All-new Ford Maverick: Small SUV thrives in cities, wilderness and everything in between

The all-new Ford Maverick - with unibody construction and go-anywhere four-wheel-drive capabilities - combines refined ride and handling, an outstanding interior package and enhanced towing capability in a small SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) that's versatile enough to tackle urban traffic and nature alike.

The new Maverick, which made its European debut today at the Geneva Motor Show, marks the company's entry into the growing small SUV segment and offers consumers another transportation solution for their active lifestyles.

No boundaries
"Maverick is designed to appeal to a wide variety of consumers - from young buyers to the 'young at heart' - meaning drivers who want fun, agile, sporty, durable and affordable vehicles," said Ford of Europe Chairman Nick Scheele. "Some of these people may not have owned an SUV before, but they will find the Maverick offers the right features to allow them to enjoy all of their favorite activities, from kayaking to skiing."

On sale later this year, the new Maverick embodies Ford's "No Boundaries" promise for tough and versatile SUVs.

Based on an all-new platform developed in partnership with Mazda, the new Ford Maverick provides customers with a small, versatile SUV with maximum comfort and convenience. In addition, its unibody design makes for refined ride and handling and provides one of the safest body structures in the class.

Left-hand drive versions of the new Ford Maverick will be built at Ford's Kansas City Plant, and right-hand drive versions will be built at Mazda's Hofu Plant in Japan. Maverick goes on sale in Europe later this year.

New Ford Maverick - Highlights

• Choice of DOHC 120 PS, 2.0-litre I-4 or 203 PS 3.0-litre V6 engines
• 5-speed manual gearbox with the I-4 engine
• 4-speed automatic/overdrive transaxle with the V6 engine
• All engines meet or exceed Stage III emissions standards
• Full-time automatic 4x4
• 4x4 system comes with a driver-determined switch to select four-wheel drive automatic or "4x4 lock"
• 1,700 kilogram towing capacity (with V6 engine) - enough to pull large trailers
• Five-passenger seating, with easy access through four doors
• Roomy front- and second-row seating
• Four doors and rear liftgate with flip-up glass
• Large, versatile cargo area
• Unibody design provides refined ride, handling and maneuverability Anti-lock braking system standard
• Safety features include second-generation dual front air bags and standard side impact air bags
• Six-disc, in-dash CD player available

On and Off Road
The all-new Ford Maverick is at home on city streets, but it also is designed to provide the ability to go off the motorway, along dirt roads and through snow and rain with the sure-footedness of four-wheel drive. The 4x4 powertrain provides full-time, four-wheel drive functionality. In addition, the system offers a 4x4 lockup feature - comparable to a "4x4 high" in conventional rear-wheel drive 4x4s - that enhances performance when driving off-road or on especially slippery surfaces.

The driver uses a rotary switch on the instrument panel to select "4x4 automatic" or "4x4 lock" operation. The automatic setting is appropriate for most driving conditions.

Selecting "4x4 lock" activates an electronic solenoid that locks the rotary blade coupling located between the end of the driveshaft and the rear axle differential. It results in a full-time 50-50 torque split between the front and rear axles. The 4x4 lock mode is suitable for off-road use and when driving on slippery surfaces.

"Maverick customers want total mobility and complete agility when they play, but we know they also must balance those desires with their need for a safe and refined vehicle to carry them through the work week," said Keith Takasawa, the Ford Maverick chief program engineer. "Maverick is designed to provide a lifestyle vehicle that is practical, functional and fun to drive at the same time."

Powertrain choice
Maverick offers two engine choices - a standard 2.0-liter I-4 engine with 5-speed manual transaxle or an optional 3.0-liter V6 with 4-speed automatic.

The Ford Zetec 2.0-litre DOHC I-4 engine produces 120 PS at 5,400 rpm and maximum torque of 175 Nm at 4,500 rpm. The engine features a cast iron block with lightweight aluminium head and composite intake manifold. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and has a towing capacity of 1,500 kilograms.

