This is the five-seat Ford B-MAX, revealed just ahead of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the very compact minivan rides on the same platform as the Fiesta and is just 4.3-inches longer than that model's five-door hatchback. Aiding in the action of ingress/egress, the B-Max ditches B-pillars entirely so occupants can easily glide past the dual sliding rear doors.
The B-Max in Europe will join a portfolio of multipurpose vehicles that includes the Focus-based C-Max, the seven-passenger Grand C-Max and the midsize S-Max. Ford showed the 2012 C-Max, along with two gasoline-electric variants, the C-Max Energi and the C-Max Hybrid, at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
For this model, Ford is making available a new 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine that includes direct fuel injuection, twin independent variable cam timing and start/stop. Ford claims the engine delivers high fuel efficiency, and low carbon emissions, but specifics were not provided.
Inside it’s much like a Fiesta, only with more space (particularly in the back), and the concept features higher quality materials. The panoramic glass roof also heightens the sense of space, while the rear seats fold 60:40 and the front passenger seat folds too. The B-Max is much like the Fiesta under the skin too – it’s built on the same underpinnings, Ford’s global B-car platform. The B-Max is 11cm taller than a Fiesta and 11cm longer, but 32cm shorter than a C-Max.
Press Release
B-MAX HIGHLIGHTS FORD'S INNOVATIVE VISION FOR THE SMALL CAR MARKET
- Global reveal of the Ford B-MAX at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show
- Dramatic new door concept - with integrated B-pillar construction and twin sliding doors - is production ready, and promises unique appeal in the segment
- Benefits include outstanding access to the front and rear, unmatched convenience and flexibility, and outstanding safety
- Highly-versatile B-MAX interior combines exceptional space and practicality with the comfort and premium materials of a much larger vehicle
- Ultra-low-CO2 powertrain with state-of-the-art 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ford EcoBoost petrol engine and Auto-Start-Stop