New Ford B-MAX High-Strength-Steels, Ingenious Design and Technology Combine to Help Protect Occupants

• Ford builds B-MAX bodyshell and doors using more than 50 per cent high-strength-steels
• Ford Easy Access Door System features reinforced latches and integrated central pillar for effective impact resistance and safety
• B-MAX is first vehicle in segment to offer Active City Stop

Brentwood, Essex, 14 August, 2012 – The all-new Ford B-MAX is engineered to deliver outstanding protection in accident situations through the use of more than 50 per cent high-strength-steels in the bodyshell and doors, and innovations delivered by the Ford Easy Access Door System.

The B-MAX is also the first vehicle in its segment to offer Active City Stop, designed to help motorists avoid low speed collisions with stationary or slower moving traffic in front.

“Maintaining occupant safety and delivering all the benefits of the Ford Easy Access Door System was a key objective for us,” said Klaus-Peter Tamm, chief programme engineer, Ford of Europe. “The development team used innovative engineering solutions – and filed multiple patent applications – in the development of this unique car.”

Engineered for outstanding protection
From the innovative door and body structure to the advanced restraints system, the B-MAX has been engineered to deliver outstanding occupant protection.

Front and rear doors are reinforced with ultra-high-strength boron steel in key load-bearing areas, with high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels accounting for 58 per cent of the body and door structure.

In the event of a side impact, the door frames work together to absorb crash energy. In extreme instances, special crash catchers (which lock the doors together), a reinforced latch mechanism and an integrated central pillar combine to ensure the doors remain firmly attached to the roof and floor structure.

The new B-MAX offers seven state-of-the-art airbags: driver and front-seat passenger airbags, 3D Thorax side airbags, curtain airbags that run the entire length of the cabin and a driver’s knee airbag. B-MAX is the first Ford to enable deactivation of the front passenger airbag, for those carrying a rear-facing child seat, through a standard switch mounted at the end of the instrument panel.

Ford developed and implemented a unique test procedure to prove out the new B-MAX’s body concept. The five-year testing programme included 5,000 virtual collisions and 40 real-world crashes as well as the construction of a bespoke rig system used to test the reinforced latches.

Suite of active safety technologies
B-MAX will be offered with a suite of active safety technologies designed to help drivers maintain vehicle control and avoid accident situations.

The B-MAX is the first vehicle in its segment to provide the added reassurance of the Active City Stop system, designed to help motorists avoid low speed collisions with stationary or slower moving traffic in front.

First launched on Focus last year, Active City Stop monitors traffic ahead and applies the brakes if it detects a collision with a vehicle in front is imminent. In tests the system is proven to prevent collisions at speeds up to 10mph, and reduce the severity of impacts at speeds as high as 20mph. The system was awarded an Advanced reward by Euro NCAP in 2011.

As with all Fords, B-MAX features Electronic Stability Programme - a braking and stability system that helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle under extreme conditions.

# # #

For further information and images go to:  http://b-max.fordmedia.eu/

# # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europeis responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.