The Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid goes on sale this fall with a starting price of $33,745 or $29,995 after a $3,750 federal tax credit, including destination.
The C-Max Energi is Ford’s first production plug-in hybrid vehicle and a of company’s dedicated line of hybrids, electrics and plug-ins, which includes the Focus Electric, the C-Max hybrid, the Fusion hybrid and the Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid.
Ford says that the 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid will achieve an electric-only range rating of 20-plus miles and a total range of 550 miles on a single tank of fuel.
The company expects that the C-MAX Energi will achieve a combined MPGe rating of 95 and an electric-only top speed higher than the Prius plug-in.
Ford notes that the C-MAX Energi is more affordable than the Prius plug-in hybrid. The new C-MAX Energi also has 60 more horsepower than the Prius plug-in hybrid considering full battery power, along with class-exclusive technologies such as hands-free liftgate and active park assist for easier parallel parking.
Ford officials have said that the costs of its current hybrid system are 30 percent less than the costs of Ford’s previous-generation hybrid systems due in large part to those cost-containment efforts.
For example, Ford has cut costs by bringing in-house the development and manufacture of many aspects of vehicles such as C-MAX Energi. The hybrid battery system, hybrid transmission system and software for C-MAX Energi all were developed in-house.
Further, by creating global vehicle platforms, Ford maximizes the use of as many shared parts and components across as many lines as possible to lower overall costs.
Ford’s revamped Michigan Assembly Plant is the first facility in the world capable of building a full array of vehicles – gas-powered, electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid – all on the same production line. That means C-MAX Energi is being built on the same line as C-MAX Hybrid, Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST.
Like C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi has projected total system horsepower of 188 – reaching a peak of 195 with a fully charged battery – stemming from the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline, C-MAX Energi uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine – powerful and fuel efficient and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered.
Because owners plug in to charge the advanced lithium-ion battery in C-MAX Energi, the vehicle is able to achieve increased electric mode and total range. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter, more efficient and more powerful than nickel-metal-hydride batteries used in first-generation hybrids. They also promote faster charging times.
Ford C-MAX Energi offers the latest generation of SmartGauge with EcoGuide. Designed to help drivers get the most from C-MAX, information such as instantaneous fuel economy can be displayed on one of two 4.2-inch LCD screens, helping drivers more closely monitor how their driving behavior affects the vehicle’s efficiency.
Available for C-MAX Energi is the MyFord Mobile smartphone application that allows users to monitor charging, receive alerts, find charge stations, plan trips and do more from their smartphones or computers for an effortless transition to an electrified vehicle lifestyle.
Already available for order is Ford C-MAX Hybrid with a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery – with a cost that is $1,300 lower than Toyota Prius v.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
