Now Ford Has A Prius: 2012 C-Max To Go Hybrid-Only

Home

News

Hybrids

Now Ford Has A Prius: 2012 C-Max To Go Hybrid-Only

Marty Padgett

Editorial Director BIO

Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Supercar: First Drive Video
It was a Mercedes-Benz icon before it became a performance flagship. Now it's a messenger for the... Read More

#5LEADERBOARD RANK
5164ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
111COMMENTS POSTED

3,403 views Jun 9, 2011

Follow Marty

Add to circle

Ford C-Max Energi, first revealed at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show

HI-RES GALLERY: Ford C-Max Energi, first revealed at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show

The upcoming Ford two-row C-Max Hybrid and plug-in C-Max Energi hybrid are still on track, but today Ford says it's canning the planned seven-seat, gas-powered C-Max minivan from its future product plan.

The three-row C-Max would have been Ford's first minivan on sale in North America since the Freestar departed its lineup in the mid-2000s.

Like the other C-Max models, the Focus and the upcoming Escape replacement, the C-Max minivan is a part of a global family of vehicles that also counts among its members the 2012 Mazda 5.

There's an upside for the not-even-born-yet nameplate in America; Ford says now that the three-row C-Max has been dropped from the North American product plan, the C-Max lineup will be hybrid-only, with its own body style--which could give it some marketing leverage against the best-selling Toyota Prius.

"This will be a real positive for the C-Max brand," said Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer.

Today's news comes as Ford is showing off new technology and hybrid build capacity in its global network. Come 2013, the company says, it will have the ability to build 100,000 electrified vehicles each year.

Other markets, including Europe, will continue to offer the seven-seat C-Max, where the vehicle's sold fairly well, Schirmer says.

+++++++++++

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.