Renault has revealed UK-specific pricing and specification detail for the new, second-generation Captur ahead of orders opening later this month. The Clio-based crossover, first shown to the public at September’s Frankfurt motor show, is priced from £17,595. That gets you a Play spec model with the base 1.0-litre three cylinder TCe 100 motor, which puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque. Standard equipment for the entry-level model includes full LED headlights, climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch touchscreen with DAB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration and keyless entry. Also included is safety kit such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist and active emergency braking. Stepping up to the TCe 130, which uses a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, adds £2,800 – although in Play spec it’s auto-only, which explains the big price jump. Other engines include dCi 95 and dCi 115 diesel engines, (From £19,395 and 21,695 respectively) plus a range-topping TCe 155 petrol (from £22,895). Just three specification grades will be offered at launch, with Iconic (from £19,095) and S Edition (from £29,595) specs rounding the range off. The French maker claims to have sold more of the outgoing Captur last year than when it first launched in 2013. To continue that success, the new Seat Arona rival adopts an evolutionary approach to the exterior design that Renault describes as “more modern, more muscular and more expressive, with more SUV design cues”. The new crossover is significantly larger than its predecessor, with 100mm added to its length – with a 33mm longer wheelbase – and a 19mm increase in width. The result is claimed class-leading rear seat space, aided by a sliding bench that can be adjusted by up to 16cm, and a 536-litre boot that is 81 litres larger than the outgoing car. The Mk2 Captur sits on the same CMF-B platform first used for the latest Clio. It’s said to weigh “about the same” as the old car despite its increase in size and equipment levels, thanks to details such as an aluminium bonnet and plastic tailgate. The interior of the new car, like the Clio, has had a more substantial overhaul than the exterior. Renault claims it offers “a new dimension of quality and comfort rivalling models from the class above” with extensive use of higher-grade materials and newly designed seats. There’s also a new floating centre console, freeing up additional storage and space for wireless phone charging. The infotainment is a big upgrade, with an optional 9.3in central screen – larger than in the bigger Kadjar – combining with standard customisable 7in digital instruments (a 10in display is available on higher grades). A greater range of standard safety assist kit is offered, too. Renault is also going big on customisation: there’s a total of 90 exterior colour combinations and 18 interior configurations. From launch, the Captur will be offered with three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels, all new to the car. The base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TCe unit puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque, while a 1.3-litre four-cylinder makes 128bhp and 177lb ft in ‘130’ form, and 153bhp and 199lb ft in ‘155’ form. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in 94bhp and 113bhp form. Depending on the engine, five- or six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered. The Captur will gain a plug-in hybrid E-Tech model in the first quarter of 2020. The system, for which Renault has filed over 150 patents, blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors, linked to a new ‘multimode’ continuously variable transmission, claimed to feel like a dual-clutch set-up. Renault says it can run for 28 miles on battery power alone at up to 83mph, while a braking system taken from the firm’s EV range allows strong brake regeneration for a ‘one pedal’ driving technique. Performance and efficiency figures have not yet been released, but engineers tell us it puts out around 150bhp and “substantially” more torque than the regular petrol
Origin: New Renault Captur: UK prices and specs announced for 2020 crossover
crossover
Ford’s new electric crossover will officially be named ‘Mustang Mach-E’
Ford’s all-new Mustang-inspired fully-electric performance utility arrives in 2020 with targeted range of 480 kms.Handout / Ford Ford will be expanding its Mustang range to include its new all-electric crossover or at least, thats what its officially naming the SUV the Mustang Mach-E suggests.Rumours of the “Mach-E” part of the name have been circulating for a long while, but this is the first hard confirmation weve got the crossover will also wear a Mustang badge.Reaction to the announcement was understandably mixed it didnt sit well with many critics whod pointed out there’s never been an electric Mustang before, nor a crossover-bodied example. Crossing the trendy new powertrain and volume-seller body style was just a little irreverent for some who see Mustang as a hallowed marque.To assuage their worries, Fords brought on none other than Idris Elba as a sort of brand ambassador for the new vehicle; the actor himself used to work on a Ford assembly line once upon a time. The long-awaited but controversial new crossover will make its debut just ahead of the Los Angeles auto show, via a livestream at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 17.At the presentations conclusion, Ford will immediately open up a configurator tool where prospective Mach-E customers can spec their electric Mustang and put down a US$500 deposit to reserve one. Order forms will formally open up next
