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Ford Motor Company has revealed the all-new Ford S Max, with 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol and revised 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines to deliver improved CO2.

Diesel engine CO2 engine emissions will be reduced by an anticipated 7%, which would see the S-Max fall below 130g/km.

Options will include a 120PS 2.0-litre TDCi with six-speed manual transmission and a revised 150PS and 180PS 2.0-litre TDCi with manual or PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Ford says its Active Thermal Management System improves warm-up times to reach peak efficiency faster and reduce CO2 emissions.

Petrol engine options including Ford’s new fuel-efficient 160PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost with manual transmission and 240PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost with automatic transmission.

S-MAX CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency also are enhanced with Smart Regenerative Charging and Auto-Start-Stop.

Underbody aerodynamic shielding and Active Grille Shutter technology have improved aerodynamic efficiency with performance optimised during 400 hours of wind tunnel testing.

“S-Max struck a chord with customers all over Europe – people who need space and practicality but who could never picture themselves in a typical family hauler,” said Stephen Odell, Ford executive vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“The all-new S-Max takes this no-compromise ethos to new levels with a stunning design, cool technology and dynamic driving experience.” 

All-new S-Max will debut Ford Adaptive Steering technology in Europe for optimised response to driver input when it goes on sale in 2015.

Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and a range of sophisticated powertrains – including the new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – will also ensure an enhanced driving experience.

Meanwhile, Ford’s advanced Pre-Collision Assist technology will assist in mitigating accidents even at motorway speeds.

More than 400,000 S-Max models have found homes in Europe since Ford first carved out a new automotive niche – the sports activity vehicle – and won Car of the Year in 2007.

The open and airy interior benefits from a full-length panoramic glass roof and smart design seats with thinner seat backs to provide more legroom.

Available in five-seat and seven-seat configurations, the Easy-Fold system enables each rear seat to be folded flat from a push-button control panel. Easy-Entry second row seats provide one touch access to third row seating.

The all-new S-Max uses camera, radar, and ultrasonic devices to deliver more than 16 driving technologies. They include: Pre-Collision Assist which applies braking if a collision with another vehicle ahead is imminent – first sounding an alert and then displaying a warning onto the windscreen from 5mph up to the maximum speed.

The all-new S-Max sensor technologies also make parking easier. Perpendicular parking can detect and reverse the car hands-free into spaces alongside other cars in the same way that Active Park Assist helps drivers to parallel park.

Park-Out Assist helps drivers exit a parallel parking space, the system operating the steering while the driver operates the accelerator and brake.

Side Parking Aid delivers audible alerts and on-screen distance indicators to obstacles around the vehicle and Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them.

Further driver assistance technologies offered with all-new S-Max include Blind Spot Information System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Driver Alert.

All-new S-Max also introduces Front Split View Camera technology to the segment, which makes negotiating junctions or parking spaces with restricted visibility easier through the use of a 180 degree camera system installed at the front of the vehicle.

Adaptive Cruise Control technology uses forward-facing radar to enable S-MAX drivers to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead.

New Intelligent Speed Assist technology enhances the existing Adaptive Speed Limiter system that allows drivers to set a maximum speed, enabling it to adjust the vehicle speed limit according to information received from the Traffic Sign Recognition and onboard navigation systems.

“Speed limiting technology has proved incredibly popular with drivers who want to ensure they avoid incurring speeding fines by unintentionally exceeding the speed limit. Intelligent Speed Assist makes that even easier,” said Stefan Kappes, active safety supervisor, Ford of Europe.

The traditional instrument cluster makes way for an optional driver-facing 10-inch digital screen with animated analogue-style speedometer and rev-counter.

Users also can customise the display settings and 3D graphics on the digital screen for a personalised and interactive experience.

An 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen in the centre console enables drivers to control Ford SYNC 2 with Voice Control to operate phone, entertainment, climate and navigation systems using simple conversational language.

SYNC 2 also features Emergency Assistance, which directly connects the vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident, in the correct language for the region.
 

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