Ford announces Chevy Volt competitor, C-Max Energi

[IDemo]

Source: CNN Money

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ford will soon produce a competitor to General Motors' Chevrolet Volt.

The new van-like compact car, due out next year, will be available in the U.S. in two hybrid versions. One of those, the C-Max Energi, will be a plug-in hybrid with capabilities similar to those of GM's (GM, Fortune 500) Volt but with a much longer total driving range. The other version, the C-Max Hybrid, will be a standard hybrid, similar to the Toyota (TOYOF) Prius or Ford's (F, Fortune 500) Escape Hybrid.

The cars are scheduled to go into production in Michigan next year. Gasoline and diesel-powered versions of the C-Max are already on sale in Europe but aren't planned for the U.S.

Including these vehicles, Ford said it will triple production of "electrified" vehicles in the U.S. by 2013. Electrified vehicles include purely electric plug-in cars like the upcoming Ford Focus Electric and hybrid cars like the Fusion Hybrid sedan.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/09/autos/ford_cmax_energi_chevy_volt_competitor/?section=money_latest

[Champion Jack]

1. looks like this

[HopeHoops]

2. Wow. That's actually attractive. The Prius is fucking ugly.

[paulkienitz]

6. like a cross between a Focus and an Aston-Martin

which ain't bad.

The Prius's looks are, I suspect, a nontrivial part of what turns off conservative potential customers. It looks obnoxiously like THE CAR OF THE FUTURE instead of like a car.

I am stoked to see real competition in plug-in hybrids, not to mention pure battery cars. I think plain old battery cars are going to play a much bigger role in the future auto fleet than any industry insider is willing to admit. They have the makings of a disruptive technology.

[HopeHoops]

7. Good description! As for the Prius...

It looks like a lump of clay that a pre-schooler left on the table at the end of the day. Bleh.

[fujiyama]

15. Ford has really stepped up its styling

They have great looking (and nicely performing) cars in each class - the new Focus, the recent Fusion, and the Taurus all come to mind. I've heard that the fuel economy on the new Explorer has also improved significantly.

With this, I think they're proving that American companies can build attractive cars that get good fuel economy. Good signs for the domestic auto industry - which seems to actually be one of the bright spots amid all the recent bad economic news.

[ejpoeta]

3. it's good to see some actual competition going on in this field although it's a shame

we can't get diesel in this country for anything other than big trucks.

[TheWraith]

4. Good to hear, but that's a terrible name.

It sounds like the name of a fungus.

[SaveAmerica]

5. We've slipped into an alternate universe -it's only available in gas an diesel in Europe

[Taverner]

8. Dammit, they have to come up with a better name. How about The Ford TORQUEMEISTER!!!

Something I noticed with electric cars is that they can TAKE OFF...

[Fumesucker]

9. The Ford Torquemada?

Hmm.. Maybe not..

:hi:

[Taverner]

10. I kinda like that!

[bigworld]

11. Better pictures here

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20070348-48.html

This is what I want. I want an electric car, but I also want to be able to haul some stuff. The Volt just doesn't look practical.

[Anakin Skywalker]

12. What the hell is a C-Max? Sounds like a stupid energy drink!

[NYC_SKP]

13. K/R- I rode in a Leaf yesterday and drove a Volt a week ago, and I own a Prius now

With 98,680 miles on the Prius I'm ready for something new.

Plus we will have five Level II EV chargers at work by the end of the year (fingers crossed) so the plug-in would be terrific!!!

:bounce:

[underpants]

14. Foed got a $6 Billion loan from Dept. Energy to upgrade their factories to make these

•Ford Motor Company has closed on a $5.9 billion loan to Ford Motor Company to transform factories across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio to produce more fuel efficient models.
http://www.energy.gov/8719.htm