Ford reveals new C-Max

The C-Max, which will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show, looks virtually identical to the Iosis Max concept car unveiled earlier this year, and features Ford's "Kinetic" design language, with a sloping roofline and massive wheels.

The C-Max will be available in both five and seven-seater forms, with the seven-seater to have a different body style, like the Renault Grand Scenic and Citroen C4 Picasso. The seven-seater will also have sliding doors at the rear to improve access to the rear seats. Those seats are also said to have a clever folding mechanism, allowing better access to the third row. Other features include semi-automatic parallel parking and a blind-spot detection system.

The C-Max will use the same platform as the next generation Ford Focus and Ford Kuga SUV, and will retain the multi-link rear suspension that has given the car class-leading handling, but will be available with Ford's new turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, as well as the usual plethora of petrol and diesel engines from the Focus range.

Martin Smith, Ford's design chief, said, "We wanted to design a car that blended practicality and style, the sort of car that would be proud to have on your driveway."

He added, "Research showed us that people who buy five-seat - as opposed to seven-seat - vehicles in this segment wanted their vehicle to be as car-like as possible. And we were always confident that we could apply our "Kinetic design" principles to any type of car."

"The interior of the new C-Max is probably the best thing we've done at Ford. The materials and quality will be a benchmark in this segment."