ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS C-MAX: STYLISH AND SPACIOUS WITH A DYNAMIC HEART

All-new Focus C-MAX with class-leading handling, steering, and braking - builds on the acclaimed dynamics of the Ford Focus;

C-MAX for Maximum Comfort, Maximum Confidence, Maximum Control;

Two all-new Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engines and a new 6-speed manual transmission;

Dual-stage front airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags standard on all models in major markets;

Sleek, car-like exterior design makes the Focus C-MAX the most aerodynamic car in its segment;

Rear-seat flexibility with ample space for three - or significantly improved leg room and shoulder room for two passengers;

Ergonomic, comfortable driving environment with commanding seating position and instrument panel-mounted gear lever;

Two premium Sony™ audio systems available;

Large, mid-console available for additional stowage with optional cooling facility.

BRENTWOOD, 19 February 2003 - Ford is expanding its acclaimed Focus line-up with the introduction of a mid-sized people carrier, the Ford Focus C-MAX, which makes its debut at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show.

Why ‘C-MAX'?

Ford first revealed its intent for a spacious and more versatile Focus with a concept at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. This vehicle, dubbed ‘Focus C-MAX Concept' signalled Ford's thinking on this fast-growing segment. It combined space, versatility and comfort with the sleek styling and safe, stable driving experience of Europe's favourite car. The result was a concept for a modern family vehicle with contemporary style, appealing technology and features that would help to extend an active lifestyle.

"The reaction to the Paris concept car convinced us that the C-MAX name summed up very neatly what this car is all about", said Joerg Pfisterer, Ford of Europe's Brand Manager for Medium Cars. " First, it builds on all of the established strengths of the Ford Focus. Second, while ‘C' indicates the market segment it competes in, it also points to its key attributes - Comfort, Confidence and Control. Third, ‘MAX' is symbolic of what we aim to deliver in each case:

Maximum Comfort: well-shaped seats with good side support, ample legroom, and great ergonomics.

Maximum Confidence: dynamic and contemporary style, strong Ford identity, intelligent versatility, long list of interior features, Intelligent Protection System.

Maximum Control: predictable and stable, superior handling, steering and braking, good visibility".

Extending the range

Focus C-MAX extends the Focus range, building on its acknowledged strengths. It is a sleek, stylish and spacious new vehicle that combines roominess, interior flexibility and comfort with the class-leading driving dynamics and latest-generation powertrain line-up that have come to exemplify the Ford Focus.

A taller but extremely stiff body structure gives the car not only the interior roominess that customers have come to expect in this segment, but strength and stiffness to take whatever the road has to offer - a clear Focus hallmark.

Above all, Focus C-MAX has been engineered for a premium driver and passenger environment with high seating position, interior comfort and flexibility for five people with luggage, without sacrificing Focus-like ride comfort, steering, handling and braking capabilities.

"We believe the five-seat configuration - with the availability of our flexible rear seating system to provide even more room when just two adults are in the back seats - better meets the wants of our target customers, few of whom have the need to transport seven people," said Derrick Kuzak, Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe. "Above all, we did not want to compromise on the attributes which these customers value most - stylish and ergonomic design and car-like driving characteristics."

The Focus C-MAX will be launched later in 2003 with two all-new common-rail turbo-diesel engines, a new 6-speed transmission, and a new Duratec HE petrol engine.

With the introduction of Focus C-MAX, the Ford Focus range features three-door and five-door hatchbacks, a four-door saloon, a station wagon, two performance derivatives and now a modern family vehicle. Its broad appeal - a key to the enduring popularity of the Ford Focus - is now even greater.

Focus C-MAX fits neatly into the Ford range between the new Ford Fusion and seven-seat Ford Galaxy MPV. These models, plus Ford Maverick, the Tourneo Connect dual-use vehicle and Tourneo eight- or nine-seat executive bus, give Ford an unparalleled range of products aimed at passenger movement and space.

Stylish and aerodynamic

"We designed the Focus C-MAX to look sporty, solid and modern. Its character line, running from bumper to bumper over the side window gives the vehicle a unique silhouette that signals its Focus dynamic heritage without compromising on premium interior spaciousness."

