SOUNDBITES: C-MAX
The Ford C-MAX is an all-new, affordable transportation alternative for growing, busy North American families who crave industry-first technology, flexible seating and interior space, sporty performance and best-in-class fuel economy. Derrek Kuzak, Group Vice President for Global Product Development, says Ford is aiming this vehicle at young families.
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"They need some space for their kids, and so this is actually, from our perspective, a white space vehicle that's aimed at that customer and provides them something that is different than a minivan. It provides an aspirational vehicle, a vehicle that's got really great design, so it's really fun to look at, and, as importantly, it's fun to drive, and it provides lots of useful touches for their family." :27 sec. |
One of the highlights of this vehicle is an industry first and segment first, hands-free liftgate, that allows customers to easily unlock and open the rear hatch even when their hands are full of groceries or merchandise. |
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"The ability to have the lift gate open without touching anything, so all of that technology is all aimed at young families and at an affordable price point and a great fuel efficiency." :12 sec. |
Kuzak explained that the C-MAX provides customers with a key fob in the owner's possession, a gentle leg motion below the center of the rear bumper and that activates sensors that cue the system to unlock and raise the rear liftgate. Another user friendly adaptation is passenger space. |
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"The ability to convert the vehicle from a seven seater to a five seater." :04 sec |
This new compact family vehicle is also equipped with twin sliding doors and active park assist, an advanced new system that automatically steers the vehicle into parallel parking spaces. Kuzak says when you're aiming a vehicle at young families, you need to really be sensitive to fuel efficiency and their cost of ownership. |
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"So with an EcoBoost engine, in this case a 1.6 liter EcoBoost made into a six-speed, will be getting certainly best in class fuel economy and we're aiming for 30-mpg on the highway." :11 sec. |
Kusak explained how the vehicle was named. |
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"It's what we call in the industry a C segment vehicle that's what industry parlance equal to a Focus size vehicle and then the Max means just that, It means maximizing what would be the traditional size of a vehicle, like a Focus, and in that footprint, provide maximum utility and maximum passenger family space." :21 sec. |
C-MAX is expected to be a segment safety leader, having recently been awarded a Euro NCAP maximum rating of five stars, and be offered in S. ,SE and SEL trim series levels. |
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