Press Release
Maximum Comfort ??????????????????????????????????????? Flexible Interior
???????????????????????????????????We believe our five-seat configuration ??????????????????????????????????????? with the availability of our flexible rear seating system to provide even more room when just two adults are in the back seats ??????????????????????????????????????? better meets the wants of customers, few of whom have the need to transport seven people. Above all, we did not want to compromise on the attributes which these customers value most ??????????????????????????????????????? stylish and ergonomic design and car-like driving characteristics.????????????????????????????????Derrick Kuzak, Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe
Ford research into the C-segment identified its target customers for Focus C-MAX - couples and families who appreciate space and flexibility, without the usual compromises in driving enjoyment these bring. This research also revealed the average number of people who travelled in such vehicles to be between three and four. These target customers rated seven seats as undesirable, preferring instead to use space at the rear of the vehicle for luggage and storage. Even young families with children told researchers that they would be unlikely to use a third seating row and expressed concerns about the safety of third-row occupants.
With such information and opinions in mind, Ford designers crafted the interior of Focus C-MAX to deliver ergonomic excellence, innovative flexibility and real, useful personal space.
Focus C-MAX is one of the longest and widest vehicles in its class ??????????????????????????????????????? 4,333 mm long, 1,558 mm high, and 1,825 mm wide ??????????????????????????????????????? with a wheelbase of 2,640 mm, the longest in the Focus range. Its dimensions have been shaped to provide impressive interior space ??????????????????????????????????????? front and rear.
The vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s high seating position, with raised H-point and its distinctive roofline peaking just above the front passenger compartment, delivers class-leading front headroom (1,017 mm) for great road view, and maximum driving control, for people of nearly every shape and stature.
Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s standard three-seat rear compartment is one of the roomiest in this class, with rear legroom (946 mm) and rear knee clearance (38 mm) among the best for the segment. It offers high levels of 40-20-40 ???????????????????????????????????tip and tumble???????????????????????????????? rear seat flexibility, with 582 litres of luggage compartment space.
With the rear seats removed, Focus C-MAX offers a wide and flat load area with a maximum load capacity of 1,692 litres to transport larger items.
Rear Seat Flexibility System
The new Focus C-MAX also has the capability to deliver even more space when it is specified with the available rear seat flexibility system. Unlike many competitors, Focus C-MAX has the flexibility to shift from being a full five-seater to an even more comfortable four-seater ??????????????????????????????????????? reflecting expressed customer needs of more personal space.By sliding the middle seat rearward into the luggage compartment, the outer two seats are adjustable on a diagonal axis to the centre of the car. This neatly converts the Focus C-MAX into a four-seater with unprecedented levels of rear compartment comfort.
As a four-seater, Focus C-MAX gives its rear passengers greater legroom (100 mm) and shoulder room (60 mm).
The system allows rear passengers to position their seats for more comfort, say to snooze on a longer trip, or to take full advantage of Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s available entertainment system options. Children can move closer together to play a game or stretch their legs as the seats move to the centre and rearwards.
Interior Environment
Careful use of colours, materials and textures throughout the new Focus C-MAX create a feeling of premium comfort. Natural soft grains are used on the upper fascia of the instrument panel, door surrounds and other surfaces. Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s leather-wrapped steering wheel features aluminised spokes that communicate precision and emphasise driver orientation. The aluminised effect is also used on door handles and on instrument cluster and vent surrounds.To create this premium interior environment for Focus C-MAX, Ford??????????????????????????????????????s craftsmanship team focussed on the sensory elements, such as visual quality, touch, feel, sound and even usability through ergonomics, to ensure the interior of Focus C-MAX has a harmonious, high quality interior supporting a superior driver environment.
Advanced Ergonomics and Driving Environment
Following extensive ergonomic studies by Ford engineers, Focus C-MAX introduces a convenient new instrument panel-mounted gear lever, closer to the steering wheel than a floor-mounted shifter. The new instrument panel shift lever position not only contributes to Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s driver-friendly orientation but also frees up interior space.Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s spaciousness and interior flexibility were achieved by design and package engineers using powerful three-dimensional software to simulate the movements of occupants of all shapes and sizes. The information was used to identify the optimal seating positions for all passengers and to establish the ergonomic parameters for Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s driver environment.
Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s front seat is adjustable 240 mm horizontally and 55 mm in height, and is designed to aid drivers of many statures to achieve an optimum driving position. The ergonomics team also optimised vision angles, the positioning, height and angle of the instrument panel-mounted gear lever and instrument groupings for ease-of-use.
All front compartment reach zones were studied in detail, and switches and buttons carefully designed for durability and quality feel. Climate controls are placed below a large and clearly organised audio control panel. Both are within quick and easy reach just above the instrument panel-mounted gear lever, where drivers have their shifting hand much of the time.
