Photo: Ford
Cool, hard driving mums and dads in Europe are going to love what the Blue Oval did with the all-new S-Max. Building on the appeal of the original sports activity vehicle with seven seats, the 2015 Ford S-Max is laden with fuel efficient engines, technology, comfort, as well as improved or new features.
“The sleek and sporty S-Max profile stands out from the crowd to deliver a unique proposition for customers who appreciate an exclusive appearance – whether for their car, their clothes, and even their home,” explains Joel Piaskowski, director of design at Ford of Europe. “A lower roofline, slim-line lights and muscular haunches around the wheel arches ensure the all-new S-Max appears wider, sharper, and has an even more distinctive presence than ever.”
Joel is right, you know. When was the last time you've seen such a good looking multi-purpose vehicle primarily designed to do the school run? Furthermore, the S-Max boasts with 32 seating and load-space combinations in addition to Easy-Fold second and third row seats. Ford's Dynamic LED Headlamps with Glare-Free Highbeam also make their debut on the family hauler. As far as Europe is concerned, this is the first Euro-spec Ford to employ Ford Adaptive Steering for less steering effort when parking.
Just like we suspected, the Hands-Free Tailgate system of the Ford Escape/Kuga was borrowed by the new generation S-Max as well. In terms of technology, the highlights are the adoption of the Sync2 connectivity system, Pre-Collision Assist safety feature and dedicated rear climate system. Mommy and daddy will absolutely love the Multi-Contour front seats that are heated, ventilated and even know how to do a proper massage. We also had a sneaking suspicion all-wheel drive will come as an optional feature as well and it turns out our hunch was right. Ford is offering Intelligent All-Wheel Drive for more demanding customers.
Now for the oily bits. The engine lineup consists of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel-fed motors. The entry-level powerhouse is a 2-liter TDCi with 120 PS which is mated to a six-speed manual. Buyers can also opt for 150 PS or 180 PS variants of the mill, which can be mated to the stick shift or Ford's PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission. If you like petrol more than diesel, there's the new 1.5-liter EcoBoost available with 160 PS on tap, while a 2L EcoBoost with 240 PS rounds off the range. Just like the Focus, the new Ford S-Max uses Active Grille Shutter technology, as well as Smart Regenerative Charging and auto start/stop.
On the inside, the traditional analog instrument cluster makes way for an optional 10-inch digital screen which can be customized according to the driver's preferences. An 8-inch touchscreen with Voice Control and sat nav is also on the menu. “Developed without compromise to deliver a peerless combination of style, comfort, flexibility, efficiency and driving appeal, the all-new S-Max is underpinned with innovative and in many cases unique technologies,” said Andrew Kernahan, the Ford S-Max chief programme engineer. “This is a vehicle that looks and feels great in any situation and delivers for customers with the highest expectations.”
Joel is right, you know. When was the last time you've seen such a good looking multi-purpose vehicle primarily designed to do the school run? Furthermore, the S-Max boasts with 32 seating and load-space combinations in addition to Easy-Fold second and third row seats. Ford's Dynamic LED Headlamps with Glare-Free Highbeam also make their debut on the family hauler. As far as Europe is concerned, this is the first Euro-spec Ford to employ Ford Adaptive Steering for less steering effort when parking.
Now for the oily bits. The engine lineup consists of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel-fed motors. The entry-level powerhouse is a 2-liter TDCi with 120 PS which is mated to a six-speed manual. Buyers can also opt for 150 PS or 180 PS variants of the mill, which can be mated to the stick shift or Ford's PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission. If you like petrol more than diesel, there's the new 1.5-liter EcoBoost available with 160 PS on tap, while a 2L EcoBoost with 240 PS rounds off the range. Just like the Focus, the new Ford S-Max uses Active Grille Shutter technology, as well as Smart Regenerative Charging and auto start/stop.
On the inside, the traditional analog instrument cluster makes way for an optional 10-inch digital screen which can be customized according to the driver's preferences. An 8-inch touchscreen with Voice Control and sat nav is also on the menu. “Developed without compromise to deliver a peerless combination of style, comfort, flexibility, efficiency and driving appeal, the all-new S-Max is underpinned with innovative and in many cases unique technologies,” said Andrew Kernahan, the Ford S-Max chief programme engineer. “This is a vehicle that looks and feels great in any situation and delivers for customers with the highest expectations.”
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