The new Ford S-Max won’t reach UK dealers until early 2015, due to a new Ford supply backlog caused by the closure of the firm’s production plant in Genk, Belgium. In the meantime, Ford is pushing ahead with development of the new S-Max, seen testing here alongside the first-gen model that’s been on sale since 2006.
These spy shots come from the United States, where the new S-Max has been spied testing for the first time since its concept car outgoing.
That’s a very heavily disguised Ford S-Max…
True, but look closely and there are a few clues that the acclaimed styling of the S-Max concept car, shown at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show, will carry over into showrooms. At the front of the car, the outline of a gaping trapezoidal grille can be picked out under the disguise.
On the flanks, an extra square of covering masks a redesigned wing vent. The old S-Max’s front wheelarch brake vent has been ditched, and instead there’s a smart new outlet not dissimilar to that seen on a Mini Cooper. It leads into a strong shoulder styling line that runs the entire length of the new S-Max.
What else do we know for sure about the next Ford S-Max?
The new MPV (or SAV, for Sport Activity Vehicle, as Ford would have it) will use Mondeo engines. Not the powerplants from the ageing current Mondeo though – we’re talking about the new Ecoboost engines that we’ll get in Ford’s reborn repmobile later this year.
Making the headlines is a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which replaces the 1.6-litre four-pot. Losing only 100cc doesn’t sound like much, but Ford is adamant it’ll match or beat the outgoing engine’s power, and improve its economy and CO2 scores.
The production-ready car isn’t expected to make an appearance until October 2014, when it could be Ford’s main crowd-puller at the Paris motor show. In the meantime, click here to check out CAR’s ongoing coverage of the 2014 Geneva motor show, including a new Ford-rivalling MPV from – of all manufacturers – BMW!