Electronic Parking Brake / Special Centre Console
As a first for Ford in Europe, a new Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) is available on Focus C-MAX Trend and Ghia models. The EPB negates the need for the mechanical handbrake. This new parking brake design, with its compact actuator switch, frees up even more space between the driver and front passenger.If not done manually, the EPB is automatically applied when the car??????????????????????????????????????s engine is turned off, and releases when the car is started and moves off.
Ford designers then used this free space to create a new centre console, which features an integral armrest when closed, for enhanced front seat comfort, plus integrated cup holders and a large storage bin under the armrest with space for twelve 0.33-litre drink cans, or a combination of a single 1.5-litre bottle and nine cans. There are also two rear storage bins within the console, the lower of which includes a power point for Focus C-MAX??????????????????????????????????????s optional rear seat entertainment unit.
Storage for All
The EPB console is part of an impressive array of storage options for the new Focus C-MAX range.All Focus C-MAX models give customers a wide array of standard compartments, trays and pockets, helping them maximise the usefulness of the vehicle and keep their interiors clutter-free.
These include:
- Two lidded under-floor compartments placed in front of the rear seats that are big enough to store a small pair of shoes, toys or a laptop computer;
- A lidded storage compartment on top of the instrument panel within easy reach of the driver and the front passenger;
- An open compartment on the lower instrument panel;
- A series of storage slots ??????????????????????????????????????? ideal for pre-pay car park barrier tickets ??????????????????????????????????????? adjacent to the audio unit in the instrument panel;
- Storage compartments on front seat valance panels;
- Sunglass storage in the driver grab handle area;
- A large, 10.5-litre glove compartment;
- Two lidded storage compartments in the boot side-trim for storing the vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s first aid kit, along with other items.
- There are a total of 11 storage places, in addition to the front console, which offer all the flexibility a family could need.
Dual Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC)
The interior of the Focus C-MAX is a comfortable place to be, particularly when the Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC) climate control system is fitted for maximum interior comfort independent of conditions outside. The new system is standard on Ghia models and optional on other derivatives.The DEATC system automatically changes output in order to optimise temperature within the vehicle at all times based on passenger pre-setting. It therefore constantly adjusts the climate inside the vehicle by analysing inputs such as heat from the sun, powertrain configuration, engine coolant and vehicle speed.
Infotainment Systems with Exclusive Sony???????????????????????????????? Audio Options
The new Focus C-MAX offers premium Sony???????????????????????????????? audio systems to the customer in addition to Ford-branded audio systems. There are two premium Sony???????????????????????????????? audio systems available as options, plus state-of-the-art multimedia rear seat entertainment options and two GPS satellite navigation systems.The Sony????????????????????????????????-branded units are new to Ford in 2003 ??????????????????????????????????????? the move marks the beginning of a new technical partnership between the two global brands.
The Sony???????????????????????????????? audio systems offer a front-load CD player with MP3 capability or a front-loading six-disc CD changer. Both feature eight premium speakers ??????????????????????????????????????? four at the front and four at the rear.
Additionally, Focus C-MAX offers a satellite navigation option, featuring DVD-based route guidance and a large, colour touch screen with high-resolution displays of full mapping information.
Models equipped with this navigation system can be specified with one of two available rear-seat entertainment systems to give passengers in the rear seat access to in-car entertainment.
The high-series Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system allows rear-seat passengers freedom to play DVD-based entertainment and games systems using a screen mounted under the roof of the car.
The lower specification RSE unit ??????????????????????????????????????? available with the high series navigation system or either Sony???????????????????????????????? audio system ??????????????????????????????????????? supplies audio only. While the front passengers listen to the radio, for example, the rear passengers can independently listen to a CD via headphones simultaneously. The unit features two headphone sockets, independent volume control, radio station selection and CD play controls as well as auxiliary inputs.
Quiet and Comfortable
Providing Focus C-MAX customers with a quiet, comfortable interior environment was top priority for the Ford team. Part of the ???????????????????????????????????maximum comfort???????????????????????????????? strategy was keeping NVH minimised and giving all Focus C-MAX occupants a calm setting in which to converse or make easy use of in-car entertainment systems.During development, a dedicated Ford team dealt specifically with NVH ???????????????????????????????????leakage,???????????????????????????????? which can occur where body panels or other components don??????????????????????????????????????t seal adequately or when there are gaps between body parts that allow sound to filter into the passenger compartment.
Like dynamics and safety, NVH optimisation for Focus C-MAX began with making the body structure as stiff as possible to help reduce vibration and noise levels and as a basis for all other NVH fine-tuning. Attention to detail in the design of the chassis and powertrain systems also played a significant role in making Focus C-MAX a quiet and pleasant place to be.
