Ford B-Max

Production began in June 2012, and marketing of the first units started during late July. It was launched in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2012. The B-Max is based on the Ford Fiesta, and its main rivals were the Fiat 500L, the Citroën C3 Picasso and the Nissan Note.

Overview

The styling of the B-Max continues the Ford Kinetic Design theme, and has rear sliding doors with no B-pillars. The B-Max is available with the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine of the Ford EcoBoost family, that features turbocharged direct injection and start-stop system.

This engine officially won the title of "International Engine of the Year 2012". The 1.6-litre Duratec engine can be fitted with the PowerShift six speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

It has three different trim levels: Studio, Zetec and Titanium. The Studio is the basic model, and it is available only with the 1.4-litre engine. The first B-Max was bought by the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, on 25 June 2012, directly from the Craiova plant. In September 2017, production of B-Max ended, due to dwindling demand for the model, as well as a general decline in sales of mini MPVs.

Unusually for a Ford, this model did not receive a mid-cycle facelift in order to boost sales, the closest successors were intended as the EcoSport as well as the Fiesta Active, transitions from MPV to SUV design.