Origin: Ford’s new electric crossover will officially be named ‘Mustang Mach-E’
Chevrolet’s finally building an EV crossover — but only for China
Theres hardly a car company on the planet that wont jump at the opportunity to add another crossover or SUV to its ranks. Even the mighty Aston Martin and Ferrari are getting in on the game.Given that, it shouldnt be much of a surprise to anyone the new vehicles being shown off by Chevrolet at an auto show in China are utilities.Called the Menlo and apparently built off the bones of a Bolt EV, this car is the first all-electric Bowtie-branded vehicle in China. The company is calling it a sedan for reasons unknown, but this new rig certainly takes the shape of a crossover or SUV.According to GM, the Menlo has a range of 410 kilometres when fully charged and measured under the New European Driving Cycle. Even if that system is slightly more generous than North American tests, it still suggests a driving range not far off that provided by the Bolt.If youve a set of eyes, its easy to tell the Menlo is part of the GM crossover family, with a pair of headlights bookending a thin strip of chrome and resting atop a very familiar bumper. Around back, the Menlo EV would fit exceedingly well in a parking lot full of Equinox and Blazer vehicles.Speaking of Blazer, Chevrolet also showed a three-row version of that trucklet at the same show in which it introduced the Menlo EV. Such a vehicle is not expected to make the jump to America, as it would have the propensity to cannibalize sales of other similarily-sized Chevy three-row rigs. Weve asked GM Canada about whether there are plans to bring either to dealerships here, and it told us the Menlo EV isnt going to be sold in Canada as we speak emphasis ours. Doesnt that sound like it leaves open a small window it might come here eventually?The company says it will have more details about the Menlo EV at this years Guangzhou Auto Show, a soire which runs from November 22 through December 1. Its expected the car will go on sale in China during the first half of calendar year
Origin: Chevrolet’s finally building an EV crossover — but only for China
2020 Ford Puma ST: hot crossover laps the ‘Ring at speed
Ford is readying an ST performance version of its new Puma SUV, and our spy photographers have caught a prototype being put through its paces at the Nurburgring. The Hyundai Kona N rival has shed some camouflage since we last saw it, revealing that it will feature a trapezoidal lower grille design, large-diameter performance-inspired alloy wheels shod in low-profile tyres, and the same wing-mounted headlight clusters as the standard model. A prominent lower bodykit extends around the car from the splitter-style front bumper to a new rear bumper designed around a twin exhaust tailpipe – the same as that fitted to the Fiesta ST. Official details of the model’s drivetrain and chassis set-up are still yet to be confirmed, but images of the prototype raising a rear wheel under hard cornering show it will feature a stiffer suspension set-up in the same vein as the Fiesta ST. The big wheels appear to hide larger-diameter front brakes, too, while the Puma seems lower to the ground than the stock model. Ford global development boss Hau Thai-Tang told Autocar earlier this year that the Puma “would be a good place for us to look” in expanding the ST range beyond the Fiesta and Focus in Europe. The Puma ST is expected to share its key running gear, including a 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine, with the Fiesta ST. An ST version of the Puma (as rendered below by Autocar) is unlikely to vary drastically from the ST Line version of the car, which was revealed back in April. But we can expect a bespoke chassis set-up, possibly including an optional limited-slip differential, selectable drive modes and a launch control function. Thai-Tang said Ford is keen to continue leveraging its Ford Performance arm for road car development, but the company would not simply look to create an ST version of each car. In addition to its two European hot hatches, Ford also makes ST versions of its Edge and Explorer large SUVs. “We look at creating STs by very objective measures to make sure it is credible as an ST,” said Thai-Tang. “Do we have the right building blocks (on which to base it)?” A new Focus RS is also understood to be in development, but it’s unlikely to appear before 2022, after the Focus’s mid-life update. “We have nothing to announce but we recognise the importance of that car,” said Thai-Tang. It is understood that hybrid power is one consideration for the Focus RS. “We’ll see where we go,” Ford’s automotive president Joe Hinrichs said. “The world is changing on powertrain and propulsion. No hints, but there’s a lot to talk
Origin: 2020 Ford Puma ST: hot crossover laps the ‘Ring at speed
2021 Ford Mondeo crossover: test mule spied
