FORD CANADA - Ford Motor Company once again raises the hybrid fuel-economy bar with the all-new Ford C-MAX Hybrid, which is now certified by Canadian government approved test methods at 4.0 L/100 km city, 4.1 L/100 km highway and 4.1 L/100 km combined – beating Toyota Prius v by up to 0.7 L/100 km.
Hybrids traditionally have been more economical in city driving than on the highway, unlike conventional vehicles. C-MAX Hybrid is Ford's first hybrid vehicle to offer similar figures for both city and highway driving.
C-MAX Hybrid returns the same fuel economy whether driving cross-country or across the city – stemming mostly from a growing list of Ford innovations that have helped the vehicle to deliver an impressive list of metrics, such as its 917 km overall range, taking customers from Toronto to Ottawa and back on one tank of gas.
"The all-new C-MAX Hybrid is a great symbol of how Ford has transformed into a fuel-economy and technology leader with 47 US mpg across the board and a highway rating 7 mpg better than Toyota Prius v," said Ford Vice President of Powertrain Engineering Joe Bakaj. "We've done this with innovation – represented by nearly 500 hybrid patents – while driving costs down 30 per cent so we can bring these fuel-saving vehicles to more customers."
As hybrid vehicle drivers traditionally saw superior fuel-economy figures in city driving, loyalists maximized their fuel economy through regenerative braking in stop-and-go traffic. But now higher-speed innovations have caught up on efficiency.
"City, highway, and everywhere in between, C-MAX Hybrid is EPA-certified at 47 US mpg," Bakaj said. "It's a win-win-win."
The power of C-MAX Hybrid stems from the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor, providing customers with "real car" performance and capability. C-MAX Hybrid will offer a top speed of 100 km/h in EV mode and 188 net horsepower, beating the Toyota Prius v by more than 50 horsepower. When powered by gasoline, C-MAX Hybrid uses the all-new 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine – powerful and fuel-efficient, and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered.
C-MAX Hybrid also offers class-exclusive technologies such as SmartGauge with EcoGuide along with the available hands-free liftgate and active park assist.
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 behaviour affects the vehicle's efficiency.
The Brake Coach feature – part of SmartGauge – 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.
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 – 1623 mm – offering ample interior space and flexibility. C-MAX Hybrid offers 2823 litres of passenger space compared with 2747 litres in the Toyota. The spacious C-MAX Hybrid also provides greater headroom in both front and rear seats than the Toyota Prius v (1041 and 1001 mm, versus 1006 and 980 mm).
For cargo, C-MAX Hybrid has 60/40 split-fold rear seats. The seats easily fold flat with 1489 litres of space behind the first row, and 694 litres behind the second row.
Maximum power of choice
The all-new C-MAX Hybrid is part of Ford's first dedicated line of hybrid vehicles that also includes the 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid.
Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid – coming later this fall – is projected to deliver 885 km of total range, including more than 32 kms in electric-only mode, nearly double the electric-only range of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Further, C-MAX Energi delivers the top electric-only speed of any plug-in hybrid – 137km/h – more than 32 km/h higher than the Toyota Prius plug-in.
C-MAX hybrid vehicles headline Ford's transformed line-up, building on the company's commitment to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers the power of choice. Ford is tripling electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013 as part of this fuel-economy push.
In addition to C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi, Ford's other three electrified vehicles are:
· Focus Electric: Production began late 2011; America's most fuel-efficient compact with 1.7Le/100 km (110 US MPGe) city; charge time of four hours with the available 240-volt charging station, which is nearly half the time as the Nissan Leaf
· All-new Fusion Hybrid: Coming this fall; expected to beat Toyota Camry Hybrid
· 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
C-MAX Hybrid is currently available for order at Hybrid Certified Ford dealers across Canada, starting at $27,199.