Ford announces hybrid and plugin-hybrid C-Max MPV

Interesting...

 

A Plug-in Hybrid! Nice!

Does anyone know if the Ford Transit Connect is built on the same platform, and could one day have a hybrid variant? (Btw, I see a lot of Transit Connects driving around San Diego)

 

they are not built on same platform ( thank god ). C-Max is good MPV, Transit Connect is built to cheap price van. They are on opposite ends of the spectrum... We have so many delivery vans here in Europe, they are all crap (they are great for deliveries though, not for families)

 

Ford is going to really be a game changer, already their electric Focus is a major changer, love the interior of it, and they have a hybrid planned for it also. Ford seems to be ready to join in the fuel efficient vehicle category big time, and have really nice interiors planned also.

 

It is hard to tell. Is it midsize 5 seat like Prius? If so, the plugin version will compete with PHV Prius.

 

It will all depend on how price competitive Ford hybrids are. They will have to come in close to Prius and Honda hybrids.

 

Dang, you're right, it is unclear. And the pics don't show interiors. The hybrid & plug-in versions might do away with the 3rd row and put a battery pack under the floor or something.

Either way, I think these both rock. Better MPG than a Fusion Hybrid in a vehicle that has considerably more useful passenger and cargo space is definitely move in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.

Let's hope this spurs more competition from the other automakers.

 

According to CNET, the The C-Max Energi uses a power train similar to that in the current Ford Fusion Hybrid, but gets a lithium ion battery pack and a plug-in port on the left front fender, and is based on the five-passenger version of the C-Max.

Ford C-Max Energi - Ford C-Max and C-Max Energi (photos) - CNET Reviews

They say the standard gas engine C-Max can be had in what Ford calls a 5+2 arrangement, and includes sliding rear doors, more like a traditional minivan.

Ford chops the C-Max's top | 2011 Detroit auto show - CNET Reviews

 

According to what I've seen on several news sites, the Ford C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi are based on "standard" C-Max five-door hatchback that recently went on sale in Europe. The regular C-Max for the USA market with the optional third-row seats is the Grand C-Max that just also went on sale in Europe.

 

According to KickingTires:

 

I'm very excited about Energi. So much so I started a blog about it. This could be our other car sharing the garage with Leaf.

 

The hybrid and plug in are on the shorter ligher european 5-seat, no sliding door platform. The gas c-max is based on the european grand c-max.

Ford suggested CS mileage would be better than the fusion hybrid which are 41 city/ 36 highway. I would expect combined to be around the same 40 mpg of the prius v, but ford has not commited to any numbers.

Range was disclosed for the PHEV Energi of 500 miles, but there is no brakedown for electric miles stated. The platform is similar to the FFH with lithium batteries, and quite different from the transit connect.

The current c-max uses JCI seats, and I would expect the energi to use some of the JCI seating technology. The transit connect uses JCI-saft batteries, and the focus bev uses lg. I do not know whose batteries will be used in the C-Max energi or if they will be integrated into the floor as they are in the ie:3 concept and transit connect.
Johnson Controls ie:3 Concept: 2011 Detroit Auto Show
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publ.../awards/henry-ford-technology-award-2010.html

 

Yes - the big question is - where is the battery ? Is it a hack job like Focus EV eating up half the trunk - or is it under the floor ? It can't be as clean as a concept - afterall it is still a conversion. I expect some trunk space loss.

 

Powersplit plugin hybrids are the way to go.

 

Yes - that is the big question. What will win out in the market - EREV (Volt) or Power split (Energi). I'd say whichever is cheaper ...

 

focus ev is completely useless vehicle once you see the trunk... nothing but PR story.



Ford Focus Electric pops a hatch and shows all that battery junk in its trunk -- Engadget

 

Recent prices of the first EREV are above Power Split (current testing) estimates. Fuel consumption and energy consumption is greater in the EREV. We have a very recent looser, and a pre-winner.