8:45 am, September 22, 2010
FORD’S new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX go on sale next month – and the maker says it has slashed running costs.
The new cars have lower insurance groups, better residuals as well as improved fuel emissions and economy over the outgoing model – and Ford says this equates to an £800 annual saving.
The Grand C-MAX will offer the flexibility of seven seats and features sliding rear doors for easy access, while the five-seat model will appeal to family buyers looking for a little more space but not wanting to sacrifice on driving dynamics.
It’s the seven seater which Ford believes will take the lion’s share of sales – two thirds of buyers are likely to opt for this car and it’s said to be the ‘spiritual successor’ to the outgoing model.
Ford’s UK marketing director Mark Simpson said: ‘Since the launch of the C-MAX in 2003 the market has expanded quite considerably with customers expressing a variety of needs. These are met with the family-friendly seven-seater and the sporty-but-spacious five-seater.
‘The new Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX are priced to offer customers best value for money while still introducing many exciting new technologies which will feature on the all-new Focus due next year.’
FIVE ENGINES
The new cars come with the choice of three petrol engines – all 1.6-litres with different power outputs – and two diesels. The 150bhp Ford EcoBoost 1.6-litre petrol engine makes its debut in the C-MAX with a new six-speed manual gearbox.
Diesels will be of the 1.6-litre TDCI and 2.0-litre TDCI varieties and are jointly predicted to make up 50 per cent of sales.
As an example of the money saving the new C-MAX offers, the 2.0-litre diesel returns 55.4mpg and pumps out 134g/km. Compared to the outgoing car this equates to personal tax savings of £383 per year and a £733 fuel saving over 60,000 miles.
Standard equipment on the cars is also impressive with all models getting alloy wheels, air con, leather steering wheel, alarm, DAB radio and Bluetooth.
The C-MAX range will start at £16,745 and the Grand C-Max from £18,745 when it goes on sale in October.
by JAMES BAGGOTT
