Breaking: C-MAX to be Hybrid-Only Model in U.S.

[nsap]

Breaking: C-MAX to be Hybrid-Only Model in U.S.
Ford reverses decision to bring three-row variant to the U.S. market.
www.FordInsideNews.com
June 9, 2011
By: Nick Saporito

According to reports just coming down the wire, Ford Motor Company has scrapped plans to sell the three-row C-MAX minivan on the U.S. market, making the C-MAX a hybrid and plug-in only model (with two rows of seats).

Ford will produce only the C-MAX models they officially revealed at this year's Detroit auto show, including the hybrid and plug-in PHEV variants. No standard gas-only variant will be sold, however. According to the report, Ford feels the C-MAX's image will be better served by being a hybrid-only model, similar to the Toyota Prius.

The news comes nearly a year after General Motors pulled the plug on the Chevrolet Orlando for the U.S. market, a similar vehicle to the three-row C-MAX.

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[ausrutherford]

Maybe this has more to do with production being needed for Europe where demand is high. Still bad news though.

[mercury_1988]

Who needs the C-Max when you can get Focus wagon , Escape , Edge , Flex ,Explorer ,Expedition ,and Expedition EL .

[ndwariga]

Pricing is going to be key for results... If its not competitive to mazda5 .. its not going to sell well..

I am more interested in the S-Max coming to US though

[Logans Run]

Pricing is going to be key for results... If its not competitive to mazda5 .. its not going to sell well..

I am more interested in the S-Max coming to US though

Grand C-max with three rows looked a little too cramped when I saw it at the autoshow.
I doubt I could have talked myself into buying one...not sure if it would have sold well with the tiny third row seats and little storage behind.

I agree with ndwariga...Maybe we will get the next global S-max.

C-max looks like a great choice to go against the larger Pius variant coming soon.

[2b2]

Who needs the C-Max when you can get Focus wagon , Escape , Edge , Flex ,Explorer ,Expedition ,and Expedition EL .

Grand C-max with three rows looked a little too cramped when I saw it at the autoshow.
I doubt I could have talked myself into buying one...not sure if it would have sold well with the tiny third row seats and little storage behind...

all just imho & personal viewpoint:
I just can't convince myself that 7 "passengers" is realistic for the G.C-M
the Mazda5, which is very slightly longer - dunno the interior dimensions comparison, is only marketed in the US as 6 "passenger" (afaik/at least it was at intro)
but
my main uneasiness is that Fomoco is building so many different 5-door variants
• C-M
• G.C-M
• Focus wagon (whether we get it or not)
• Focus hatch
• KuGa/Escape
• might even include a nextgen TransitConnect too
yet/and
apparently there won't be an Escape hybrid anymore**
plus
we still haven't heard anything about 3-door, coupe, cabrio-'vert
(OR
what I personally want: a "dual-back" like the Skoda Superb but with swoopy fastback-y sedan styling).

Just seems like a lot of "covered wagons" even tho afaik most cars most of time still have a single occupant, the driver


** I'm wondering which kind of choice is more important
- the shape of your 5-door
or
- having the drivetrain you want available in the configuration you prefer
(inventory variation reduction is a B****)


mutter ramble mutter

[ehaase]

The Grand C-Max is not coming, so that Ford can concentrate on competing against the Prius with the hybrid 5 passenger C-Max.

[nruggiero]

This is good news. MPVs suck anyway.

[2b2]

otoh
maybe this is more a timing thing - could always add it later
or
(what I'm interested in) maybe the longer wlb will be used for Lincoln


edit
forgot to mention another point
Making a dedicated hybrid model(s) out of the C-Maxeses is rather a shift of philosophy/marketing for Fomoco...
...OR an exception?
They seem to be moving slower than I expected with broadening the hybridization - since apparently the "Eskooga" won't get one - - no idea if Lincoln's scheduled for one besides the MKZap, even tho They said stuff about leading in Luxury MPGtech in every segment iirc
just more questions, imho

[CrunkedRL]

otoh
maybe this is more a timing thing - could always add it later
or
(what I'm interested in) maybe the longer wlb will be used for Lincoln


edit
forgot to mention another point
Making a dedicated hybrid model(s) out of the C-Maxeses is rather a shift of philosophy/marketing for Fomoco...
...OR an exception?
They seem to be moving slower than I expected with broadening the hybridization - since apparently the "Eskooga" won't get one - - no idea if Lincoln's scheduled for one besides the MKZap, even tho They said stuff about leading in Luxury MPGtech in every segment iirc
just more questions, imho

2b2 has the de-hybridization of the Escape been confirmed? I thought this was pretty much a given since the first gen hybrid technology rolled out in the Escape. And why would they use next gen hybrid tech in the Fusion and not the Escape---I thought I saw a test mule a while back for the next gen hybrid powerplant that will be used in the Fusion. The only way I think this would make since is if the new family of non-hybrid fomoco engines will provide the same level of fuel economy/power/performance as the outgoing hybrid.