Its cool. Their only comp in this segment in tha U.S. is their own mazda5 n tha kia rondo. They need to market a bit heavily so that consumers w/ a family could know its out dere. If u by a mazda5 or this, they [ford] wins either way! Cool vehicle though!

@2Tell: The C-Max and the Mazda 5 may possibly share components, but Mazda is now a stand alone manufacturer or it appears that way. If you look on Ford’s website, Mazda is no longer part of the group. So the C-Max maybe have to be better than the Mazda 5 for Ford to win.

@2Tell: For example think Matrix/Vibe; shared parts between separate companies with one turning out more superior than the other.

According to a Sept. 11 Detroit news article, Ford now owns 10% of Mazda. ( http://www.detnews.com/article/20090911/OPINION03/909110343/1148/Whether-Germans-like-it-or-not–GM-won-t-be-going-away ) Either way, why is this minivan coming stateside before the joint platform focus? Don’t get me wrong, this is a needed addition but is this a higher volume product than the Focus, no! When is the joint platform focus coming to the US Ford? Let’s hope it’s not just a pipe dream!

Suposedly this is the vehicle they are going to build in the former Explorer plant in Louisville Kentucky. & this is based on the next generation Ford focus platform so It os doubtful it will have much in common with the Mazda5.

So… are all Fords going to look like the Fiesta from the front end now?

I love the sliding doors. I always worry that my kids are going to open the doors and ding other peoples’ cars. It hasn’t happened yet, but sliding rear doors put me more at ease. Most of you single/childless folks may not appreciate them, but they are very practical.

It’s like a Ford Fiesta but more oriented towards a small family or those who need more cargo space.

I’ll reserve final judgement until I see in person, but these pics have me enticed for sure.

@RaineMan- Yes, Ford can only design one front end at a time. I like this better than the 3-bar grill, but it’s still a take-it-or-leave-it offering. If you don’t like one Ford, you won’t like any Ford.
It’s called the Corporate Front End, and its a ridiculous practice.

Funny that they introduce the FordTransit on the old Focus architecture, then this on the new architecture. What happened to the global architecture plan?

@Me You aren’t the only one! Definitely a good thing.

I would consider this if they can come up with a 220hp version. I’m tired of the anemic 150hp engines trying to push these things around ala Mazda5.

Looks very good imo! We need interior pics LLN!!!

I think they should give the Ford Grand C-Max to the Ford brand in the U.S. since it has a more traditional minivan appearance. The regular C-Max should be given to Mercury as a next gen Mariner. Ford should split the Euro sourced product offerings. The more mainstream products should go to the Ford brand in the U.S. and the sportier products should go to Mercury. This would give Mercury a distinct and relevant place in Ford’s brand hierarchy and in the U.S. auto market.

So this would be like a minivan for all the skinny families.

I see this selling better in Europe than North America.

hmmm…

@Me and Hoosier Hero, nothing wrong with sliding doors. Add me to your list. In fact, sliding doors are easier to remove and fix if needed.

I’ll take the hinged doors and avoid the “minivan” label, and I neither need no want 7-seat capacity.

MAy be too smart a design to work here. Many equate safety with massive size.

Also send the RS, somebody at Ford wakeup
.

You know what I think would be neat? If they would keep the door handles at the REAR of the sliding door to make it look more like a conventional door. Just a small idea to hide the mini-van look a little bit. It would be great to hide the track too, but $$.

Also Ford please take another look at those roof rails, maybe tone them down a little? It’s awesome to have them (ever try tying a Christmas tree to a minivan without them?), but the sharp incline makes the whole car look chunky and slow. Just sloping them more gently would dramatically alter the look, and a very low angle would make the car look like it was going fast just standing still.

Can we expect it to keep the Grand C-Max name? I already see the four letter words that C is going to stand for amongst Ford-haters.
Not to mention Dodge’s Grand Caravan is far more “grand” in terms of size (and history and name recognition).

Ford has one of the brightest futures in the world-wide auto industry. Hopefully this thing has Honda/Toyota quality decent resale, 5 star crash rating, oh and SYNC. It will be a complete import killer.

Sure hope its built better than the Mazda5 I just had for a rental. Always thought that vehicle and concept was cool, but gee I’d like to be able to get up to highway speed before I reach my destination and be able to hear myself think over the horrendous tire noise echoing throughout the cabin. Not to mention the cheapo dash too. Loved the sliding doors though.

the Fiesta-style front end is already getting old Ford…

The front end is getting old because EVERYONE is copying it. Corporate front ends don’t borther me. As long as they don’t make them EXACTLY the same it’s ok. Oh and they have to look good. But companies that make each vehicle completely different looking have no identity. You need to be able to look at a car and know who built it. Honda and Toyota have been trying but they either go for horribly ugly (new Crosstour front) or a Ford ripoff (Venza Front).

shaver
MAy be too smart a design to work here. Many equate safety with massive size.
Very true, Shaver, but this one will sell very briskly in Canada, where the Mazda 5 and Kia Rondo are everywhere in droves.

Mitzo- your comment made me look this up, and (I didn’t know this before) Canada has less people than California. Not sure where I’m going with that, just a market comparison I guess.

I am more and more impressed with Ford’s offerings as time goes by (I was a die-hard Ford guy for a long time but they lost me in the 1990’s). FINALLY I can consider buying one again, now that they have done away with the 3-bar grille.

Why not offer a couple dealer installed add-on grilles like GM does for guys like me who hate the one you offer. It had honestly kept me from buying another Ford.

If this to be mini van for skinnier people it will not sell. For the obvious reason: we love to grow our asses big and love skinny models. Skinny models do not desire to driven in small Fords and our oversize rear ends will not fit in even with sliding doors.

I’ve never understood roof rails on SUVs and Vans… 99% of people never even use them… they look tacky, and can actually cost you 1 or 2 MPG on the highway.

armstealer, the reason the connect is based on the old platform is because it was introduced in 2002.

-iluvamcars

Armstealer, Canada has a relatively small population but it IS a significant vehicle market, although much smaller than the US one. Manufacturers can sell more vehicles here than in, say, Australia. Sadly, our tastes for smaller more international vehicles are hardly satisfied, because we are treated like an appendage of the US market.

Bangle workin’ for Ford now…?

iluvamcars- That is true, I forgot that. Just bumper changes to meet pedestrian standards, right?

mitzo- America Jr. …Just kidding