Ford starts taking orders for C-Max Hybrid
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DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. says the long-awaited Ford C-Max Hybrid is now available for order.
Ford said today that the C-Max, with a base price of $25,995 -- not including shipping charges, which the company has not yet disclosed -- costs less than the Toyota Prius V wagon. The Prius V has a base price of $27,310 including shipping charges, according to Toyota. Ford also claims that the C-Max will have better fuel economy than the Prius V’s 42 mpg, but the company would not release details.
The five-passenger hatchback C-Max, the company’s first dedicated hybrid line, is being launched as part of Ford’s “power of choice” strategy in which the company plans to improve the fuel economy across its lineup and increase its capacity to produce electric vehicles. The C-Max has Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide technology, which will assist drivers in maximizing fuel economy by displaying the vehicle’s mpg and coaching customers in driving more efficiently.
The C-Max Hybrid is being built on Ford’s C-segment platform, according to the automaker. Under the hood, it features a “powersplit” system, which will allow the vehicle’s electric motor and gasoline-powered engine to work in unison or independently to allow for maximum efficiency.
The vehicle will use the company’s new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine when using gasoline and a lithium ion battery system. Ford claims that the vehicle’s regenerative braking system will retain more than 95 percent of energy from braking in order to supplement power to the vehicle.
The C-Max will be manufactured at the Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., where Ford also produces the Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST.
The company said it will offer the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid, later this year.
You can reach Adam Rubenfire at arubenfire@crain.com.