Ford of Europe is preparing to replace the Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy with a single crossover-style estate model, and our spy photographers have caught what appears to be a camouflaged prototype. The new vehicle, the name of which is not yet confrmed, will mark Ford’s exit from both the classic large hatchback market and the MPV sector. Although there’s no news on a definitive launch date, the car is expected to arrive in early 2021. The test mule shown in the new images is wrapped in the bodywork of the current Focus Estate and features a number of obvious characteristics that point to a radical repositioning for the Mondeo. The suspension, for example, has been raised considerably for a more SUV-like stance, while the protruding wheels hint at a widened track for enhanced interior space. We can also see that the donor car has been extended behind the B-pillar to fit the new model’s platform. Unlike some of Ford’s bespoke European models, the model will be sold in North America and beyond. In the US, it’s being compared by insiders to the Subaru Outback, a high-riding estate car. Although a niche model in Europe, the Outback has been a significant success in the US since it was launched two decades ago, with recent sales exceeding 200,000 units annually. Last July, Jim Farley, Ford’s president of new business, technology and strategy, hinted at the move away from conventional cars towards what he called ‘utility’ bodystyles. He said the thinking behind the move into medium-rise crossovers is that customers will get “utility benefits without the penalty of poorer fuel economy”. The new car will be built on Ford’s super-flexible C2 platform, which underpins the Focus and, in time, should be able to stretch from accommodating the next Fiesta to the future seven-seat Edge SUV. The front section of the architecture will also be used by the future Transit and Tourneo van family. The model will be offered with petrol and diesel engines plus a 48-volt mild hybrid petrol option. The base engine is expected to be Ford’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol, which will have a belt-driven electric motor and small battery in mild hybrid form. Insiders says that new Euro 6d-compliant diesel engines are, in pollution terms, as clean as petrol engines in real-world use. It’s understood that these new oil-burners are still more economical than even mild hybrid petrol engines, as well as less expensive. Ford’s move to medium-height crossovers in Europe is also partly a recognition that meeting future European Union (EU) fuel economy regulations would have been very difficult with a line-up of conventional SUVs. For a similar reason, it’s not yet known whether the car will be offered with fuel-sapping four-wheel drive in Europe. Instead, some kind of electronic traction control system for navigating loose surfaces is possible. Ford will be hoping that the model will appeal to today’s mainstream market of ‘adventurous families’ who will be attracted by running costs lower than those of an SUV, allied to what’s said to be a particularly capacious load bay and a comfortable raised driving position. Although the car will replace three very different vehicles, it’s likely to outsell the Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy combined. Last year, Ford of Europe sold around 50,000 Mondeos, 24,000 S-Max models and 12,000 Galaxys – figures too low to be profitable enough. By the time the new model is launched, Ford will have discontinued four MPV model lines. The MPV market has been hit hard in recent years, and as a result Ford recently ended production of the B-Max, C-Max and Grand C-Max. The Galaxy and S-Max will likely follow next year. The B-Max has in effect been replaced by the Puma compact SUV, and Ford will look to steer C-Max customers into the new Kuga SUV. Mondeo and S-Max buyers will be targeted by the Fusion and Galaxy users moved towards the smaller Transit Edge
Origin: 2021 Ford Mondeo crossover: test mule spied
Mini to shrink flagship hatch and launch Traveller crossover
That latter point is currently the focus of the new car’s early development. There is an acknowledgement within the company that the core three-door hatchback has grown too large and its proportions lack the compact look of the earlier BMW-produced models, particularly around the front overhang. Although it won’t dramatically shrink the car’s footprint, the altered proportions, particularly at the front, should give it a more compact look. Mini is also seeking to incorporate some of the packaging lessons learned from the Electric three-door hatch into the standard car, which will be offered with petrol and electric drivetrains in its next generation. “We are having proportion and design discussions at the moment,” said Körber. “The task now is to design it. In three to four years, I’d like to see the start of the next generation.” He added: “Hopefully in the next generation, we can make it even more compact, back to where Mini comes from.” There will also be a “major step to the future and innovation” in the new Mini’s interior, with a greater focus on digital technology. However, the round centre console will remain a part of the design. The fourth-generation Mini line-up is again set to include closely related three-door, five-door and Cabriolet models, as well as the larger Clubman and Countryman. It will grow to also include a crossover model that’s larger than the Countryman. The crossover could revive the Traveller name and the electric version will be twinned with the next-generation BMW i3, as previously reported by Autocar. Regarding the crossover, Körber said that although “it would be hard to imagine a Mini the size of a BMW X3 or X5”, there is a need in the next-generation Mini range “to address the growth in SUVs and look at if we need a compact SUV”. He added: “The Countryman is a very small SUV. In the