Ford C-Max Energi PHEV and C-Max Hybrid to Best Toyota Prius Rivals in Fuel Economy

Ford announced on Wednesday that its two new hybrid vehicles, the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, are projected to set a new benchmark for fuel economy when they go on sale next year.

Ford says that the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid are going to be more fuel efficient than their respective competition, the Toyota Prius v and the Toyota Prius plug-in.

Ford expects that the C-Max Hybrid will earn higher ratings than the 2012 Toyota Prius V wagon. The EPA rates the Prius V at 44 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 42 mpg.

In addition, Ford projects that the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid will top the Prius plug-in hybrid’s electric only mode rating of 87-mpge.

The C-MAX hybrids headline Ford’s transformed lineup, one-third of which will feature a model with 40 mpg or more in 2012, building on the company’s commitment to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers the Power of Choice.

Both vehicles feature the next generation of Ford’s acclaimed powersplit technology that will allow operation in electric mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid.

Ford’s near-term electrification plan calls for the company to triple production capacity of its electrified vehicle range by 2013. The C-MAX vehicles will be built on the company’s global C-segment platform and are two of five electrified vehicles Ford plans to launch in North America in 2012.

Scheduled to start hitting showroom floors in the second half of 2012, the C-MAX hybrids will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., with production powered in part by one of the largest solar energy generator systems in the state.

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