Ford B-MAX Voted ‘Most Beautiful Minivan of 2012’ by Auto Motor und Sport Readers

• All-new Ford B-MAX awarded Autonis Award for “Most Beautiful Minivan of 2012” by readers of Auto Motor und Sport, in Germany
• B-MAX compact multi-activity vehicle finishes 15 percent ahead of its closest rival

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 19, 2012 – Ford B-MAX has been awarded the Autonis Award for the “Most Beautiful Minivan of 2012” by readers of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

The B-MAX all-new compact multi-activity vehicle won the online poll with more than 38 percent of the votes to finish 15 percent ahead of the runner-up, the Fiat 500L; the Renault Scenic finished third.

“The B-MAX combines modern expressive design with an innovative construction to create a completely unique small family vehicle from Ford offering unprecedented ease of access to front and rear for the customer,” said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s executive design director. “This award suggests that this is exactly what Auto Motor und Sport readers are looking for.”

More than 14,000 readers of Germany’s leading car magazine and its sister website www.auto-motor-und-sport.de voted in the awards which saw readers either “like” or “dislike” 102 models across eight categories. Auto Motor und Sport editors Ralph Alex and Jens Katemann presented the award at an event in Stuttgart, Germany.

The all-new B-MAX’s ingenious Ford’s Easy Access Door System provides unrivalled access for passengers and luggage through hinged front doors and sliding rear doors that integrate the central body pillars. The B-MAX was recently awarded the highest possible five-star safety rating by independent crash test authority Euro NCAP.

The B-MAX Multi-Activity Vehicle also features SYNC, Ford’s voice-activated in-car connectivity system with Emergency Assistance; and Active City Stop that monitors the traffic ahead and applies the brakes if it detects a collision with a vehicle in front is imminent.

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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 168,000 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 Europe is 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.