US and China, there are certain needs. We will look at a compact SUV in the next generation. There are lots of benefits with a car like that for urban use. For me, it’s a good match.” Although such a car would be the biggest Mini, Körber said it would still be one of the smallest in its segment. “There’s interest in the small car segments. We can stretch the interpretation of Mini always being the smallest but I can’t imagine being bigger in a segment. We need to fulfil a requirement on size,” he said. Each future Mini is set to be offered with a choice of petrol and electric drivetrains, with plug-in hybrids also featuring in larger models. Diesel is unlikely to appear in the future line-up as part of the switch towards electrification. Diesel is already no longer offered in Minis sold in the UK but it is available in other markets. The three-door hatch will be the only electric model in the current-generation Mini range as there are no plans to launch electric versions of the five-door or Cabriolet models. Mini’s familiar One, Cooper and Cooper S badges will be retained in the future to signal different performance levels and Körber said high-performance John Cooper Works models will continue to be a feature of the Mini range. Körber also said Mini will continue to offer internal combustion engines in cars in the next-generation range alongside battery-electric versions, something that will be the case for at least the next five to 10 years. In the long term, he believes Mini’s customer base and brand positioning are well placed for Mini to become a solely electric brand. The Clubman, Countryman and Traveller models will be based on BMW’s natively front-wheel-drive FAAR platform, as seen on the new BMW 1 Series. It’s not yet clear if the three-door, five-door and Cabriolet models will also be built on that architecture or a new smaller one understood to be in development with Chinese firm Great Wall. That new smaller platform has opened the door for Mini to at last create a production version of the tiny Rocketman concept, a move that Autocar revealed in July. Officially, Mini is “at the beginning of relations with Great Wall and still in discussions”, according to Körber. He said Mini remained committed to its Oxford plant and it is set to continue producing the smaller hatchback models into the next generation, with further production sites in the Netherlands and China for other
Origin: Mini to shrink flagship hatch and launch Traveller crossover
New Skoda Kamiq crossover priced from £17,700
The Skoda Kamiq, revealed at Geneva motor show and on roads this November, will be priced from £17,700. The smallest SUV in Skoda’s line-up, the Kamiq range comprises four trim levels, S, SE, SE L and Monte Carlo, the latter of which will be available later this year. Of the three trims available to order now, prices range from £17,700 to £25,130. Rival, the new Nissan Juke, starts from £17,395. The entry-level S trim includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail lights, air conditioning, infotainment system with DAB and a 6.5-inch touchscreen display. The mid-range SE model, from £19,135, adds 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, rear parking sensors and cruise control. The Kamiq, which completes Skoda’s European SUV range, will offer class-leading space and features, claims the Czech firm. The Juke rival, first shown at the Geneva show, sits underneath its Karoq and Kodiaq siblings. The Kamiq is based on the Vision X concept shown at last year’s Geneva show and is the first Skoda to show the influence of new design chief Oliver Stefani. While it takes styling cues from both the Karoq and Kodiaq to ensure a ‘family’ resemblance between Skoda’s SUV offerings, the Kamiq has several distinctive features, including a more upright grille and optional narrow LED running lights. The latter feature animated ‘dynamic’ indicators and sit above the main headlights. As with the new Scala, the boot displays the Skoda name in letters, instead of the firm’s logo. The Kamiq will be offered in front-wheel drive only. Although aimed primarily at a family market in urban areas, it will deliver “sporty” handling, according to project manager Emil Nikolov. The Kamiq is available with optional Sport Chassis Control, which makes the car sit 10mm lower than standard and includes adjustable shock absorbers. Three petrol engines and one diesel are offered in the UK. There are two 1.0 TSI petrol options, with 94bhp and 113bhp respectively; and a 1.5 TSI petrol with 148bhp. The diesel offering is a 1.6 TDI with 113bhp. In certain European markets, a CNG powertrain will be offered, although this version won’t come to the UK. There is a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Kamiq is built on the Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform used by the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Cross but has more interior space than both. The new compact SUV is 4241mm long with a wheelbase of 2651mm, both of which are 85mm longer than the Arona. That also makes the Kamiq 106mm longer than the Juke, with a 121mm-longer wheelbase. Skoda says extending the wheelbase has allowed it to maximise interior space, claiming more rear leg room than in the Octavia and Karoq. It has a boot capacity of 400 litres, identical to the Arona’s and 46 litres bigger than the Juke’s. The Kamiq’s boot can be accessed using an electric tailgate and expands to 1395 litres with the rear seats folder. The interior