Ford B-MAX concept opens up

Ford reveals new Fiesta-based MPV at last, featuring unique ‘pillarless’ design.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Tom Phillips and Sam Hardy

February 2011

Meet the supermini-MPV that takes the Fiesta to the MAX! This is the Ford B-MAX – a concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show which reveals the shape and innovative features of a new small people carrier due on sale within 12 months.

Replacing the underwhelming Fusion – based on the previous Fiesta – the B-MAX is designed to appeal to buyers who are downsizing by offering sharp styling and a luxury interior.

Key to this is the ‘pillarless’ bodyshell, which does away with the conventional B-pillar by integrating it into the front and sliding rear doors. Engineers have achieved this by using ultra-high-strength boron steel in the doors and special safety interlocks between those panels and the body structure.

The removal of the B-pillar gives an impressively large opening measuring more than 1.5 metres wide. This makes accessing the B-MAX a breeze, while the front and rear doors can still be opened independently. Although no production details have been officially confirmed, this layout will feature on the showroom-ready car.

"Sliding doors give us a unique selling point," vice president of marketing, Ford of Europe, Paul Thomas told Auto Express. "Customer clinic results told us we had to have them on the B-MAX. They appeal to people with children and older people because of the access to the rear."

The B-MAX plugs straight into the firm’s latest design language, and borrows elements from its much-admired and bigger seven-seater stablemate. “With the B-MAX, we set out to create a vehicle that captures the spirit of a smaller S-MAX,” explained design boss Martin Smith.

However, the project was radically redesigned a year ago. "The look wasn't as crisp as we wanted so we went back to the drawing board," explained Paul Thomas. "It needed to look more like a smaller S-MAX."

"The original design did not have enough sculpture in the rear doors," added chief exterior designer Stefan Lamm. "So we redesigned those and then put in more muscularity to the whole package."

The newcomer shares that car's trapezoidal grille, elongated headlights and furrowed shoulder line, while even the 18-inch alloy rims are inspired by those fitted to the large people carrier. It’s the same story at the rear, with its wraparound tailgate glass and slender back lights.

Despite sharing the larger car’s looks, the B-MAX is only 110mm longer and taller than the five-door Fiesta – although it promises far more cabin space. Its relationship with the supermini is obvious in the five-seat interior, which also borrows elements from the new C-MAX.

There is no sliding arrangement though. The cabin features a fixed rear bench that folds flat 60/40. Up front a large central panel houses an information display and stereo controls. Ford claims that the high-quality materials in the B-MAX’s cabin – including black leather and fabric seats stitched with contrasting bronze thread – have been used to meet the expectations of drivers of larger cars.

A full-length panoramic roof bathes the interior in light. Under the bonnet, this will be the first production car to get the company’s hotly anticipated three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine.

The unit was first shown in the Start concept at the Beijing expo in 2010, and features direct injection, intelligent variable valve timing and a single turbocharger.

In the B-MAX it drives the front wheels through Ford’s six-speed twin-clutch Powershift gearbox. Stop-start helps keep emissions below 90g/km and ensures fuel economy of around 70mpg.

The newcomer will also be offered with more conventional petrol and diesel engines seen in the Fiesta range. Production is set to take place at Ford’s Craiova plant in Romania, and the B-MAX is likely to be priced from around £12,000 to £18,000 – slotting in just below the larger C-MAX line-up, which starts at £17,195.

While the B-MAX is primarily aimed at European markets – and isn't strictly a global car under the One Ford banner – it is expected to be sold in South America and Far Eastern markets.

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10 Comments

Amazing!

This is true innovation bundled up in an incredible package - nice one Ford

By dillinghamp on 28 February, 2011, 4:26pm

Good to see another one of these (it's not unique). My 1986 Nissan Stanza Wagon had dual rear sliding doors and no "B" pillar. I want this one in the US!

By rotts on 1 March, 2011, 1:01am

Ford... Hit with an ugly stick...

Holy Cow, that is the ugliest car I have ever clapped eyes on (0.0)

Where on earth are Ford's design team these days, out to lunch? ^^

By sgtgrash on 1 March, 2011, 1:19am

WTF?

Truly awful. And AutoExpress, what on earth does the statement "plugs straight into the firm's latest design language" actually mean? Does it simply mean that like all fords since the days of the Cortina and Granada twins look the same as each other because there designers have only on idea at any one time? Honestly the journalistic phrases used by AE lately take them, IMO, just one step above the gutter press.

By JamesRiley on 1 March, 2011, 8:12am

I presume...

...that the front numberplate will sit within that gaping, Peugeot-style mouth?

Ford's styling seems to have gone from UGLY to FUGLY in no time at all.

By BARNEYM1979 on 1 March, 2011, 8:28am

About time.

Finally a small practical car that makes the "suicide door" idea on the Vauxhall seem contrived and silly. Ford really seem to be getting their act together.... mind you - the New Focus is very very Ugly.....

By wmtmarine on 1 March, 2011, 12:14pm

B Minus Could Become B Plus

I would not be suprised if a production model would have a B-pillar. It could still have the sliding rear door with which to compete with the Vauxhall Meriva.

By LANMAN on 2 March, 2011, 12:16pm

One Design Fits All

Are Ford going down the same route as the Premium manufacturers by selling one design in different sizes? This is a 5 seater C-Max that's shrunk in the wash! Dull, dull, dull.....I'm bored with Fords current design themes, a major re-think is needed.

By erly5 on 3 March, 2011, 1:45pm

This design is not unique. I had 2 Nissan Prairies in the eighties and nineties and they were built with no b pillar and sliding doors. Gave huge loading space as they were more Sierra/ Mondeo size. The later version had the b pillar and wasn't so innovative. However, we are looking at getting a new car this time next year and maycheck this one out.

By Richard1959 on 6 March, 2011, 2:54pm