Ford B-Max: Official

Ford B-Max launches at Geneva

It’s been a  while coming – the Ford B-Max – but it’s finally arrived today in Geneva.

Ford’s replacement for the now venerable Fusion is the B-Max, a car which, had it not been for Ford’s financial woes, would have been here last year. Still, better late than never – and it looks a big jump on from the Fusion.

Based on the Fiesta platform, the B-Max comes out 11cm longer than its sibling (and 30cm less than its big brother the S-Max) and gets a big side opening thanks to the removal of the B-Pillar. The B-Max will be one car you won’t struggle to get in and out of.

Not only is getting in and out easy, so to will getting ‘stuff’ in and out. The back seats and passenger seat fold flat creating a proper, stuff-moving space. And one that is up to 2.35 metres long.

The B-Max also moves up a run or two on the desirability front thanks to stuff like leather seats with contast stitching and a big central panel infotainment up front. This is meant to be a downsized S-Max – not a budget child-mover.

Power will come from a range of Ford’s latest engines, perhaps the most interesting one of which is the new 3-pot EcoBoost. This 1.0 litre engine gets a turbo and variable cam timing and should deliver some impressive emissions and economy numbers.

Prices are likely to start around £11,500 and rise to meet – and pass – the bottom end of the C-Max. Ford aren’t giving a massive amount away yet, but for all they have to say on the B-Max have a look at the Ford B-Max Press release. We do know Ford’s Romanian plant is geared up ready to make the B-Max, so we will see customer cars this year.

Not a moment too soon.

(16 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK