Geneva motor show: Ford B-Max

The new Ford B-Max will cost from 12,995 when it goes on sale in September, Ford confirmed at the 2012 Geneva motor show.

The B-Max made it's public debut at the 2012 Mobile World Congress tech show in Barcelona last month as it will be the first Ford to come with SYNC mobile phone integration system, which allows full voice control of both phone and music.

SYNC also features Emergency Assistance, designed to respond to a crash by using the drivers connected mobile phone to call emergency services directly, in their local language, with the accident location.

See also: All Geneva motor show 2012 news

While a full price list has yet to be revealed, Ford said the entry-level B-Max 1.4 Studio will cost 12,995.

A further two trims will be available for the B-Max - Zetec and Titanium. The engine line-up comprises the 1.4-litre petrol, a 1.0-litre ecoboost petrol engine and two diesels units a 1.5 and a 1.6.

Top-of-the-range versions of the B-Max will cost around 18,000 but prices are expected to be confirmed within the next couple of week.

The B-Max is a compact MPV with sliding rear doors and no central pillar, which is designed to provide easier access than rivals such as the Citroen C3 Picasso, Nissan Note and Vauxhall Meriva.

The B-Maxs unusual layout gives it an unobstructed 1.5-metre rear door opening space, which Ford claims is more than double that offered by the Vauxhall Meriva.

Darren Palmer, director of product development quality at Ford, told us the decision to use the layout was founded on practicality and ease of access. He said that the rest of the car was designed around this.

Extensive use of high-strength steel, and strengthening in strategic areas has made the B-Maxs body stiffer than a Fiestas, Palmer says. A sophisticated latching system is designed to stop the doors opening in the event of an impact, and Ford is confident the B-Max will achieve the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating.

Iain Reid