The big news on the Ford stand is that the firm has officially unveiled its all-new B-Max compact MPV.
Taking pride of place alongside it was the sporty new Fiesta ST, as well as an all-new Kuga.
Parkers Pick – B-Max
- What is it? A compact MPV that features a raft of technological breakthroughs by Ford.
- Vital stats and facts: Powered by the firm’s new 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, or one of a selection of diesels, the B-Max promises low emissions and good fuel economy. It also has some clever doors that do away with the traditional ‘B’ pillars and open extremely wide, making for easy access for passengers or luggage. The petrol engine line-up is led by the three-cylinder 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine, available in 98bhp and 119bhp versions. Start/stop is standard which helps to peg CO2 emission on the 119bhp EcoBoost engine at 114g/km, while delivering an average fuel consumption of 57.6mpg.
- Why would you buy it? The low running costs and excellent practicality on offer will appeal to a wide spectrum of society.
- Why wouldn’t you? It may take a little time for people to get their heads around the lack of B-pillar, while Ford’s stance on discounting could lead more buyers to opt for the Vauxhall Meriva instead.
- Prices and launch date: Not available at this time.
What else is on the stand?
There were a couple more reveals on the Ford stand. The Fiesta ST got its full premiere with the company revealing that it will get a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine with 175bhp. This means it should go from zero to 62mph in less than seven seconds, according to Ford. It will arrive in the UK at the start of 2013. Read Car Magazine’s coverage of the ST here.
Also on display was the all-new Kuga. It will get the company’s 2.0-litre diesel engine with either 138bhp or 161bhp, or a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine currently available in the Focus and C-Max. It also gets 82-litre more loadspace than before with a total potential storage space of 442 litres.
For more news from the Geneva Motor Show 2012, click here.
