Ford B-Max opens the doors to new ideas

Having both the front and rear doors open offers 1.5meters of access space

Easy access to the rear seats is key for Ford’s new city compact, the Ford B-Max, which arrives in Ireland next month.

The Easy Access Door System in the B-Max offers unobstructed entry and exit, with hinged doors in the front and sliding rear doors.

However, the unusual, or what Ford considers the ‘ingenious’, thing about this design is that the pillars are integrated into the front and rear doors, rather than in the skeleton of the car.

This offers 1.5meters of access space when both the front and rear doors are open, making it easier to enter or exit the rear seats, to attend to children in the back of the car or indeed to load and unload cargo.

The B-Max is also the first Ford in Europe to offer the company’s SYNC system. An advanced voice control, device integration and connectivity interface, it can read aloud phone texts and provides an automatic emergency assistance call in the event of an accident.

Prices for the new Ford B-Max, which arrives in Ireland in September, will start from just under €20,000.

Two versions of the Ford B-Max will be available in Ireland, the B-Max and the B-Max Titanium and four engine options will be on offer – a 1-litre EcoBoost, a 1.4 90PS petrol, a 1.5 75PS diesel, 1.6 105PS petrol auto.

The Ecoboost and diesel engines fall into Tax Band A.

Air conditioning, body-coloured mirrors and handles, leather trimmed steering wheel, deflation detection system and remote central locking are just some of the features that come as standard on the entry level B-Max.

In addition, spec on the B-Max Titanium also includes LED day-time running lights, heated windscreen, child observation mirror and trip computer.

Managing Director of Ford Ireland, Eddie Murphy said: ‘The Ford B-MAX really challenges traditional small car thinking, and pioneers a concept not attempted by any other manufacturers.

‘Its ingenious design opens the doors – quite literally – to exciting new ideas about what’s possible with a compact vehicle.’

Prices for the new Ford B-Max will start from €19,170.

Visit ford.ie or the Ford Ireland Facebook page for further details.