>>Ford S-Max

Ford S-Max

Ford S-Max

Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	2006–present
Assembly	Genk, Belgium Chongqing, China
Class	Large MPV
Body style	5-door MPV
Platform	Ford EUCD platform
Wheelbase	2,850 mm (112.2 in)
Length	4,770 mm (187.8 in)
Width	1,885 mm (74.2 in)
Height	1,660 mm (65.4 in)
Curb weight	1,743 kg (3,840 lb)
Related	Ford Galaxy Ford Mondeo
Designer(s)	David Hilton

The Ford S-Max (stylized as Ford S-MAX) is an MPV produced by the Ford Motor Company for the European market and by Chang'an Ford Automobile Co., Ltd for the Chinese (Mainland) market. Ford also describes the S-MAX as a SAV Introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the S-Max went on sale alongside the new generation Galaxy in June 2006. It is intended to be sporty like a saloon and spacious like an MPV. It shows inspiration from the seven-seater large MPV Galaxy and compact MPV Ford C-Max. The S-Max has received many positive reviews and awards, and was voted European Car of the Year 2007 on 13 November 2006. In the future Ford is planning to sell the S-Max in Japan under the subsidiary brand Mazda.

Features

The S-Max is the first vehicle in Ford's lineup to feature their Kinetic Design styling. The Kinetic Design scheme includes angular headlights, twin trapezoidal grilles, and large wheelarches.

It comes with heated front and back windscreens, parking sensors, aux input, bluetooth connectivity, voice command and dual climate control as standard.

One major selling point of the S-Max is its "Fold Flat System". This design allows the second and third-row seats to fold seamlessly into the floor, leaving extra storage space.

Models

For the English speaking markets there are three derivatives of the S-Max; Edge, Zetec, and the high-end Titanium. Ford has stated that around sixty percent of all S-Max buyers choose Titanium specification. Continental trim levels are Trend, Titanium and the top of the line Titanium S.

In March 2008, a powerful 2.2 175 PS TDCi common-rail diesel was added to Titanium series and delivers acceleration from 0-60 mph in 9.0 seconds.

In September 2008, the popular 2.0 140 PS TDCi manual engine was offered with a CO₂ of 159 g/km.

The S-Max Trend is going to debut in China in 2010. The Trend is basically a normal S-Max, but without the back row of seats. The idea is to make it cheaper, and to give more storage space to people who might want it.

In 2010 the S-MAX was given a facelift.

Powertrain

All S-Max's use versions of the Ford Duratorq engine or Ford Duratec engine. The S-Max uses a five- speed or six- speed manual transmission, and a six-speed automatic option.

Engine	Power	Transmission
1.8 TDCi	125 PS (123 hp)	5 Speed Manual
1.8 TDCi	125 PS (123 hp)	6 Speed Manual
2.0 TDCi	115 PS (113 hp - 82 kW - 152 g/km)	6 Speed Manual
2.0 TDCi	140 PS (143 hp)	6 Speed Manual
2.0	145 PS (138 hp)	5 Speed Manual
2.0 145 Flex Fuel	(128 hp)	5 Speed Manual
2.2 TDCi	175 PS (173 hp)	6 Speed Manual
2.3	161 PS PS (158 hp)	6 Speed Automatic
2.5 (shared with the Ford Focus ST)	220 PS (217 hp)	6 Speed Manual

• This vehicle has also been converted to use an aftermarket conversion hybrid powertrain: Langford Performance Engineering 'Whisper' powertrain

New petrol engines for the 2010/2011 Models:

• 1.6 STCi EcoBoost, 6 Speed Manual, 160 HP
• 2.0 STCi EcoBoost, Powershift, 203 HP

Engines available for the 2012 Models:

• 1.6T 160 PS EcoBoost (Start/Stop), 6 Speed Manual
• 2.0 203 PS EcoBoost, PowerShift Auto
• 2.0 240 PS EcoBoost, PowerShift Auto
• 1.6 TDCi 115 PS (Start/Stop), 6 Speed Manual
• 2.0 TDCi 140 PS, 6 Speed Manual
• 2.0 TDCi 140 PS, PowerShift Auto
• 2.0 TDCi 163 PS, 6 Speed Manual
• 2.0 TDCi 163 PS, PowerShift Auto
• 2.2 TDCi 200 PS, 6 Speed Manual
• 2.2 TDCi 200 PS, Automatic

Safety

The Ford S-Max incorporates no breakthrough safety features, but it has received a 5- Star/ 36 Point (Best in Class) rating from the Euro NCAP. The S-Max's safety features include the Intelligent Protection System (IPS) which combines a body structure optimised for strength and crashworthiness with state-of-the-art restraint equipment and driver aids that help avoid an accident and features that lessen the likelihood of injuries in an impact. It has many modern airbags, including a knee airbag and a thorax airbag. S-Max's also have an advanced neck protection system, three-point seat belts, optimised pre-tensioners, load limiters, anti-submarining seat subframes, a collapsible steering system and safety pedals. For handling it has an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), of course, along with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system.

Media

The Ford S-Max was reviewed on Top Gear against the Vauxhall Zafira and the Mercedes B200. The S-Max was the cheapest, yet was described as having the best interior and exterior, and being the most comfortable. The presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, also considered it to be the most practical. Overall, they praised the car and declared it to be the best value for money out of the three.