Thanks to Ford CEO Alan Mulally's "One Ford" global strategy, the automaker has made it clear that models once deemed European only will soon be booking boat rides across the Atlantic. For example, we already know the new Fiesta and European Focus are set for U.S. shores. Several other vehicles in Ford's overseas portfolio, such as the next-generation C-Max compact minivan -- a mule of which was recently captured testing in Germany -- are also a distinct possibility.
The most notable detail of the C-Max mule in the spy shots is its longer wheelbase, which probably means Ford is planning a seven-passenger version of the vehicle (at present the C-Max is available only as a five-seater). North America would likely get the seven-seat model to battle competition such as the Kia Rondo and Mazda5, the latter of which performed well last year for Mazda despite the terrible market conditions. The C-Max is built on the same C1 platform as the Mazda5 and European Focus, among others.
A variety of engines are available for the present C-Max, including three gas and four diesel engines ranging from 1.6L to 2.0L, mated to either five and six-speed manuals or a four speed automatic.
The C-Max was recently freshened for the 2007 model year, so the European debut of the next-generation model probably won't happen until 2010 at the earliest. If the C-Max were to make it to the U.S. -- which isn't a stretch considering the Focus is expected to converge back into a global model at roughly the same time -- it'll probably be sometime in 2011 or 2012.