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Ford FOCUS C-MAX TDCI Diesel range Parts 1
Picture Of New Ford C-MAX TDCI Diesel Range Car Review
FOCUS GETS THE MAX FACTOR
With three economical common rail diesel engines available, Ford’s C-MAX aims to take the fight to the mini-MPV class best. Andy Enright reports…
When designing a mini-MPV, there are a vast array of options open to car manufacturers. They can maximise interior space but this normally comes at the expense of driveability and style. Ford’s recent renaissance has been built upon making cars that are a delight to drive, so it’s no surprise that their C-MAX mini-MPV doesn’t resemble a hulking breezeblock. So subtle are its lines that many would have to glance twice to distinguish it from its hatchback sibling. With a frugal TDCI common rail diesel engine up front, the C-MAX proves both economical and acceptably quick. But will it be enough to steal sales form a well-established bunch of rivals?
Ford have thought long and hard about this car since its original launch, hence the recent styling changes and the dropping of the ‘Focus’ name from the title. The looks are a good deal less introverted these days with a redesigned front end that includes design elements from the S-MAX - most notably, the lower trapezoid front grille, a redesigned upper grille, headlights and tail lamps. Specify the optional bi-xenon lights and a light strip runs across the top line of the lamp unit. It’s all rather Audi, as are the LED tail lights.
The 1.6-litre diesel that props up the C-MAX TDCi range we’re looking at here is a development of the Fiesta’s 1.4TDCi common rail unit and, like the 1.8-litre TDCi and 2.0-litre TDCi powerplants, was developed in conjunction with Peugeot and Citroen, drawing on both company’s shared expertise in the field. Ford’s Centre for Diesel Excellence at Dagenham has become a well-respected think tank when it comes to state of the art oil burning engines and the latest TDCi units do its reputation no harm. The 1.6-litre engine is primarily aimed at customers with an eye on fuel economy, and will return a very creditable 57.6mpg on the combined cycle while emitting just 119 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometre travelled.
Picture Of New Ford C-MAX TDCI Diesel Range Car Review
Despite the focus on frugality, it’ll still zip to 60mph in 11 seconds and run on to a top speed of 116mph. Torque is delivered from very low in the rev range and this makes the C-MAX TDCi 1.6 agreeably quick off the mark when you need to accelerate out of a T-junction into flowing traffic. The 1.8-litre TDCi engine develops 113bhp, is fractionally quicker to 60mph and has a 125mph top speed. Choose this option and you can expect 52mpg fuel economy.
"Ford’s Centre for Diesel Excellence at Dagenham has become a well respected think tank"
When designing a mini-MPV, there are a vast array of options open to car manufacturers. They can maximise interior space but this normally comes at the expense of driveability and style. Ford’s recent renaissance has been built upon making cars that are a delight to drive, so it’s no surprise that their C-MAX mini-MPV doesn’t resemble a hulking breezeblock. So subtle are its lines that many would have to glance twice to distinguish it from its hatchback sibling. With a frugal TDCI common rail diesel engine up front, the C-MAX proves both economical and acceptably quick. But will it be enough to steal sales form a well-established bunch of rivals?
Ford have thought long and hard about this car since its original launch, hence the recent styling changes and the dropping of the ‘Focus’ name from the title. The looks are a good deal less introverted these days with a redesigned front end that includes design elements from the S-MAX - most notably, the lower trapezoid front grille, a redesigned upper grille, headlights and tail lamps. Specify the optional bi-xenon lights and a light strip runs across the top line of the lamp unit. It’s all rather Audi, as are the LED tail lights.
The 1.6-litre diesel that props up the C-MAX TDCi range we’re looking at here is a development of the Fiesta’s 1.4TDCi common rail unit and, like the 1.8-litre TDCi and 2.0-litre TDCi powerplants, was developed in conjunction with Peugeot and Citroen, drawing on both company’s shared expertise in the field. Ford’s Centre for Diesel Excellence at Dagenham has become a well-respected think tank when it comes to state of the art oil burning engines and the latest TDCi units do its reputation no harm. The 1.6-litre engine is primarily aimed at customers with an eye on fuel economy, and will return a very creditable 57.6mpg on the combined cycle while emitting just 119 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometre travelled.
Picture Of New Ford C-MAX TDCI Diesel Range Car Review
Despite the focus on frugality, it’ll still zip to 60mph in 11 seconds and run on to a top speed of 116mph. Torque is delivered from very low in the rev range and this makes the C-MAX TDCi 1.6 agreeably quick off the mark when you need to accelerate out of a T-junction into flowing traffic. The 1.8-litre TDCi engine develops 113bhp, is fractionally quicker to 60mph and has a 125mph top speed. Choose this option and you can expect 52mpg fuel economy.
"Ford’s Centre for Diesel Excellence at Dagenham has become a well respected think tank"
