Test drive Ford Focus C-Max 2003-2007 Minivan

Oh, sport, you are Wen!

Spaces and practicality are considered the main qualities for minivan. But nothing prevents them from combining with dynamics - like Ford Focus C -Max.
Focus C-Max was not at all what we expected to see. Initially, minivans are conceived as roomy cars for large families. Naturally, the latest models have long been demonstrating good dynamics, but the spaciousness of the salon and versatility have always remained their priority qualities. And at the C-Max presentation, the Ford representative immediately began to talk about how Focus gained popularity due to controllability and stability. S-MAMA was designed with the intention to take the leader’s position in the same characteristics. However, even before the presentation, we have already seen this, having traveled on Austria’s roads more than two hundred kilometers.
The route, as usual, included different roads - mostly winding rural ones, although the autobahn also captured a little. So the car had the opportunity to prove itself from different angles.
Dynamic tradition. Outwardly, C-Max looks less extravagant than his older brother Focus in traditional bodies. Despite the modern single -volume form, many details of the minivan seem classic in form. Although, against the backdrop of the elegant implementation of the New Edge concept in Focus sedan, this is no wonder - it is difficult to become holy of the Pope. However, it does not mean at all that the C-Max is written out in an outdated style. It’s just that the very new line is worked out more subtly. For example, the ribs are not striking along the contour of the silhouette, but the dimensions of the car are smoothed out, so much so that it seems more compact, preserving the decent internal size of the body. This, one might say, is an integral part of the C -Max idea - to make a car uniting the dignity of a minivan and a dynamic passenger car. The complexity of the task helped to make the work even more memorable: for example, the need to close the line of the aforementioned rib on the back forced to come up with elegant lines of turning indicators in block-fara.
 
 
The interior also looks at the same time traditional and modern. The classic is regarding the location of both the forms of governing bodies, and modern - according to materials and capabilities. However, there was also what to complain about. The cover that covers the upper shelf on the instrument panel was a little crumbled and when the irregularities were slightly rattling. Most likely, a stay under the sun was not for nothing for her - during the presentation in Graz, the weather set the next temperature record. In addition, we encountered this only in one car.
Maximum possibilities. The most attention in the cabin, of course, must be paid to the rear seat, which is the real raisins of this model. It consists of three sections - the average can be removed by one motion. After that, it becomes possible to move the side chairs to the center and again, increasing both the width of living space for two passengers and the space in front of them. This resembles the FlexSpace system implemented on Opel Meriva (see Autopilot No. 4/03). The idea was already successfully embodied in the salons of aircraft of many European airlines - depending on the number of tickets sold, a block of three seats of the economic class can be turned into a double business class with an increase in the size of each chair. Only in C-Max the choice of transformations, of course, is more. For example, you can fold each of the rear seats separately or even remove them. They weigh only 14 kilograms each, but the removal procedure was not so simple-mainly due to the fact that the paws of the latches should be squeezed at the moment when the chair is at an angle of 45 degrees. Well, the undeveloped mechanism played a role. However, in ordinary operation, such a need arises infrequently, so that the problem with the extraction of the chair cannot be ranked to significant shortcomings. Such a transformable seat, however, is installed on the two most expensive versions of Focus C-Max: Trend and Ghia.
Like on rails. Unlike the traditional minivan is also manifested in the landing of the driver - it is practically no different from the passenger, especially if you lower the chair. What is pleasant - visibility is preserved. Although it is not quite perfect because of a rather massive front rack. Triangular glass does not help, except that the review to the right is a little better. But backwards you can see very well even with uncleaning headrests.
The first we got a modification with a 1.8 -liter gasoline engine and a five -speed box. At first, only such cars will be supplied to Russia. It is pleasant to move with this motor, and it provides declared dynamic indicators, and reaches 193 km/h (and even a little more) with more ease than some other models in which the last 10-20 km/h must be overcome to maximum speed A couple of minutes. However, subjective impressions when moving in dynamic mode are somewhat disappointed. The car reacts more sluggish to the work of the accelerator pedal than you expect from such a motor. Most likely this is due to environmental characteristics - such a side effect of the engine bringing the engine to the promising norms of Euro -4 is noticed on many models. But since they will soon become mandatory, it's time to get used to it. A similar picture was at one time with the introduction of catalytic neutralizers, although they acted more radically, reducing the return of the engine by five to ten percent. And nothing, got used to it. And here is just some loss of liveliness of the reaction:
It is possible that our meticulousness to the engine is explained by simply a magnificent chassis. And on the straight line and on the turns of the C-Max moves, as if along the rails, at any speed. The suspension works out all the irregularities, and you will learn about its work only by sound - by the way, a little annoying. This, alas, is an inevitable and very modest fee for the softness of passing both cracks in the road surface and irregularities of the road. For a car that behaves quite clearly, such a level of comfort can be called exceptional. This is not only the suspensions worked out on Focus - naturally, modernized taking into account the changed characteristics of the Focus C -Max. The accuracy of the suspension kinematics also provides an increased body rigidity of the body compared to simple Focus.
An important role is played by an electro -hydraulic steering wheel amplifier, which changes performance depending on speed. Unlike the classical design, it is also economical: the electric drive consumes exactly as much energy as necessary.
The word accuracy can also be used to characterize other controls. The transplant shift drive works almost perfectly - there are optimal lever moves, and the right force on it, and tangible fixation: the brakes react to press the pedal exactly as you want - it seems that the force on wheels changes almost proportionally to the pedal. In a word, driving this car is a real pleasure.
Having met a two -liter diesel engine, we regretted that this type of engine is not popular with us and the supply of such modifications to Russia is not planned. The motor developed jointly with Peugeot and Citroen makes you forget about all the prejudices associated with ignition engines. Tractor unit? Maybe if you keep in mind that it pulls at almost any revolutions. Due to the smaller speed range, promised by the manufacturer of 200 km/h Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCI reaches only at the sixth stage. And he still has some stock!
Good fashion. If you think that such a combination of practicality and sports is unusual, then remember that many prestigious brands consider the station wagon precisely the sports type of body. In addition, it is precisely this form - a single -collar with a sloping roof - is considered optimal from the point of view of aerodynamics since the 30s. So the combination of these qualities in Focus C-Max, despite the unusual, is quite logical. It remains only to hope that this version of Ford will produce at the factory in Vsevolozhsk.
Text Valery Chusov, photo of the author and Ford Motor
 
Model/Modification Ford Focus C-Max 1.8 Ford Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCI
Manufacturer/country Ford-Werke AG/Germany
Number of doors/places 5/5 5/5
ENGINE
Type/number/location of gasoline cylinders/4/rowing turbodiesel/4/rowing
Working volume (cubic meter) 1798 1997
Power (kW (L.S.) at about./Min.) 88 (120) at 6000 100/136 at 4000
Moment (Nm at about./Min.) 165 at 4000 320 at 2000
TRANSMISSION
Front front drive
Gearbox mechanical 5-speed mechanical 6-speed
Brakes, safety
Front/rear ventilated disk/disk
Assistering electronic systems ABS, EBD, emergency system
braking
Front and side airbags
Dimensions/mass
Length/width/height (mm) 433/1825/1595
 
Wheel base/clearance (mm) 2640/no data
Tires 205/50 R17 205/55 R16
Massage of equipped/complete (kg) 1347/1920 1431/1990
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 55 55
Maximum speed (km/h) 193 200
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 10.8 9.6
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 9.7/5.6 7.5/4.5
The price in Moscow $ 21,700 is not supposed yet

 

Source: "Autopilot"