Ford Motor Co. is all set to launch its new C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid this fall in 19 U.S. markets before countrywide introduction scheduled early next year. Built on the Ford Focus platform, the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid is powered by a gasoline engine alongside an electric motor that is set to pull out around 195 hp. Company sources say that the vehicle can travel up to 20 miles on battery power alone with a total range of 550 miles. As the model features a parallel hybrid powertrain, either the gasoline engine or the electric motor provides power to the wheels or both at the same time, if the motorist is accelerating hard. The C-Max hits the markets with three powertrain modes — EV: Auto Mode, EV: Now Mode and EV: Later Mode.

In Auto mode, the computer automatically opts for battery or the gasoline engine in accordance with the speed of the vehicle while in the Now mode, the electric motor is used and the gasoline engine won’t work unless the motorist fully depresses the accelerator. Meanwhile, in EV: Later Mode, the model completely accelerates on the gasoline engine thereby saving its battery power for later use. Ford announced that the C-Max will be priced at $29,995 after incentives and the destination charge. However, the automaker didn’t specify the total time required to recharge the battery pack.

Ford plans to compare its upcoming C-Max plug-in hybrid with its major rival —the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. According to the company sources, the C-Max Energi will move up to 20 miles on battery power alone while the Prius hybrid travels only up to 15 miles. Similarly, using the battery power, the C-Max Energi will go as fast as 85 mph while Toyota claims the Prius plug-in hybrid’s top speed is only 62 mph.

“The all-new C-MAX Hybrid is a great symbol of how Ford has transformed into a fuel-economy and technology leader with 47 mpg across the board and a highway rating 7 mpg better than Toyota Prius v,” Ford Vice President of Powertrain Engineering Joe Bakaj said in a statement.

via Autonews