The new Ford B-Max, featuring a unique design and new small car technology among the most advanced in Europe, has arrived in Ireland, with an entry level price of €19,170 for the 1.4 petrol and €21,840 (both ex-works ) for the 1.5 diesel version. The former slots in to the current Band B for VRT and road tax, while the latter is in Band A.
With a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the B-Max’s Ford easy access door system provides unobstructed entry and exit with hinged front doors and sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars.
When both front and rear doors are open there is outstanding access to the interior, with a huge, clear aperture more than 1.5 metres wide, making it significantly easier to enter or exit the rear seats, attend to children in child seats, or load and unload shopping.
The new B-Max is also the first European Ford to offer the company’s acclaimed SYNC system. It is an advanced voice control, device integration and connectivity interface. In layman's language, it enables users to connect mobile phones and music players by Bluetooth or USB, make hands-free telephone calls, and control music and other functions using voice commands.
It can automatically transfer contact information from a connected Bluetooth device to the vehicle, allows calls to contacts to be activated using straight-forward voice commands, and reads text messages aloud from compatible phones connected using Bluetooth.
SYNC also enables B-Max to offer the innovative new emergency assistance feature which is designed to assist the occupants to call the local emergency services operator in the event of an accident. Emergency assistance won the “Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive, Transport or Utilities” category at the 2012 Global Mobile Awards, Barcelona.
In Ireland, the car will be offered in two versions B-Max and B-Max Titanium. The specification list for B-Max is as follows: 15” steel wheels; body-coloured mirrors and handles; leather trimmed steering wheel; air-conditioning; global open/closing windows; fold flat passenger and rear seats; deflation detection system; electronic stability programme (ESP ); torque vectoring control; headlight courtesy delay; and remote central locking.
The additional specification list for the B-Max Titanium includes: 15” alloy wheels; front fog lights; LED day-time running lights; chrome window finisher; heated windscreen; child observation mirror; and trip computer.
Eddie Murphy, managing director of Ford Ireland, told the Advertiser: " We are delighted with the first reactions to our new B-Max in Ireland. The car really challenges traditional small car thinking, and pioneers a concept not attempted by any other manufacturer,”
Engine line up and pricing is as follows:
B-MAX 1.0 litre Ecoboost petrol100PS (119 g/km CO2 – tax band A ) - €21,600
B-MAX 1.4 90PS petrol (139 g/km CO2 – tax band B ) - €19,170
B-MAX 1.5 75PS diesel (109 g/km CO2 – tax band A ) - €21,840
B-MAX 1.6 105PS Auto (149 g/km CO2 – tax band C ) - €25,220
B-MAX Titanium 1.0 Ecoboost petrol 100PS (119 g/km CO2 – tax band A ) – GRP €22,815
B-MAX Titanium 1.6 105PS Auto (149 g/km CO2 – tax band C ) - €26,430
B-MAX Titanium 1.5 75PS diesel (109 g/km CO2 – tax band A ) - €23,050
