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Ford B-MAX breaks cover

Scoop shots reveal B-MAX mule on British roads for the first time.

Ford B-MAX

04th May 2011

These are the pictures that prove Ford is taking its Fiesta to the MAX!

This Fiesta based prototype reveals that the development of the new B-MAX supermini-MPV is entering a new phase, testing in public on UK roads. This fully laden prototype, complete with bicycles strapped to the rear, was spotted on the roads around Glasgow by reader Alistair Ferguson - who also shot our video.

But while Ford is keeping its B-MAX mules disguised with Fiesta bodywork, the eventual look of the production car is no longer a secret. As our picture gallery shows, the B-MAX was unveiled as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, where it was confirmed that the car will go on sale early in 2012, priced around £13,000.

Set to replace the slow selling Ford Fusion, the production version of this car gets a design inspired by the latest Ford Focus, including a distinctive trapezoidal front grille and bold looking headlamps.

However, it's the B-MAX's innovative pillarless design and sliding doors which give this car it's unique character, as well as a massive side opening of up to 1.5 meters. The design promises make the B-MAX one of the most practical and versatile cars in its class.

Despite this huge entry space, the B-MAX should remain an easy car to drive around town. While the finished version will be both taller and wider than the Fiesta on which it is based, it will be just 110mm longer - meaning tight parking spaces should prove no problem.

Under the bonnet, the car will feature Ford's new EcoBoost petrol engine range, the highlight of which will be the new 1-litre, three-cylinder unit with fuel economy of up to 70mpg.

Inside, the cabin will feature seats for five, and flat-folding rear chairs. A panoramic sunroof will be offered as an optional extra, as will leather seats with colour coded stitching.

Drivers can also look forward to an upmarket cabin, complete with the funtionality of the Ford Focus derived "MyFordTouch" in car technology. This combines the latest entertainment, navigation and phone technologies, as well as a customisable instrument panel.

Top specification cars will even offer advanced technologies like automatic reverse parking systems, and intelligent cruise control - bringing executive car technologies to the supermini class for the first time.

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15 Comments

Mmmm...

They don't look like sliding rear doors....

By Mustafa25 on 5 May, 2011, 7:16am

Not the B-Max

I don´t think it´s a B-Max mule. The high chassis and the real big wheels tell me here comes the Baby-Kuga.

By Raptorfan on 5 May, 2011, 8:09am

What are we looking at?

"Ford is keeping its B-MAX mules disguised with Fiesta bodywork", so this big scoop actually shows us a Fiesta with wierd paint, no sliding doors, perhaps a raised ride i.e. a mule, which tells us little about the B-MAX. Your heading "Ford B-MAX breaks cover" might well be described as misleading.

By PMinAU149 on 5 May, 2011, 8:11am

Oh wow another scoop !

You read my mind PMinAU149 - another example of a 'nothing' picture being turned into a misleading story.

Even your 'artist impressions' of the B-Max bear no relation to the Fiesta in the photos - is there really that little news around that you have to serve up nonsense like this ??

By foshie on 5 May, 2011, 9:28am

I saw that same car in Eileen Donnan castle car park last Friday morning! Didn't have my camera handy though. Pity.

By Alan_904cc on 5 May, 2011, 9:36am

Some people can't read.

The two comments above about this not being the B-Max are really quite pathetic. The gold car in the pics is a concept car and the other is a mule. Nothing misleading at all.

By aplads on 5 May, 2011, 11:34am

I can read perfectly well ...

The headline banner proclaims "Ford B Max breaks cover" whereas the picture is of a Fiesta with a bike rack on the back.

Whether its a test mule or not, its not a B-Max, and how many times have so called 'scoop' images on here born no relation to the finished product.

By foshie on 5 May, 2011, 1:25pm

Still not misleading

It says 'Scoop shots reveal B-Max mule on British roads for first time'. How is that misleading? A test mule for another vehicle is not the original vehicle. Is what's underneath here going to be on a Fiesta? No. It's a test mule.

By aplads on 5 May, 2011, 2:19pm

mule but not B-Max

For all. It's no B-Max. It's a mule. But it is a mule for the upcoming Baby-Kuga.

By Raptorfan on 5 May, 2011, 8:17pm

baby kuga

I agree with raptorfan, this could be new baby kuga,but it could be for a different market and not coming to the uk,possibly south america/south africa?every market has different trends and with fiesta being a 'world car' it would be easy for FORD to apapt existing chassis to accomodate them

By squarehead on 6 May, 2011, 6:45am

re: baby kuga

Hello squarehead, I have informations that the baby Kuga is for Europe.

By Raptorfan on 6 May, 2011, 12:37pm

Interesting that the VRM on that car (EU10OGY) comes back as a 1.5 diesel, must be a new engine?

By J400uk on 6 May, 2011, 1:10pm

info Raptorman

Hiya raptorman i was just making comment about chassis adapted for different markets.I'm really interested in your information,please divulge many thanks

By squarehead on 10 May, 2011, 1:55pm

Its the same mule from a different post but with a different reg

@J400UK The reg on this mule is one character different to the mule in this AE post where they proclaimed it to be the fiesta 4x4. the VRM on that one was EU10OGX and that came up as a 1.5 diesel too.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/256684/fiesta_4x4_first_pictures.html

By bhalay207 on 10 May, 2011, 11:43pm

"No 'B' pillar" is not innovative. My '86 Nissan Stanza wagon had double sliding rear doors with no "B" pillar, push-button 4-wheel drive, 5-speed manual, huge capacity, best driver's seat I've ever sat in, dual-sparkplug I-4 that got me and 3 others + luggage over the Rockies with ease, cruised at 85-90 while yielding 25 MPG, all while pumping out A/C that was able to dispell the heat of Phoenix. An amazing vehicle 25 years ago!

By rotts on 21 June, 2011, 2:57pm

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