Chris Bird, Director of Design, Ford of Europe

Focus C-MAX is the most aerodynamic car in its segment. With a drag coefficient of only 0.29, it is shaped for optimal fuel economy and reduced wind noise for enhanced refinement inside the cabin. Aerodynamic exterior mirrors and non-protruding wheel arches contribute to its sleek shape.

Its dynamic silhouette is dominated by a character line that divides the side and top surfaces of the car, and gives the roofline and back windows a distinctively sporty and sleek look, without sacrificing spaciousness anywhere in the vehicle. The side-window is recessed into the body side panel to give the vehicle a solid and strong appearance.

Comfort with agility and stability

"Our challenge during development was to engineer a taller, mid-sized family vehicle with car-like characteristics and build on the dynamic performance of the Focus. We believe we have accomplished this and more. In fact, the Focus C-MAX is superior in terms of its ride and comfort, whilst delivering the highest levels of stability and agility in its segment."

Stephan Presser, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor

The new Focus C-MAX does for its segment what the Ford Focus did for the European compact car segment when it was first introduced. It brings a level of driving quality that will change customer expectations of what a car like this can be.

Customers in this segment have come to expect that they must compromise ride, handling and comfort for the spaciousness and flexibility of their vehicles. The Focus C-MAX aims to alter that expectation.

The Focus C-MAX has one of the most rigid body shells in its segment with a 10 per cent improvement for torsional stiffness compared to the class-leading Focus. This forms the foundation for Focus C-MAX's dynamic attributes and confident road behaviour.

Trademark Focus chassis engineering is the key, including the Control Blade independent rear suspension it pioneered. The Control Blade system, part of a meticulous approach to the engineering of the vehicle chassis, helped to give Focus its high levels of lateral stiffness (for handling precision) and longitudinal compliance (for ride comfort).

The Focus C-MAX is taller, but has a longer wheelbase and wider track than the current Focus, which gives the vehicle a stable foundation and robust road-hugging ability. It also features a unique new front subframe. Mounted via bushings to the extremely stiff body structure, the subframe is the basis for Focus C-MAX's front suspension and steering systems.

With standard four-wheel disc brakes, the new Focus C-MAX has class-leading deceleration capability. It features large-diameter brake discs to provide robust stopping power and to enhance brake pad service life.

ABS is standard equipment on all models, with mechanical brake assist and optional ESP (standard in Germany), combined with large 15-inch wheels with 195/65 section tyres, or 16-inch wheels with 205/55 section tyres. Optional 17-inch wheels with 205/50 section tyres and 18-inch wheels with 225/40 section tyres are available as well.

Equipped for safety

The Focus C-MAX reflects Ford's commitment to customer safety with a protective body structure and an array of passive safety features.

Full-size dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side pelvic thorax airbags are standard on all models, along with optional inflatable side curtains to protect from head injury.

Both front safety belt systems incorporate new, load-limiting retractors that release a small amount of chest webbing progressively under certain loads to help reduce chest injuries. All seats have anti-submarining ramps under the front edges of the cushions to help the safety belts secure occupants in their seats during a front impact.

Retractable brake and clutch pedals supply additional protection to the driver and help reduce the risk of leg injuries in severe front impacts.

Comfort and flexibility

"The Focus C-MAX interior offers what we believe are class-leading front seat ergonomics and comfort. We optimised the driver environment so that it takes full advantage of the raised seating position, with an instrument-panel-mounted gearshift and increased seat adjustment capability. These give the driver a greater sense of controlling the vehicle, and enhance the driving experience. The rear seats offer great flexibility and an optional diagonally-adjustable seat configuration system."

Giovanni De Pasca, Focus C-MAX Vehicle Package Manager

Comfort, flexibility and roominess characterise the Focus C-MAX interior. It has class-leading front headroom and is among the leaders for rear knee and legroom.

A special rear seating system is offered on Trend and Ghia series models for greater flexibility and comfort. The centre rear seat can slide into the luggage compartment, and the outer two seats can be adjusted not only forward and backward, but also diagonally toward the middle of the compartment. This configuration gives considerably more legroom and shoulder room if just two rear-seat passengers are carried.

