The Ford Motor Company found itself pushed out of the minivan market in the mid-2000s, as customers turned away from its offering and snapped up other models including the Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Ford isn't the only automaker finding the segment too hard to compete as GM also made an exit. Nissan and Kia still offer their minivans, but their presence is quite small.
Small Minivan
Beginning in 2012, Ford will swing back into a segment it abandoned some seven years earlier. An all-new model, the Ford C-Max will debut, a minivan of sorts, but not really. The C-Max is really a multi-purpose vehicle for five adult passengers and two children, based on the same platform underpinning the compact Ford Focus.
That means the C-Max will be smaller than the Dodge, Honda, Chrysler and Toyota minivans, with a smaller interior and lighter weight. But, it also means that Ford will find a way to make this vehicle work, planning to offer hybrid and plug-in variations to go with the standard gas model. In Europe, the C-Max will include diesel options, something Ford is not planning to make available in the United States. At least not initially.
Base Model
A base four cylinder 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is likely to power the Ford C-Max, a 2013 model when it rolls out. Featuring rear sliding doors, the C-Max attempts to make good use of a limited amount of space, thus the extra third row seating fit for small passengers only. Put your kids in the very back and let the adults, ride up front and center!
The proposed hybrid and plug-in models will, however, possess a slightly different body style. That body won't have the sliding doors or the third-row, with seating for five passengers. The Ford C-Max Energi will work much in the same way as the Chevrolet Volt, with the ability to run on pure electric power for about 40 miles before the gas engine kicks in. Combined range is expected to be 500 miles when both electric and gas powered are used, a range that can be extended through a quick fill up at the gas station.
Updated Hybrid
The Ford C-Max Hybrid represents the next generation Ford hybrid vehicle. Currently, Ford sells the hybrid sedans and crossover SUVs, but the C-Max will be the first of the next generation model. Unlike the current Ford Fusion Hybrid which can run on electric-only power up to 47 mph, Ford says the new hybrid will top that number before the gas engine kicks in. That means the Ford C-Max Hybrid will enjoy improved fuel economy, easily making it the most fuel efficient minivan on the market.
The C-Max is one of several models Ford has planned to run on its C-segment platform. The 2012 Ford Focus is the main model with a crossover expected to join the C-Max in 2013.
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