2012 Ford C-Max

Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak calls it a "white-space vehicle exploring the crossover between car and minivan." We call it Europe's Grand C-Max with a shorter name. (Ford sells both a C-Max and a Grand C-Max in Europe, but the Continent's C-Max is smaller and only has two rows of seats.) No matter which descriptor you prefer, the people-moving C-Max is on its way here for 2012.

We have already driven the three-row Grand C-Max in Europe and liked what we experienced -- basically a mini-minivan with some clever packaging -- but the cars we drove didn't have the American powertrains installed, perhaps because details of the U.S. engine lineup had not yet been ironed out.

Two Fours and 5+2

Now we know that the base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. The optional engine is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost (that means it's turbocharged and direct-injected, for those who haven't received the message) four that puts out the same horsepower as the 2.5 on regular gas, but cranks it up to 180 hp on premium; torque using either fuel is 173 ft-lbs. Ford promises better fuel economy for the more expensive and sometimes-more-powerful EcoBoost four, thereby justifying its higher cost. (A similar scheme is planned for the all-new Explorer.) No matter which powerplant is fitted, a six-speed automatic transmission is the only choice.