Focus C-MAX offers generous interior stowage capability, including standard lidded compartments in the floor in front of the rear seats, a lidded stowage compartment on top of the instrument panel, an open compartment on the lower instrument panel, stowage slots left of the audio unit in the instrument panel, an open tray under the front passenger seat and a 10.5-litre glove compartment.

A large mid-console for additional stowage space between the front seats will be available shortly after launch. When specifying this console, Focus C-MAX customers can also incorporate an optional cooling facility.

Advanced features

The new Focus C-MAX offers state-of-the-art navigation and entertainment features and advanced anti-theft equipment.

Committed to making the Focus C-MAX fun for all of its occupants, Ford will offer two Sony™ audio systems intended to provide true audiophile sound quality.

The top-of-the-line audio system features a Sony designed front bezel, and a 6 disc in dash changer with eight premium speakers, while the second system includes an MP3 capable single disc player and eight speakers. Both systems include separate tweeters and a characteristic "Sony Sound" footprint.

Ford's passive anti-theft system (PATS) is standard on all models, which employs an electronic-coded transponder key matched to a unique code of each vehicle. If the code of the key is not the same as that programmed into the vehicle during production, then the car will not start.

Pioneering powertrains

"The Focus C-MAX will offer a wide range of powertrains, including two new common-rail turbo-diesels at launch. These engines give our customers what they expect from a modern diesel engine - reliability, performance, refinement and fuel efficiency. Additionally, the new Duratec HE 1.8-litre petrol engine has been designed to provide good mid-range torque with smooth power delivery and low fuel consumption."

Ulrich Koesters, Focus C-MAX Powertrain Manager

Focus C-MAX will be launched with two new common-rail diesel engines developed and designed in cooperation with PSA Peugeot-Citroen.

The all-new 1.6-litre 110 PS Duratorq TDCi is a lightweight all-aluminium engine with an ultra high-pressure second-generation common-rail injection system, variable-nozzle turbocharger (VNT) and electronic drive-by-wire controls. It offers Focus C-MAX owners excellent flexibility with low fuel economy and the refinement of a modern petrol engine.

The new 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi produces a maximum power output of 110 PS (108 bhp/81 kW) at 4,000 rpm and robust low-end torque, realising maximum torque of 240 Nm (176 lb-ft) at only 1,750 rpm. The engine accelerates the Focus C-MAX to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.7 seconds and has a targeted combined fuel economy of 5.0 litres per 100 kilometres (55.4 mpg) and targeted CO2 emissions of 135 grams per kilometre.

The all-new premium 2.0-litre, 135 PS Duratorq TDCi also makes its debut with Focus C-MAX. It offers exhilarating performance, agility and refinement, and an all-new six-speed manual transmission, MMT6. With all the advantages of a latest-generation common-rail turbo-diesel, electronic drive-by-wire control and VNT technology, the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi is the most powerful Ford common-rail diesel available in this segment.

The new 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine develops 135 PS (133 bhp/99 kW) at 4,000 rpm with a peak torque of 320 Nm (235 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm, making it very powerful and agile. It accelerates the Focus C-MAX to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 9.6 seconds and has a targeted combined fuel economy of 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres (49.6 mpg) and targeted CO2 emissions of 152 grams per kilometre.

The latest-generation Duratec HE petrol engine family will see its newest application in the Focus C-MAX, with a 1.8-litre, 120 PS engine. The Duratec HE engine family has been designed for efficiency, low maintenance and reduced weight with extremely long service life. The engine's lighter weight contributes to the feeling of responsiveness enjoyed by the Focus C-MAX driver.

The new Duratec HE 1.8-litre petrol engine develops 120 PS (118 bhp/88 kW) at 6,000 rpm with a peak torque of 169 Nm (124 lb-ft) at 4,500 rpm. It accelerates the Focus C-MAX to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.1 seconds and has a targeted combined fuel economy of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres (36.7 mpg) and targeted CO2 emissions of 185 grams per kilometre.

Ford
Ford
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A.
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Tags: 2004 Ford Focus C-Max - Mid-Sized People Carrier, car, ARTICLE