Ford S-MAX Hybrid with 10 device WiFi now available
Now on sale is the Ford S-MAX Hybrid sports activity vehicle. Offering seven-seats and priced within £625 of the equivalent diesel version, it reduces CO2 emissions by more than 10 per cent compared to the equivalent EcoBlue diesel powertrain.
Combining 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine and 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, electric power is deployed to support petrol engine fuel efficiency or deliver silent, pure-electric driving for short periods depending on the scenario, claims Ford.
Regenerative braking technology captures up to 90 per cent of the energy normally lost during braking to help charge the battery. Power is sent to an electric motor that can drive the front wheels on its own to pull away silently from a standstill. The battery’s liquid cooling system eliminates the need for a cooling fan, helping further reduce noise levels inside the cabin.
In addition, the electric motor works alongside the petrol engine to deliver from 43.5mpg fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions from 147g/km WLTP, making S-MAX Hybrid a viable alternative to Ford’s EcoBlue diesel powertrains.
Each S-MAX Hybrid occupant can also enjoy connectivity on the move via the standard FordPass Connect modem that provides WiFi for up to 10 devices, and allows drivers to plan journeys with Live Traffic updates for the navigation system.
In addition, FordPass Connect enables remote features including Door Lock Unlock, Vehicle Status and Vehicle Locator via the FordPass mobile app, as well as Ford’s sophisticated Local Hazard Information. The technology can inform drivers of a hazardous situation on the road ahead, even if the incident is not visible due to a bend in the road or other vehicles.
Says Roelant de Waard, Ford’s European Passenger Vehicle general manager:
“S-MAX is the original sports activity vehicle, and now brings even more appeal for a new generation of customers with pure-electric driving capability for the first time.”
“From a sporty, car-like driving experience to seats that fold flat at the push of a button, innovations that fit perfectly into family life have always been a big part of the S-MAX appeal. That makes the efficient and refined new hybrid powertrain a natural addition to the line-up.”
Ford is also offering for the first time a full hybrid variant of the Galaxy seven-seat people mover. The new Galaxy Hybrid utilises the same petrol-electric powertrain as S‑MAX Hybrid for diesel-rivalling fuel efficiency and optimised driving refinement.
Like the S-MAX Hybrid, the spacious Galaxy Hybrid continues to offer the full practicality of the rest of the Galaxy line-up, including more than one metre of headroom for first and second-row passengers. S-MAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid and their lithium-ion battery packs are assembled at the company’s manufacturing facility in Valencia, Spain.
