We think that Nissan and Vauxhall should be worried, as the new B-MAX, which was previewed at Ford’s headquarters in Essex yesterday, is designed to revolutionise the B-segment and sure to steal sales from the Note and Meriva. The new compact mini MPV, which is based on a stretched Fiesta chassis, will be on sale in September with prices starting at £12,995.

Key selling features of the B-MAX include the most obvious – the lack of a central B post. Instead, the B-post is built into the B-MAX’s doors and stiff steel structure.