Ford C-MAX Hybrid projected to achieve 47 mpg city, at least 3
mpg better than Toyota Prius v with more performance and technology –
all at a $1,300-lower base price
C-MAX Hybrid is Ford’s first entry in the largest hybrid segment
and is expected to attract a large percentage of conquest and
mainstream buyers with the segment’s lowest payback period of two years
compared with leading small crossovers
C-MAX Hybrid will launch this fall as part of Ford’s power of
choice strategy to deliver leading fuel economy across its lineup while
tripling electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013
DEARBORN, Mich., July 5, 2012 – Ford’s new C-MAX Hybrid soon
will make a big statement in the largest hybrid segment with projected
leading fuel economy of 47 mpg city – beating the Toyota Prius v by 3
mpg, plus a $1,300-lower base price.
The segment for small hybrids such as the C-MAX Hybrid and Prius
accounts for 65 percent of all hybrid sales. Ford expects about half of
C-MAX buyers to be conquest customers trading in competitive models.
Ford has simultaneously increased hybrid efficiency and performance
while reducing cost. The result is an expected payback period of two
years for the hybrid technology premium compared with leading small
crossovers. This is about half of the four-year period Ford research
shows could trigger more mainstream hybrid sales.
“The C-MAX Hybrid builds on Ford’s 20 years of hybrid innovation
and fuel-efficient offerings to take on Prius v with better city fuel
economy at 47 mpg and at better value – a great chance for us to shake
up the hybrid market,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global
Product Development. “C-MAX Hybrid delivers 3 mpg more than Prius v with
50 more horsepower and exclusive technologies such as our hands-free
liftgate – and the $1,300-lower base price means the payback period will
be the smallest in the segment.”
Ford research highlights other ways in which hybrids could become
more mainstream. The gap in average income between hybrid and
conventional vehicle buyers has decreased by half – from about $30,000
to $15,000 – in the past few years.
Maximum efficiency, technology and value
The C-MAX Hybrid is expected to be America’s most affordable hybrid
utility vehicle with a base price of $25,995, including destination and
delivery, which is $1,300 lower than Toyota Prius v. C-MAX Hybrid is
part of Ford’s first dedicated line of hybrid vehicles and currently
available for order at select dealerships.
The projected 47 mpg city and 44 mpg highway ratings to be
delivered by C-MAX Hybrid beat the fuel economy of Toyota Prius v with
its 44 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
The vehicle also can be driven 500-plus miles with total system
horsepower of 188 compared with total system horsepower of 134 from
Toyota Prius v and Prius.
The power of C-MAX Hybrid stems from the combination of a gasoline
engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline,
the C-MAX Hybrid uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder
engine – powerful and fuel efficient and among the most advanced
non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered. More
details about the C-MAX powertrain can be found in this press release.
C-MAX Hybrid also offers class-exclusive technologies such as the
available hands-free liftgate, optional active park assist and
SmartGauge® with EcoGuide, along with the ability to deliver higher speeds in electric mode than Toyota Prius v.
The latest-generation SmartGauge with EcoGuide is designed to help
drivers get the most from the C-MAX Hybrid, providing information such
as instantaneous fuel economy to help them more closely monitor how
their driving behavior affects the vehicle’s efficiency.
A new Brake Coach feature helps drivers optimize their use of the
braking system so that driving range can be enhanced through proper
braking techniques. Redesigned imagery of green leaves shows overall
driving efficiency – as drivers improve their efficient driving, they
are rewarded with more leaves.
Active lifestyle
The C-MAX Hybrid offers room for five people and plenty of cargo – making it perfect for the owner with an active lifestyle.
The vehicle has a high roofline (63.9 inches) offering ample
interior space and flexibility. C-MAX Hybrid offers 99.7 cubic feet of
passenger space compared with 97 cubic feet in Prius v. The spacious
C-MAX Hybrid also provides greater headroom in both front and rear seats
than Prius v (41/39.4 inches vs. 39.6/38.6 inches).
For cargo, C-MAX Hybrid has 60/40 split-fold rear seats. The seats
easily fold flat with 52.6 cubic feet of space behind the first row and
24.5 cubic feet behind the second row.
Quality choices
C-MAX Hybrid benefits from 20 years of research and innovation
behind the software and hardware technology it offers and has helped
Ford develop a portfolio of nearly 500 patents in the area of hybrid
technology.
Also, Ford’s hybrid taxi fleet logged more than 80 million miles in
California during the past decade – more than quadruple the number of
miles logged by Toyota’s Prius lineup. Yet, among the nearly 43 million
battery cells Ford has tested or seen put to work in customer vehicles,
only five issues have been documented.
C-MAX Hybrid is being produced at Ford’s Wayne, Mich.-based
Michigan Assembly Plant alongside Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST.
More information about MAP can be found online here.
C-MAX Hybrid is part of Ford’s strategy to give customers the power
of choice for vehicles with leading fuel efficiency across all
powertrain technologies. C-MAX Hybrid is one of five electrified
vehicles Ford plans to produce in North America in 2012. The other
vehicles include:
Focus Electric: Production began late 2011; America’s
most fuel-efficient compact with 110 MPGe; charge time in four hours
with the available 240-volt charging station, nearly half the time as
Nissan Leaf
C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid: Coming this fall; better electric-mode MPGe than Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid and better overall range than any plug-in hybrid
All-new Fusion Hybrid: Coming this fall; 47 mpg expected to beat Toyota Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg highway
Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid: Will begin production by the end of 2012; aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world
Customers interested in C-MAX Hybrid should visit here. A video featuring C-MAX can be viewed online by clicking here.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company,
a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich.,
manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s
automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides
financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
About Orange Motors – Ford & Mazda Dealer in Albany NY
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