Ford has announced that it will unveil a five-passenger version of its 2007 European Car of the Year — the Ford S-Max — at this month’s Beijing Motor Show. Dubbed the Ford S-Max Trend, the people mover will lose its third row seating to expand cargo room and lower the MPV’s overall price.
“The S-MAX is spacious, safe and convenient but not everyone needs seven seats,” Nigel Harris, General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company, told WorldCarFans. “Introducing a five-seat variant to the S-MAX range makes perfect sense and illustrates Ford’s ability to provide Chinese customers with cars and features they want.”
The S-Max Trend will offer buyers an extra 6.5 cubic feet of cargo space, compared to the seven passenger version. Power for the S-Max Trend will be sourced from Ford’s 2.3L four-cylinder, producing 157 horsepower and 151 lb-ft or torque.
04/11, 10:23 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
So I was right about the 30 year car loan in China.
04/11, 10:29 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
“… and illustrates Ford’s ability to provide Chinese customers with cars and features they want.”
.
Now all Ford needs to do is try hard and develop the ability to provide American customers with cars and features they want.
04/11, 10:30 AM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
THe S-Max would easily sell 250,000 copies a year here in the US, but it has to be great in functionality not the sad cases Ford has churned out here in the past. Good going Ford. You can bring it here too!
04/11, 10:32 AM
posted by:
LaCaLover
It doesn’t come with a solid axle and leaf springs so it will be too sophisticated and expensive for American consumers
04/11, 10:33 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
This would make a great Mercury
04/11, 10:38 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
In China it makes more sense to have fewer seats and more cargo area to fold and cram all the workers into the rear hatch en route to the next work site.
04/11, 10:50 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Deanster, you mean like in this video? …
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8371471915481077005&q=beaners&total=4148&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2&hl=en
04/11, 10:53 AM
posted by:
04focus
Taurus: Good luck selling a 7-passenger van packing the Duratec 23 here in the US. See that flop of a Mazda5 languishing in Hertz lots?
04/11, 10:57 AM
posted by:
LaCaLover
mayer_ray_nagin the ugly jew in the video was obnoxious and it wasn’t funny
04/11, 11:05 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
^ Exactly, and Dickstertugjob you better learn to speak “beaner” too.
04/11, 11:10 AM
posted by:
livelyjay
The reason why the Mazda5 doesn’t sell well here is because it gets horrendous gas mileage for its size. People are better off buying a Vibe or Matrix if they only need to seat 5, or a mini van if they need to seat 7. If you’re looking to seat 7, you don’t want the Mazda5 any ways because not a single person would be comfortable. The Mazda5 will continue to be a flop until they get some better gas mileage out of it, otherwise people will just go buy real mini vans.
04/11, 11:23 AM
posted by:
Commodore
Yes it would 1115
04/11, 12:18 PM
posted by:
ktulu
will this com e to america?
tyhe mazda5 seats 6
the rondo seats 7.
americans don’t like sma;ll mpvs
04/11, 12:20 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Right behind the Nissan Quest, the Mazda 5 gets my vote as one of the ugliest things on wheels. This Ford looks equally as butt ugly. Either way you might as well get a Sharpie and draw a big ‘L’ on your forehead. No, I take that back, if you’re caught behind the wheel others will know that’s pretty much a given.
04/11, 1:06 PM
posted by:
sharpie
The Mazda5 gets 22/28 on the paper. That doesn’t seem too bad considering the most fuel efficient Chrysler Town & Country gets 17/24, Toyota Sienna gets 19/26 and Honda Odyssey gets 17/25. The big difference of course is that the Mazda5 comes with a 4-cyl, the mini-vans have V6s.
I do believe the mileage is not as horrible as it sounds. The Toyota Matrix gets 20/26 with the bigger 2.4L (the Mazda comes with a 2.3L so a comparison with he 2.4L is more appropriate than with the 1.8L). So it has done what it intends to do, which is to give a third row option for people who doesn’t want to drive a mini-van. The mileage are all 2008 estimates. Sharing a platform with the Mazda3, you KNOW the Mazda5 is fun to drive and has good handling.
I agree with ktulu. America has not warmed up to the MPV / Space-wagon segment yet. Like the Mitsubishi Expo / Eagle Summit LRV / Dodge Colt Vista, it is still a little ahead of its time. The S-Max looks better than the Mazda5, and I do not like the tail lights on the Mazda5 so it does need a nip and tuck on the rear-end.
04/11, 6:20 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
I would recommend the mazda5
04/11, 9:58 PM
posted by:
autonut
sharpie, 1998 Odyssey was 6-7 passenger 3400 lbs CAR (with 4 doors ans windows) powered by 2.3L 150 HP engine. It gave me about 23 mpg city and 28 hwy (mostly loaded with family and crap). It was a relative failure for Honda – I could buy it at dealers’ cost and lot was full of them. Gas was $1/gallon. All small cars you’ve mentioned were not selling well, cause you could get a bigger “stuff” and people mover and gas was cheap. Today good old Odyssey would sell better then new models. S-Max would do great as a wagon. I like the look, although it appears like Suzuki’s front end attached to Toyota Versa.
04/12, 11:42 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
400horse****ssucked: “^ Exactly, and Dickstertugjob you better learn to speak “beaner” too.”
Come again fag? I don’t understand trailer trash, could you clarify?
04/12, 11:45 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Oh ****, I just saw the video!
Well 400SS, better learn Spanish, because it sounds like your country is getting overrun by Mexicans! LOL!!! In 10 years your kids will be reporting to their Mexican bosses when the lazy white trailer trash contingent like yourself ends up in the lowest station in life!
04/12, 1:56 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
^^ DeansterTJ, you’re waaaayy off about 400SS. It’s soooo funny that u think u know what does 400SS looks like in person and that you’re totally the opposite. You’ve just made yourself look like a fool.
This name callin’ and **** are the dumbest thing on this site. It’s a car site. If you wanna bash somebody, go on an another site and let it all out. Jesus Christ!!!
04/12, 3:02 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
It would have been funnier had the guy not been laughing all the way through
04/17, 9:46 PM
posted by:
bigp
when can we buy this in the states.