FORD has set the entry grade price of its slick new multi activity vehicle the B-MAX at £12,995 ahead of deliveries this autumn.

That price tab is for the 1.4-litre petrol engined Studio version, but all models will feature what Ford calls its Easy Access Door System.

The company's fresh approach to door construction means wide-open access for driver, passengers and luggage courtesy of conventional hinged front doors and rear sliding doors.

And Ford says that with both front and rear doors open, the access space is around twice the width offered by competitors with alternative door concepts - a boon for attending to children in child seats or loading shopping.

Three models - Studio, Zetec and Titanium - are up for grabs and there will be three petrol and two diesel engines, including the new 1.5-litre TDCi and 1.0-litre EcoBoost.

Studio grade cars have manual five-speed transmission but just the 1.4-litre 90PS petrol engine and come with standard kit like body colour bumpers, adjustable load floor in the luggage compartment, fold flat front passenger seat, electric door mirrors, one-touch windows and a low tyre pressure deflation detection system.

Zetec starts at £15,600 and offers three petrol and one diesel engine including the 1.5-litre TDCi and 1.0-litre 100PS EcoBoost, while there's a choice of manual and automatic transmissions.

All Zetec launch models will include Ford's voice-activated connectivity set-up SYNC at no extra cost - usually £250 - and standard kit over Studio includes 15-inch alloys, halogen headlights with LED day running lights, front fog lights, leather trimmed steering wheel and gearshift knob, air-con, child observation mirror and heated windscreen.

Moving up to Titanium starts at £17,595 and gives the choice of three petrol engines including the 1.0-litre 120PS EcoBoost with stop/start and the 1.6-litre 95PS TDCi diesel.

Ford SYNC will be standard along with driver's and centre rear seat armrests, driver's seat adjustable lumbar support, cruise control, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, Ford Power start button, Sony DAB digital radio/CD, 16-inch 15-spoke alloys and high gloss upper and lower grille surrounds.

The B-MAX petrol engine line-up is led by the three-cylinder Ford EcoBoost unit available in 100 and 120PS versions, the latter of which equipped with Start-Stop can achieve CO emissions of 114g/km and fuel consumption of 57.6mpg.

Other petrol engine options are the 90PS 1.4-litre Duratec unit or 105PS 1.6-litre Duratec engine which is paired with a PowerShift six-speed auto transmission.

Of the two TDCi diesels, the 95PS 1.6-litre engine delivers CO emissions of 104g/km and fuel consumption of 70.6mpg while the 75PS 1.5-litre unit - appearing for the first time in Ford's European product range - has emissions of 109g/km and a 68.9mpg fuel figure.

The order book is open now.