The powerful Ford 3.0-litre Duratec V6 engine delivers 203 PS at 6,000 rpm and 271 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm, making it one of the most powerful engines offered in the small sport utility class. The powerful Duratec V6 is combined with a four-speed automatic transmission with electronic overdrive and is capable of towing upwards of 1,700 kilograms.

Robust yet refined
Maverick's suspension uses MacPherson struts attached to lower control arms with an L-shaped cross section for lateral stiffness. A dual path upper strut mount, in which the spring and shock are separately mounted, allows the shock force to be isolated for improved suspension tuning and a better ride. A stabilizer bar connects to each strut damper for efficiency. The rack-and-pinion steering gear is mounted to a crossmember for reduced compliance.

Maverick's independent rear suspension has a double lateral link and trailing arms. The springs are located between the semi-trailing arm and body. Long travel jounce bumpers allow for lower spring rates and a smoother ride. The rear differential and 4x4 torque transfer case are mounted to a crossmember. Maverick's steering is tuned to provide the vehicle with a direct and sporty steering feel while providing a comfortable boost for maneuvering when parking. Front steering geometry is optimised to match suspension movement, providing a more linear feel under all conditions.

Rack-and-pinion steering is standard. The steering gear features widely spaced mounting locations that increase system rigidity and produce a tighter and more responsive steering feel.

Designed Tough
Tough but nimble - that is the essence of the all-new Ford Maverick. This rugged SUV features a refined, sporty look with a forward-tilting stance, large wheel lips and wide body cladding that give it a functional, off-road-ready look.

In the front, a purposeful wraparound front bumper fascia has large vertical brush guards and a honeycomb grille. The hood is slightly lowered in the front corners for improved visibility, yet the corners are still visible for easy parking.

Maverick stands 1,626 mm tall, giving the driver the "command driving" position that has become synonymous with SUVs. It has a wide track for a sturdy, solid stance and a 2,620 mm wheelbase for a longer stride and smoother ride.

An adjustable roof rack fitted to all Mavericks, offering customers the ability to secure additional cargo and gear. Custom bike/ski brackets that fasten to the roof rack also will be available through Ford dealers.

The rear cargo area is easily accessible through an "easy open" liftgate or the separate-opening rear glass. A rear wash-wipe is standard.

Inside, the Maverick's interior package is designed for maximum comfort, convenience and roominess. With one of the most spacious interiors in its class, it has enough room to carry five adults and their cargo.

Maverick features front bucket seats and an available 60/40 split fold-down rear seat back. The available split rear seat back seats three adults and includes head restraints in the outboard positions. Passengers in the outboard rear positions benefit from 938 mm of leg room and 1,244 mm of hip room. Plus, each rear seat squab and seat back can be folded forward to create a large, flat cargo floor.

Safety
In addition to providing its rugged good looks, the Maverick design also provides enhanced occupant protection. Ford used extensive computer-aided design and engineering (CAD/CAE) techniques to sculpt the vehicle body, which features an energy-absorbing front structure with designed-in crumple zones. This unique design has resulted in two worldwide patents - one involving the front bumper system and another for the front body crush zone design.

Driver- and front-passenger front air bags are standard. Dual side air bags, which are mounted within the front seats and provide additional head and chest support during side impacts, are standard.

Safety belt pretensioners, combined with energy management retractors, are standard on front safety belts. Within milliseconds of a crash, pretensioners - special devices nestled in the front-seat safety belt buckles or retractors - tighten the front safety belts and help prevent belted occupants from sliding and bouncing around during a crash. If crash forces rise to severe levels, a metal bar tucked in the center of the spool of the safety belt retractor - called an energy management retractor - twists like a wrung-out wash cloth, releasing small amounts of safety belt webbing in a controlled manner. This helps reduce the risk of force-related injuries, especially to the occupant's chest.

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