STERLING HEIGHTS, Michigan - Ford Motor Co. is a hybrid-only van in the United States next year in a bid, Toyota Hybrid dominance challenge sell.
The five mini bus comes in two versions: receives a gas electric hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, more than 41 miles per gallon, and a plug-in hybrid, such as the Chevrolet Volt, which is on electrical energy, but have a backup gas motor, the in, starts when the power is running low.
Gas and diesel versions of the minivan, called C-Max, went on sale in Europe, where they became a hit for Ford at the end of last year. But the company decided to make an only hybrid vehicle in the United States the C-Max, after he buyer demand for vehicles fuel-efficient spike in the last few months. Gas prices are 20 percent since February, although they have come in the last few weeks.
Ford is seeking, an only hybrid vehicle. The company has more than 140,000 hybrid versions of some of its vehicles, such as the fusion sedan and escape SUV, in the last six years sold. But, if far behind Toyota Motor Corp., which sold its 1 millionth Prius in the U.S. customers recently prefer only hybrid cars like the Prius, which has a unique look that the be confused with a gas-powered car can seem.
Ford wants to in jump ahead of Toyota too far in the planned expansion of the Prius family. Toyota has a five passenger wagon of Prius, Prius V, go the on sale in the United States this year. Toyota plans to sell a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius next year.
Ford originally planned, a seven - passenger version of the gas to sell C-Max in the United States in the year 2012. But it is scrapping the vehicle for the time being, because customers far more interest in a five passenger hybrid's have.
"Customers have changed in the last 120 days," said Ford marketing Chief Jim Farley during an event at the sterling will make heights, Michigan, plant, the parts for the C-Max. The vans in the Assembly, Michigan outside of Detroit create Ford and some of them export to Europe.
Hybrids use a combination of internal combustion engine and a battery pack makes a car or truck.
Not many details about the C-Max type Ford Thursday. There is not the exact date it goes on sale, how far it will go in the fully electric mode or how much it will cost.
But Farley said, Ford can bring the cost significantly, because of the hybrid and the plug-in hybrid share many parts. The Volt, such as it starts its hybrid system not at $40,280, but with each other share General Motors co. vehicle.
Aaron Bragman, analyst at IHS automotive, thinks that Ford for a few thousand dollars more, the C-Max for as low as $25,000 and the plug-in hybrid could sell make costs more comparable with Nissan leaf electric car, starts with $32,780. The leaf and the volts are now eligible for a tax credit of $7,500.
Still, Bragman said that Ford have a hard time take the hybrid coat of Toyota, as the Japanese company has such a head start in the minds of buyers.
"" "The Prius is synonymous with"Hybrid"," he said.
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