Ford: C-MAX news **2012 Revealed in Detroit (page 1)**
08-07-2012, 08:36 AM
#42
Race Director
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...leage-button/1
Yet another button is making its appearance in a car, but this one is aimed at wringing the maximum amount of gas mileage out of the Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which was just rated at an average of 47 miles a gallon whether it's driving in the city or on the highway.
With a push, drivers can have some control over when the vehicle travels in all-electric mode. Ford boasts that the small crossover -- actually, it's more like a minivan -- will hit 85 miles per hour on electric power alone.
"We understand customers place a high value on the zero-emission electrified driving experience," said Ford Vice President Joe Bakaj, who is making the announcement today in Traverse City, Mich. "This inspired our engineering team to equip the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid with a button that enables drivers to choose an electric-only driving mode."
The EV mode button on top of the center stack allows a driver to switch vehicle operation between three modes.
Drivers can opt for electric-only driving, normal hybrid mode where the battery and gasoline engine work together, or an engine only mode that conserves battery power for later use. The C-MAX hybrid is capable of 20 miles of electric-only driving.
The idea is that drivers can get the most out of the vehicle's electric savings based on where they are traveling:
EV auto mode. You don't have to think about whether the battery or engine is engaged becuase the car takes care of it for you. It makes the best use of both.
EV now mode. You only use the battery, such as when you're making a few errands around town and know you'll be home in a few miles to recharge.
EV later mode. If you're going to be traveling for a long stretch on a highway, using the battery isn't very efficient and the car's engine won't use much gas anyway. So it lets you save the battery for later when you might be able to get better use out of it.
With a push, drivers can have some control over when the vehicle travels in all-electric mode. Ford boasts that the small crossover -- actually, it's more like a minivan -- will hit 85 miles per hour on electric power alone.
"We understand customers place a high value on the zero-emission electrified driving experience," said Ford Vice President Joe Bakaj, who is making the announcement today in Traverse City, Mich. "This inspired our engineering team to equip the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid with a button that enables drivers to choose an electric-only driving mode."
The EV mode button on top of the center stack allows a driver to switch vehicle operation between three modes.
Drivers can opt for electric-only driving, normal hybrid mode where the battery and gasoline engine work together, or an engine only mode that conserves battery power for later use. The C-MAX hybrid is capable of 20 miles of electric-only driving.
The idea is that drivers can get the most out of the vehicle's electric savings based on where they are traveling:
EV auto mode. You don't have to think about whether the battery or engine is engaged becuase the car takes care of it for you. It makes the best use of both.
EV now mode. You only use the battery, such as when you're making a few errands around town and know you'll be home in a few miles to recharge.
EV later mode. If you're going to be traveling for a long stretch on a highway, using the battery isn't very efficient and the car's engine won't use much gas anyway. So it lets you save the battery for later when you might be able to get better use out of it.
08-15-2013, 01:42 PM
#43
Safety Car
AutoNews
Ford Motor Co. will reduce the stated fuel-economy rating of its C-Max Hybrid car -- a rare and potentially costly move that Ford spent months feverishly working to avoid, according to a Ford source with knowledge of the plan.
Ford planned an announcement about the move later today. A company spokesman had no comment.
Ford has faced heavy criticism and lawsuits about worse-than-expected fuel economy for several new models, including the C-Max, whose window stickers have advertised 47 mpg for city, highway and combined driving. The ratings are based on tests Ford conducted and data it submitted to the EPA.
The Detroit News, citing people familiar with the matter, reported the fuel economy rating on the C-Max would be lowered to 43 mpg, or about 10 percent.
Ford is the 2nd automaker to back down on lofty fuel-economy claims in the past year under pressure from the EPA. Hyundai and its Kia affiliate in November agreed to change the labels on most of their models after the agency discovered that the brands had submitted flawed results for 1 of the tests used to calculate fuel economy numbers.
All 4 Hyundai and Kia nameplates that had been advertised as getting 40 mpg in highway driving received new labels showing 36 to 38 mpg.
Hyundai and Kia offered customers of 900,000 vehicles prepaid fuel cards for compensation. In January, Bloomberg reported that Hyundai set aside about $225 million and Kia about $187 million to cover the reimbursements.
The EPA did not respond to e-mail and phone messages requesting comment on Ford's plans.
The News, citing three industry officials, reported the EPA is expected to announce Friday that it will revise test procedures for how hybrid vehicles are assigned fuel economy ratings and labels.
Ford's move shows the high stakes surrounding fuel economy in today's car market, where buyers are more sensitive to high gasoline prices and the Obama administration is requiring automakers to meet stricter mileage standards.
Blow to Ford's image
Cutting the C-Max Hybrid mileage ratings is a blow to Ford's carefully cultivated image as a fuel economy leader, a core tenet that CEO Alan Mulally has emphasized since joining the company in 2006.
Ford used the 47-mpg number as the centerpiece of its C-Max advertising. Beginning in October, it aired a series of playful animated ads that pitted the C-Max against the rival Toyota Prius V. In addition to better fuel economy, Ford boasted the C-Max was more fun to drive than the Prius, as well.
But Ford's mileage claims soon ran up against the real-world experiences of customers. At least 2 class-action lawsuits were filed against the company on behalf of consumers who alleged that Ford misled them with fuel economy claims.
1 of the suits, filed in California, was dropped in February. Another suit, filed in Massachusetts, is awaiting a hearing.
The Ford Fusion and C-Max hybrids fell 17 percent to 21 percent short of Ford's promise of combined 47 mpg in testing last year by Consumer Reports magazine, which uses a different testing cycle than the EPA. The Fusion achieved 39 mpg and the C-Max averaged 37 mpg in tests of city and highway driving, the magazine found.
Other hybrids also fell short of their manufacturers' claims, Consumer Reports said, but none more so than the C-Max and Fusion.
The Toyota Prius, with a combined rating of 50 mpg, is the only non-plug-in nameplate with higher EPA fuel-economy than the C-Max and the Fusion, which is also rated at 47 mpg, according to FuelEconomy.gov, a Department of Energy Web site. The Prius is smaller and lighter than the C-Max and Fusion.
08-16-2013, 01:43 PM
#45
Race Director
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#axzz2c9uRJoNP
The company and EPA said the new rating on the C-Max will be 43 mpg combined, 45 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
Ford said today it will provide $550 to U.S. customers who purchased a C-Max and $325 to customers who have leased the vehicle. Some 32,000 C-Max owners are eligible for the payments,
Ford said today it will provide $550 to U.S. customers who purchased a C-Max and $325 to customers who have leased the vehicle. Some 32,000 C-Max owners are eligible for the payments,
The agency did not say whether it plans to investigate Ford. But it seems unlikely because the agency said in a statement that its own testing rules were a factor that contributed to Ford's overstated mpg claims.
Ford officials said today the company used mpg tests on the Fusion hybrid sedan to generate the fuel economy label for the C-Max. It was allowed under EPA rules but Ford said it plans to test C-Max separately going forward.
Ford has no plans to change the mpg ratings on the Fusion hybrid, company officials said.
Ford has no plans to change the mpg ratings on the Fusion hybrid, company officials said.
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