Ford India Private Limited's headquarter were located in Sholinganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Ford also had operated integrated manufacturing facilities in Sanand, Gujarat. On September 9, 2021, Ford exited the Indian market as it failed to keep up with the competition, and other global economic factors had led to reduction in demand. On 8 August 2022, Ford announced it would be selling its manufacturing plant in the western state of Gujarat for INR 7.26 billion to Tata Motors. Since 2021, Ford India has focused on the businesses of supporting a service network, import and distribution of automotive parts, and the sale of extended warranties.
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of inline four-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991 because Ford was threatened with legal action by Lancia who owned the Zeta trademark. The company used the name widely in European advertising and later introduced it to the North American market with the Contour.
The Ford Transit Courier is a small delivery vehicle marketed by Ford of Europe. Making its debut as a model of 2014 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Transit Courier is the smallest vehicle of the product range of the Ford Transit. Deriving its underpinnings from the Ford Fiesta, the model line is the first van based on the Fiesta, since the discontinuation of the Ford Courier in August 2002. The Tourneo Courier variant is marketed as leisure activity vehicle.
The Fiesta Mark IV was launched in October 1995 and became Britain's best-selling car from 1996 to 1998, when it was overtaken by the all-new Ford Focus, a replacement for the Ford Escort.
The Ford Fiesta Mk5 is the fifth generation of the Ford Fiesta supermini built in Europe between April 2002 and 2008. The Fiesta continued to be built in Mexico until 2010 and in Brazil until 2014. Most engines were carried over from the previous Fiesta. This generation became the best-selling Ford Fiesta generation to date. This was the first Fiesta to be sold in Asia and Australasia, where it replaced the Kia-based Festiva.
The Mazda2 is a subcompact/supermini (B-segment) car manufactured and marketed by Mazda since 2002, currently in its third generation. An entry-level model of the brand in markets outside Japan, the Mazda2 is positioned below the Mazda3. The Mazda2 has also been marketed as the Mazda Demio, while its direct predecessor was exported as the Mazda 121.