New Ford takes it to the max

ON THE day I picked up the Ford C-Max for a test drive, Ford introduced their new 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine to the Irish motoring press.

The Ecoboost petrol engine, which initially will be available in the best-selling Focus, will provide as much power as a 1.6 litre diesel engine, but it will be much quieter and cheaper overall.

The Ecoboost, which broke 16 world speed records at a test track in France in May of this year, was named international Engine of the Year for 2012.

Ford plan to roll out the Ecoboost engine in their new B-max, C-Max and Fiesta later this year. The C-Max is built on the ever popular Focus platform. Sales of new cars have fallen dramatically this year, but Ford is confident that their Focus will be the best selling car for 2012, making it number one in Ireland in 12 of the past 15 years.

I have driven the C-Max previously, but I had forgotten how powerful and comfortable a motor it is until I sat in it. I drove a five-seater C-Max, but if you prefer you can opt for the seven-seater Grand Max version, which has the extra advantage of two sliding rear doors. Then if you want even more space there is the S-Max and if you are in the limouise/VIP transporting business, then the Ford Galaxy would definitely fit the bill. The S-Max and Galaxy are built on the Mondeo platform.

With families getting smaller all the time I think the C-Max should be able to cater for the needs of most Irish families. There is plenty of room for five adults and the high driving position gives all the passengers a great view of the road. It really is a very comfortable car to travel in, especially on long journeys. I liked the way the controls are arranged on the impressive dash and the gear lever is incorporated in the centre console. Grey is the dominant interior colour, with white lines brightening up the seats and a cream roof.

The C-Max I drove had a few interesting extras. Park Assist will park the car for you once you find a space that will accommodate this big motor, but you still control the clutch and accelerator. And if you want to leave your hands free to fill up the massive boot there is an automatic hydraulic boot which opens and closes at the flick of a switch. Then you have the very useful Blind Spot Information System. If you are about to be overtaken by another vehicle, in the inside or outside, you get a yellow warning light in the side mirror, a very useful warning system.

Prices for the C-Max start

?¬25,011, while the top of the range 1.6 diesel Titanium version I drove will cost you

?¬26,911. Then if you want the extras you will of course have to pay for them, the Park Assist will cost you an extra

?¬796, automatic boot release is an extra

?¬870 and the blind spot warning is

?¬870. They are all very useful, but you should still be able to enjoy the comforts a C-Max offers, even if you cannot afford the extras.

With the various scrappage schemes finished for now, the Irish car market is a declining, but still competitive market. Ford is ensuring that it will not be left behind by continuing to offer new engines and innovative technology.