"European Car of the Year" in 2007, the Ford S-MAX provides customers in China with a unique blend of talents and features. S-MAX seats seven passengers in comfort and safety; it performs with the dynamic qualities of a European sedan; and its interior can be arranged into 32 different seating possibilities. The S-MAX is incredibly versatile.
- Distinct, bold Kinetic design reflects S-MAX's European origins and its refined driving qualities
- Five-seat and seven-seat variants available
- S-MAX offers impressive interior versatility as second and third rows of seats fold flat to maximize cargo space
- S-MAX offers the confident handling traits of a mid-sized sedan with smooth, efficient performance from its 2.3-litre engine and six-speed automatic transmission
In March 2007, Ford introduced S-MAX to China. Months earlier, the S-MAX was voted by a panel of 58 distinguished motoring journalists as the 2007 European Car of the Year.
Built in Chongqing, China alongside the Mondeo sedan, the Ford S-MAX shares its drivetrain with the Mondeo as well as its confident handling and high quality. The Ford S-MAX is obviously neither a car nor is it an MPV. It creates a new vehicle segment positioning itself between a medium-sized sedan in terms of driving dynamics and overall refined performance and an MPV in terms of interior size and passenger space.
Ford S-MAX combines the best qualities from both segments. It is agile and responsive and offers occupant safety features such as front and side airbags. The interior design, layout and materials reflect S-MAX's close design relationship with Mondeo, as does its exterior design.
Compared with a sedan, Ford S-MAX offers more interior room with the advantage of flexible seating. Compared to an MPV, S-MAX is naturally more agile, quicker to manoeuvre and delivers a higher level of driving enjoyment.
Ford S-MAX Model Range
- 2.3L Flagship Navigation with seven seats (introduced November 2008)
- 2.3L Flagship with seven seats
- 2.3L Ghia with seven seats
- 2.3L Trend with seven seats
- 2.3L Trend with five seats
Seven-seat configuration is 2-3-2.
A glass sunroof was introduced as a standard feature to Flagship and Ghia models in February.
Kinetic Design
The Ford S-MAX is characterized by a distinctively angled nose and dynamic headlamps. Fog lamps are placed inbound and high on the front bumper, giving the vehicle an athletic look. The slim upper grille is complemented by a dominant inverted trapezoid grille below the number plate area. This is a Ford design signature, and adds a touch of aggression to the frontal appearance. At each side of the lower grille area, "gills" resembling cooling ducts give S-MAX a distinct performance identity.
Ford’s kinetic design creates an S-MAX that is visually bold and dynamic. The fast roof line arching into the bonnet, the muscular wheel arches and the distinctive kick-up to the rear window all visually indicate that S-MAX is a vehicle that delivers excitement and enjoyment.
The actual size of S-MAX may surprise. While the interior provides more than 2000 litres of cargo space, the S-MAX's perfect proportions yield an overall height of only 1607mm and overall length of 4768mm.
Driving Dynamics
S-MAX responds to driver inputs precisely, remains balanced on-road and is relaxing and comfortable to drive.
The 2.3-litre engine develops more than 117kW at 6500rpm and delivers peak torque of 205Nm at 4000rpm. The engine develops 90 percent of peak torque between 2000-5000rpm. Variable Camshaft Timing (iVCT) valvetrain technology greatly improves the engine's ability to deliver power and torque more effectively across a wider engine speed range.
A six-speed automatic transmission with driver-select Tiptronic manual mode accompanies the 2.3-litre engine. The combination is impressively smooth, quiet and refined.
MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear independent suspension layout is the basis of S-MAX's excellent chassis design. Body integrity and structural rigidity enhanced by a front and rear sub-frame contribute to the S-MAX's precise steering response and outstanding dynamics.
Flexible Space
The logical versatility of the S-MAX interior adapts quickly and easily to carry both people and goods, allowing the perfect balance of life and work.
A new feature in S-MAX is the Ford Fold Flat System (FFS). Second-row and third-row seats flow flat, which means the seats don't need to be removed to free up additional cargo space. The innovative FFS in S-MAX offers up to 32 possible seating combinations.
With 2000 litres of cargo area, the S-MAX interior can carry large stuff and irregular-shaped things. Furthermore, S-MAX offers 26 convenient stowage compartments for much smaller things.
Complete Safety
High-strength steel, ultra high-strength steel and boron steel (rigidity four to five times greater than common steel) is adopted in critical areas of the S-MAX's body structure such as A and B pillars to provide exceptional strength to improve structural rigidity and occupant protection.
Further to its advanced body structure, the Ford S-MAX offers extensive occupant safety equipment as standard. Dual front driver and passenger airbags are standard on all S-MAX model variants in China along with ABS braking control and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
Front passenger side airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control System (TCS) are introduced in the higher grade models.