Filed under: Minivans/MPVs
Ford dubs SAV the S-Max in Europe
Ford of Europe has announced that it will
call the production version of the SAV concept (shown) the
S-Max. This naming convention follows in the footsteps of Ford’s C-Max, which itself was a concept way back in
2002 before it entered production for the 2004 model year.Ford considers the S-Max the first production vehicle to showcase elements of the company’s “kinetic” design language introduced on the Iosis concept in Frankfurt last year. It will be positioned between the Mondeo Wagon and seven-seat Galaxy and be built alongside them at Ford’s plant in Genk, Belgium.
The S-Max can be purchased with either two or three rows of seating, which allows for 5- or 7-passenger seating, respectively. Pricing of the S-Max will be announced sometime when the vehicle goes on sale in the middle of this year.
[Source: Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
emulous1974 2:21PM (1/10/2006)
Yet another vehicle that Ford of Europe has that we should get in the United States. I still fail to understand why Ford doesn't think the U.S. wants these types of vehicles over here. I think it would turn them around and they might start selling a lot more vehicles that people desire, rather than buy just because the price is right. Bring the S-max and the euro Focus to the U.S. and I bet you'd see a whole new interest in Ford.
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Matt 2:51PM (1/10/2006)
I agree with the other comment. The American auto producers build some stunning cars for the Euro market but they never make their way to the streets of America. I always like to buy American but sometimes the problems at Ford and GM are of their own ignorant doing. Domestically American auto manufactures as well as other US producers are short sighted when it comes to making money in the US market. It seems that American industry is almost sadomastic when it comes to America and the American worker. Oooh GM and Ford it must hurt so good to see Toyota whipping your butt!
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shirley 3:54PM (1/10/2006)
Oh boy, another ugly minivan on the road. Get over it... IT'S A M-I-N-I-V-A-N!
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Yaroukh 4:31PM (1/10/2006)
emulous1974: it's been said many times: the resulting prices (when bringing european Fords to US) would be probably unacceptable for common US customer (not from my head)
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JD 6:26PM (1/10/2006)
I keep saying it, I'm sick of seeing cars that GM and Ford are selling overseas. I would buy this! I'm 40 with a family and 75lb Shepherd.
I don't like to say it this way but GM and Ford are making vehicles for people that are dead!
If it's not your Dad's Oldsmoblie, which was 10 years ago. Well Oldsmoblie is DEAD and so are most of the people born in the 20's and 30's. Or their not driving any longer.
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mark 7:57PM (1/10/2006)
It's amazing that Ford is trying to turn the company
around, and then they continue to NOT bring the stuff that WOULD sell here.. Um, does Ford want to go out of business? Because they will if they continue to deny this stuff here.. No wonder the imports are doing better..
Here's a novel idea.. The imports
ARE LISTENING TO WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT TO BUY! no wonder they're doing better in sales. wow.. what a concept! The american companies amaze me in how they continue to make bad decisions over and over.. And they actually paid for that so-called ivy-league education? I'd ask for a refund!
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emulous1974 10:01PM (1/10/2006)
#3, if they build it here or Mexico, they would be able to sell it at a reasonable price and actually make money off it, IMO.
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DCX85 12:51AM (1/11/2006)
I would get this its nice it may be a minivan but i never saw anything wrong with a minivan. Vans are a good thing for many people. those who don't like a ugly but well engineered car care to much of what others think I don't I even like the aztek for its function not its looks but this is curvy and pretty boss looking wouldn't mind me a S-Max as all. Bring it here FORD!
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Jim 6:00AM (1/11/2006)
In regards to post #3 about euro style cars being too expensive if brought to the states, I must disagree. Look at the most similar vehicle now available, the Mazda5.
The Mazda5 Sport lists in the USA for $17,435 with a 2.3L and manual trans. The sport model in Germany list for 19,600 Euros, which is $23,500. In the UK (with a 2.0L engine), it lists for 16,300 Pounds, which is $28,500.
Obviously the price of the car has a lot more to do with things other than the actual cost of building it. Cost of doing business in Europe is much higher in taxes, etc.. So I'm sure it could be sold in the US for a reasonable price.
Anyone know how Mazda is doing in selling the Mazda5? I'm certainly considering one for my next car.
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WillDaThrill 5:05PM (1/11/2006)
And they wonder why we buy the forgein cars more than the American. You send most of the good stuff to the forgeiners, especially Ford. Guess we'll change our slogan to "Buy Forgein" because "Buy American" seems to just be a slogan to keep the UAW commies fat and lazy and happy.
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Jason 6:57PM (1/11/2006)
Evidently kinetic design language" means the same thing as "we stole the look from the Subaru Tribeca."
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Paul Hallett 10:22AM (3/09/2006)
Not sure about the tribeca comment; far prettier.
It is quite strange that the Americans want this; we've not known Americans like anything other than the barges they've been producing for years; this is defnitely a Ford Europe offering and is just not suited to that market; it would have to be softened up completely to get into that market and then it's raison d'etre is lost.
No, keep selling the Americans the 5.
Don't like the Mazda 5 personally, so will be looking at one of these with a smoking 220ps Volvo 5 pot from the ST; apparently Ford Europe have a blue flag chip which ups power to 345ps. Now that will impress the dog down those country lanes round here...
Have family and all the accompanying bits.
Want one
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