Ford has sold the 5-passenger C-Max in Europe for several years. It's a small minivan based on the European Ford Focus, and it's closely related to the 6-passenger Mazda 5 (though the 5 seats 7 in Europe). But unlike the Mazda, it has never had sliding rear doors.
However, Ford is readying its next-generation C-Max people mover, and we just spotted a prototype testing in the mountains of Austria. And what do you know? Now it has rear sliders. Perhaps not coincidentally, Ford is expected to offer this C-Max in America, to better leverage its global product portfolio. It would do battle with the Mazda 5, Kia Rondo and any number of small SUVs.
Bringing the C-Max to the U.S. would represent an interesting experiment to see if U.S. buyers will take to a European-style people mover on our shores. And it would plug a hole in Ford's lineup vacated by the Windstar/Freestar and not quite filled by the size-XL Ford Flex.
stephen987 says:
05:53 PM, 09/ 2/09
Give it a big torquey turbodiesel, and I'd be interested.
redliner says:
07:00 PM, 09/ 2/09
Im Impressed. However i doubt it will do much for their bottom line, but i guess every little bit helps.
Mazda5 dont just fly ou he door, you know.
padrone says:
07:14 PM, 09/ 2/09
I'm hardly a mainstream buyer but would definitely be interested in this microvan if it came with marginally sporty equipment (i.e. snappy 4cyl or small 6cyl, definitely a manual transmission, disc brakes, etc.) The Mazda5 is intriguing but is short on power. Aside from adding an aftermarket turbo kit (meant for the Mazda3, hardly an ideal situation), there isn't much option there. Another possibility is the Subaru Forrester XT with the turbo 2.5cyl, but at the expense of size & functionality.
brn says:
07:41 PM, 09/ 2/09
Minivan? I'm going to call this one a five door hatchback.
bc1960 says:
08:03 PM, 09/ 2/09
Like the Mazda5, the proportions are rather different from most "5-door hatchbacks." Although smaller than today's grand minivans (which, historically, aren't very "mini"), the current C-Max is just 5 in shorter and 2 in narrower than the standard wheelbase first-gen Chrysler minivans and 7 in shorter but 2 in wider than the VW Type 2 "Bus"; the next one is probably modestly enlarged.
arumage says:
05:40 AM, 09/ 3/09
It would be quite nice paired with a diesel or the 1.6L or 2.0L Ecoboost. I would guess that it might come out with th 2.5L 4-cyl at first which isn't too bad either.
zoomzoomn says:
07:27 AM, 09/ 3/09
Well, if it is marketed right and their volume hopes aren't too high then this could be a winner. It works well for Mazda on a low volume level...without any advertising or subsidies.
actualsize says:
07:38 AM, 09/ 3/09
@brn: I hear you, but I'm with #bc1960. I vote for calling the C-max, Mazda5 and Kia Rondo minivans. (I know. The Rondo is a liner because of hinged rear doors.)
Why? There's nothing "mini" about the Sienna and Odyssey. They're just vans. An Odyssey holds more cargo than a Suburban (149 cu-ft to 137 cu-ft), for crying out loud. They utterly fill a large parking space.
By comparison, the C-max and others like it are truly mini(ature) vans.
thejohnp says:
08:13 AM, 09/ 3/09
What would make this sell like crazy if they made a hybrid version. Still can't figure out why there are no hybrid minivans available now.
estreka says:
08:18 AM, 09/ 3/09
I hate to say it, but I doubt this will do any better than the Protegé 5.
arumage says:
09:57 AM, 09/ 3/09
estreka,
I think it'll enjoy steady sales, like the Mazda5 and Rondo, but it won't be a volume seller. I don't think Ford intends it be though. It sells well in Europe, and sales in the US will probably be just good enough to justify importing it here. I'd buy one.