features a similar layout to the recently launched Scala, including the option of a 9.2in free-standing infotainment touchscreen that sits above a hand-rest ‘shelf’ and an optional 10.25in virtual cockpit. The air vents have been pushed to the side of the dashboard in a bid to increase space and ambient lighting is offered in three colours. Options include heated front and rear seats. Skoda claims more than 20 of its ‘Simply Clever’ features are available, including a removable LED torch in the boot. The Kamiq will be offered with a permanent internet connection and a number of connected features, such as remote vehicle access via an app. The car comes with Front Assist and Lane Assist as standard, with optional safety features that include Park Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and a rear-view camera. The Kamiq is unrelated to the Chinese-market SUV of the same name. That machine is larger and built on an older platform, but Skoda has used the same name because they are the smallest SUVs it offers in each market. As with the Karoq and Kodiaq, the Kamiq name is based on a word from the Inuit language. It “embodied something in which you can feel comfortable in any situation and that has its own character,” according to Skoda sales boss Alain
Origin: New Skoda Kamiq crossover priced from £17,700
Ford Puma ST: Prototypes of new hot crossover spotted
Ford is understood to be readying an ST version of its new Puma SUV, and now what look like prototypes of the model are being tested on the road. It’s clear despite the disguise that this is no ordinary Puma, as it sports a prominent lower bodykit wrapping around the car from the splitter-style front bumper to a new rear bumper designed around a twin exhaust tailpipe – the same as the Fiesta ST. Bigger wheels appear to hide larger diameter front brakes, too, while the Puma seems lower to the ground than stock, suggesting a bespoke suspension setup. Ford global development boss Hau Thai-Tang told Autocar earlier this year that the Puma “would be a good place for us to look” in expanding the ST range beyond the Fiesta and Focus in Europe. Thai-Tang stopped short of confirming the model for production, but it is understood that the project is set to be given the green light, with the Puma ST sharing its key running gear, including a 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine, with the Fiesta ST. Early development mules have already been seen testing at the Nürburgring. An ST version of the Puma (as rendered below by Autocar) would be unlikely to vary drastically from the ST Line version of the car, which was revealed back in April. But we can expect a bespoke chassis setup, possibly including an optional limited-slip differential, selectable drive modes and a launch control function. Thai-Tang said Ford is keen to continue leveraging its Ford Performance arm for road car development, but the company would not simply look to create an ST version of each car. In addition to its two European hot hatches, Ford also makes ST versions of its Edge and Explorer large SUVs. “We look at creating STs by very objective measures to make sure it is credible as an ST,” said Thai-Tang. “Do we have the right building blocks (on which to base it)?” A new Focus RS is also understood to be in development, but it’s unlikely to appear before 2022, after the Focus’s mid-life update. “We have nothing to announce but we recognise the importance of that car,” said Thai-Tang. It is understood that hybrid power is one consideration for the Focus RS. “We’ll see where we go,” Ford’s automotive president Joe Hinrichs said. “The world is changing on powertrain and propulsion. No hints, but there’s a lot to talk
Origin: Ford Puma ST: Prototypes of new hot crossover spotted
New Nissan Juke: new preview of revamped crossover
Nissan has previewed the styling of the long-awaited new Juke crossover, with a second teaser image hinting at the outline of the car. The darkened shot, shows a darkened silhouette of the front of the car, with the front headlights illuminated. While Nissan released the image without naming the model – which features the slogan ‘keep your eyes open’ and the 3 September unveiling day – it previews the long-awaited second generation Juke. The image is the second teaser that the firm has revealed. An earlier darkened show was a zoom in of the sleek LED headlight design, which echoes the dual-light layout of the outgoing car but with a more modern twist. The Mk2 Juke, designed at Nissan’s London studio, will go on sale in early 2020, a few months after the unveiling. It’s the replacement for a model that has been on sale with relatively few changes since 2010. Disguised test cars have shown that the Renault Captur rival’s design will evolve the distinctive shape of today’s car but remain recognisable. Details such as Nissan’s V-Motion grille, adapted from the Micra, will be brought in, while the rear end will have a more angular look. In an exclusive interview last year, Nissan’s global design boss, Alfonso Albaisa, claims the second-generation Juke “doesn’t look too much like the last one”, adding: “It doesn’t look like IMx (an electric crossover concept unveiled in 2017) or the new Leaf, either. It’s an urban meteor with a nasty attitude.” Albaisa quashed a rumour that the Juke replacement had been reviewed and rejected, saying: “(The Juke) is certainly coming soon. But it didn’t get ‘sent back’. I’m not sure where that story came from. It’s a very cool car, and it still