Serious Hardware
Ford brings B-MAX tech to SA
The new Ford B-MAX, which is scheduled for launch in South Africa in the third quarter of this year, will feature small car technology, making it one of the most compact cars currently available on the market.
“The Ford B-MAX really challenges traditional small car thinking,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). “Its ingenious design opens the doors – quite literally – to exciting new ideas about what’s possible with a compact vehicle.
Based on Ford’s global B-car platform – shared with the new Fiesta – the B-MAX represents the company’s vision for a premium compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV), combining space and versatility within a smart and stylish exterior.
The B-MAX’s Ford Easy Access Door System provides unobstructed entry and exit with hinged front doors and pillarless rear sliding doors, integrating the central body pillars into the doors rather than it being part of the bodyshell itself.
When both front and rear doors are open there is outstanding access to the interior, with a huge, clear aperture of 1.5 metres wide, making it easier to enter or exit the rear seats, attend to children in child seats, or load and unload shopping.
The flexible seating system features 60/40 split rear seats that can be folded flat with a simple “one-hand, one-motion” mechanism. Ford engineers developed innovative solutions to ensure the B-MAX delivers the same levels of crash protection as vehicles with a more conventional structure.
The new model also achieves exceptional fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. Although the full line-up will only be revealed at launch, the range will include the award-winning1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine.
The new B-MAX offers a wide range of Ford’s latest smart technologies, including SYNC, Ford’s voice-activated in-car connectivity system. It is also equipped with Ford MyKey functionality, an auto dimming rear view mirror and full length panoramic roof.
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