Ford B Max here in India by 2013

19 November 2012 : The versatile and compact MPV Ford B Max by American carmaker will be launched in the country by amid 2013. According to the latest reports, the Geneva Motor Show displayed mini MPV will cover major parts of Europe by late 2012 and by middle of next year; Ford B Max launch in India is expected. To be offered in power outputs of 1.0L EcoBoost petrol engine Ford B Max price will play a decisive role that is estimate to fall under the price bracket of INR 5.5 Lakh and INR 7.5 Lakh. With its resourcefulness and aggressive marketing it will rival the likes of Maruti Ertiga MPV, Mahindra Quanto and Hyundai i20 in India.

Ford B Max Review by Expert

Ford India had proclaimed in the beginning of 2011 that it will be bringing eight brand new cars into the domestic market. The company began launch of these new beauties in India with the mesmerizing and improved Ford Fiesta sedan last year. However, it could not get as good response as the company had anticipated it would, a slash in price also did not work for the company. But this does not stop the company from launching the other products which it had planned for the Indian car market.

Small is considered big in India, following the same philosophy, the company launched Ford Figo hatchback in India more than two year ago and tasted success too. With time things have changed and the Indian car market is inclining towards compact SUVs and MPVs. Ford too is considering an MPV for the Indian shores in the form of Ford B Max MPV. The segment which was ignored by the car makers of late got attention with the success of Maruti Ertiga MPV which changed the car maker’s fate. Only Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo were noticed in this segment earlier, however other MPVs like Chevrolet Tavera were also present for a long time but Innova and Xylo got all the limelight until now.

Ford B Max MPV is likely to be a fiver seater MPV which will be a part of the C+ segment. Under the hood expect a 1.0 litre, three pot petrol powertrain that will be doing the duty. The engine will come with a maximum power of 118 Bhp and 170 Nm torque, the powerplant is expected to come harmonized to a five speed manual transmission. 

The vehicle was also shown at the 2012 Geneva Motor show earlier this year where it was said that it was too small for the Indian car market. The MPV shares a high number of parts from Ford Fiesta which are manufactured locally in India; the company however will make necessary changes to the MPV to suit the requirements of the Indian customers. With the onset of launch of MPVs in India, it has given car makers a chance to bring in such products to the country which were earlier confined to other global car markets. Along with the 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, the vehicle is also likely to be launched in diesel version which will flaunt a 1.5 litre diesel motor.

Looking at the current trend in the Indian car market, the MPV is anticipated to have a longer wheelbase which gives birth to the speculation that it could also come with a third row. In the Indian car market, a car is judged by the fuel efficiency that it returns and this American car maker is well aware with the fact. Ford B-Max MPV is speculated to return a high fuel economy, however its counterpart Maruti Ertiga diesel runs around 20.77 kmpl which is hard to beat, but the company claims to come up with a high fuel economy. At an expected price of Rs 9 lakh, the company is likely to proffer bunch of safety features like airbags, EBD and Anti-Lock-Brake system.

Since India has got many MPVs and will get many new MPVs in future therefore the road to success is not going to be easy for the car maker in this segment. Maruti Ertiga after toppling the best seller for years, Toyota Innova has confirmed the first spot for itself in this segment. Maruti Ertiga has a low price, but then it is a part of the entry-level MPV segment and Ford B-Max is going to be a part of the C+ segment, therefore it have competition with Toyota Innova. 

Ford B Max Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

As of now there are three engine choices expected to rule the under hood mechanism of compact MPV Ford B Max. The two petrol powertains will be 1.0L EcoBoost and 1.4L Duratec, whereas the diesel offering is expected to be retuned 1.5L Duratorq mill. Here with EcoBoost motor the estimated Ford B Max mileage will be of 16 kmpl in city conditions and 20 kmpl on highway drives. This engine will generate maximum power of about 101 PS alongside relative torque of 169 Nm.

The second petrol option, which is a bit less powerful with 90 PS and 127 Nm, will be seen delivering a city mileage of nearby 14 kmpl and 17 kmpl of highway mileage. Furthermore, the most desired Ford B Max diesel engine that is projected to produce an upbeat max power of 75 PS and 190 Nm of peak torque will certainly come up with flying colors. Here, the mileage of Ford B Max diesel will be interesting to watch with close by 19 kmpl in city traffic and claimed 24 kmpl on highways.