has all of its attitude.” The original Juke was introduced at the 2010 Geneva motor show and helped to boost the popularity of supermini-sized SUVs. In terms of sales, that class grew tenfold across Europe between 2010 and 2016, and by 2022, it’s expected to double in size from its 2016 level of 1.13 million units. Juke sales have exceeded 100,000 per year in Europe four times to date, and the styling of the Sunderland-built car was considered an important contributor to that. “Our job was easier with the first one, because there was nothing else like it,” Albaisa told Autocar. “And that car’s success was so huge even given how polarising it looked. The second one couldn’t be derivative or evolutionary and still be a Juke. We’d almost have to change its name to Nancy otherwise.” The new Juke is likely to be built on a stretched version of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF platform, as used by the new Renault Clio. It’s expected to shun the naturally aspirated petrol engines that have accounted for much of its sales volume so far, instead using the turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.3-litre four-cylinder units used in the Qashqai. A 1.5-litre 109bhp diesel is likely to be offered, too, while four-wheel drive will be kept for automatic models higher up the range. Albaisa wouldn’t confirm whether the new Juke would be previewed by a show car, in the same way that the Qazana concept displayed at the 2009 Geneva motor show was used to test the water for the production car that followed. Given the riskiness of the original Juke’s styling and how well established the model has become, it’s likely that Nissan will maximise the impact of the new Juke by keeping it under wraps until the last moment.
Origin: New Nissan Juke: new preview of revamped crossover
Ford to resurrect Mondeo as global mid-sized crossover
Ford of Europe is preparing a radical re-invention of its European large family car line-up by replacing the Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy with a single crossover-style estate model. The new vehicle, whose name is not yet known, will mark Ford’s exit from both the classic large hatchback market and the MPV sector. Although there’s no news on a definitive launch date, the car is expected to arrive in early 2021. Unlike some of Ford’s bespoke European models, the model will be sold in North America and beyond. In the US it is being compared by insiders to the Subaru Outback, itself a high-riding estate car. Although a niche model in Europe, the Outback has been a significant success in the US since it was launched two decades ago, with recent sales above 200,000 units annually. Last July Jim Farley, Ford’s president of new business, technology and strategy, hinted at the move away from conventional road cars towards what he called ‘utility’ body styles. He said the thinking behind the move into medium-rise crossovers was that customers would get “utility benefits without the penalty of poorer fuel economy”. The new car will be built on Ford’s super-flexible C2 platform, which underpins the new Focus and, in time, should be able to stretch from accommodating the next Fiesta to the future seven-seat Edge SUV. The front section of the architecture will also be used by Ford’s future Transit and Tourneo family. The model will be offered with petrol and diesel engines plus a 48V mild-hybrid petrol option. The base engine is expected to be Ford’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol unit, which will have a belt-driven electric motor and small battery in mild-hybrid form. Insiders says that new Euro 6d-compliant diesel engines are, in pollution terms, as clean as petrol engines in real-world use. It is understood that these new oil-burners are still more economical than even mild-hybrid petrol engines, as well as being less expensive. Ford’s move to medium-height crossovers in Europe is also partly a recognition that meeting future EU fuel economy regulations would have been very difficult with a line-up of conventional SUVs. For a similar reason, it’s not yet known whether the car will be offered with fuel-sapping all-wheel drive in Europe. Instead, some kind of electronic traction control system for navigating loose surfaces is possible. Ford will be hoping that the model will appeal to today’s mainstream market of ‘adventurous families’ who will be attracted by running costs lower than those of an SUV, allied to what’s said to be a particularly capacious load bay and a comfortable raised driving position. Although the car will replace three very different vehicles, it is likely to outsell the Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy combined. Last year Ford Europe sold around 50,000 Mondeos, 24,000 S-Max models and 12,000 Galaxys – figures which are too low to be profitable enough. By the time the model is launched, Ford will have discontinued four MPV model lines. The MPV market has been hit hard in recent years, and as a result Ford will end production of the C-Max and Grand C-Max by late summer, as well as the Romanian-built B-Max compact MPV. The Galaxy and S-Max will likely follow next year. The B-Max will in effect be replaced by the upcoming Puma, and the company will look to steer existing C-Max owners into the new Kuga compact SUV. Mondeo and S-Max buyers will be targeted by the Fusion, and Galaxy users moved towards the smaller Transit Edge seven-seat
Origin: Ford to resurrect Mondeo as global mid-sized crossover
All about car 