At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Ford CEO Alan Mulally stood up and told show goers that Ford would attack the lucrative MPV market with a new addition to its One Ford strategy, and proceeded to unveil the then concept Ford B-Max.
By all accounts, the Fiesta platform sharing B-Max will make a return to this year’s Geneva Motor Show next month, but will leave its concept designation at the door because it is due for official release later this year, taking the fight to current class leaders like Opel’s Meriva and Renault’s Scenic.
Breaking into a segment is never as easy as it sounds, but Ford expects their name to eclipse these two with the unique but practical aspects of their MPV.
Top of that list has to be the lack of B-pillars and the inclusion of a rear sliding door, making rear loading (be kids, dogs or furniture) and complete breeze. The traditional B-pillar problems, including side collision safety, has been solved by Ford, but more importantly the B-Max does not look like a panel van – the curse it seems of any car fitted with sliding doors in the past.
The use of an integrated B-pillar into the rear sliding door gives the car a traditional ‘car’ look to it, but with that added practicality.
It is still a small MPV though, measuring 11cm longer that the current Fiesta, with which it shares most of its underpinnings.
Styling and dimensions are those of a MPV; high stance and seating position should create a decent amount of space inside the cabin, while the exterior is inherited from the current Ford Focus and Fiesta lines.
Further details are on the scares side at this stage, but with Geneva a little over a month away, we are sure that there will be plenty of in depth specifications flying around before its estimated European launch in September.