Ford B Max Engine, Power and Performance

Ford has been very selective when it comes to engine offering in prospering auto markets across the globe. The class leading success of existing powertrains is an outcome of an extensive research work by Ford engineers for the sub continent, especially keeping in mind billion-dollar babe aka Indian automotive industry.  For this reason, Ford B Max engine has kept performance and frugality as their top most priority, which will be observed in the expected 3 engines that will be put on offer by US based auto giant. The first one will be none other than the most hyped-one that is 1.0L EcoBoost petrol engine, which will also be seen under hood of upcoming Ford EcoSport. This innovative motor will develop a maximum power of 101 PS together with top torque of 169 Nm that will bestow Ford B Max better drag capabilities.

The second one, which is again motorized by petrol, will be a tested one in the form of 1.4L Duratec motor that is ruling the under hood of successful Ford Figo hatchback. This retuned engine under Ford B Max will smoke out a topnotch power of 90 PS and 127 Nm of supreme torque figure. Finally comes the most tempting one, the 1.5L Duratorq diesel, this economical yet full-of-life motor is currently looking after the diesel section for Ford Figo. The estimated utmost power that is anticipated out of this retuned engine will be of 75 PS, whereas the highest torque figure achieved will be of 190 Nm.

Ford B Max Pickup and Acceleration

As Ford Motors have set Maruti Suzuki as a benchmark, its cars guarantee sportiness alongside fuel economy. The current array of vehicles like Ford Figo and Ford Fiesta ascertain the same prowess and as a result has made easy ingress into the hearts of car buyers in India. The engine on the offer are expected to put forth the same legacy when it comes to Ford B Max pickup and acceleration.

The bigger powertrain of 1.4L Duratec motor, which smokes out the maximum power of 90 PS and 127 Nm of peak torque, is capable of achieving a top speed of about 170 kmph. Moreover, the time consumed to reach the golden mark of 100 kph from nothing is of 13.8 seconds approx. Another petrol engine that is remarkable 1.0L EcoBoost comes with a displacement of 998cc, alongside power and torque numbers of 101 PS and 169 Nm respectively. Furthermore, the fuel efficient diesel motor 1.5L that yields 75 PS of max power and high torque of 190 Nm is quick enough to reach the 0-100 kph end in mere 16.5 seconds together with top speed of 160 kmph.

Ford B Max Exteriors and Features

The design engineers of US based carmaker have smartly engineered a very stylish yet very practical looking exterior pattern of Ford B Max. The art work denotes Ford Kinetic Design language all over the body that provides the compact MPV with a high roof line, longer wheel base and fitting ground clearance. These essential facets are sure to make the American MPV stand apart from its opponents in India at the time of its launch.

The front of, B3 Fiesta platform based, Ford B Max carries swoopy and clear headlamps, which seem inspired from Ford EcoSport and Ford Fiesta sedan. Moreover, amid headlights, it’s Ford’s chrome slat signature radiator grille, as seen in sleek EcoSport SUV. The air dams beneath are smartly done together with apt bumper line that holds the set of fog lamps at the two corners of the bumpers. The sides of Ford B Max compact MPV are a glee to watch as everything you see is so smooth, very cab-forward and most importantly aerodynamic in styling. Now, the USP part, the doors look dashing and relatively new, particularly with both the body colored door handles positioned adjacently.

With front doors opening conventionally, the rear features a sliding door function. With both, front and rear, gates open you will see a scene of your lifetime, as it offers such great space for entry and exit with absence of B pillar. Also there are chances of 15/16-inch alloy wheels being fitted to the Ford B Max MPV that will ensure a planted drive on road with loaded stuff.

The rear of Ford B Max, specifically high mounted tail lamp cluster, will make you remember Ford Fiesta, but with tall-boy-image and more wrap around tail lamps. The rear bumper is wide with multi reflectors, while with sump guard just below and rear spoiler at the roof bestows it a very raring-to-go sporty stance. Furthermore, the rear windscreen of Ford B Max is of proper size and tail gate is big plus low in height to get the luggage/cargo put-in with effortless ease.