Car Reviews

Ford is well on track to claiming the top spot in Ireland’s important MPV people carrier segment for 2007. Ford’s two models in the large MPV segment: the S-MAX and Galaxy have accounted for 52 percent of sales in this segment this year.

Eddie Murphy, Chairman and MD of Ford Ireland, said: “Irish motorists have really taken to our new S-MAX and Galaxy. Sales of these models have more than doubled in 2007 and I really see it as vindication of Ford’s twin-track strategy of providing a choice for families who are looking for versatility in this segment.”

“The Galaxy provides the capability of a full-size 7-seater executive MPV while S-MAX is aimed at the family motorist who wishes to enjoy the style and fun of a “driver’s car” while retaining the practicality of a 5 or 7 seater people carrier. Clearly, this strategy has worked within the Irish context as the 2007 sales figures show”.

So far for 2007, the Galaxy has sold 1,011 units while the S-MAX has sold 965 units. The inclusion of the key safety feature, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), as standard for both of these models during 2007 has helped to increase their popularity with Irish motorists.

The provision of ESP as standard on these models makes them unique in this segment and it is part of Ford’s policy of including this safety feature as standard across its range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

The S-MAX and Galaxy range will also benefit from the addition of Flexifuel (FFV) versions of both models early in 2008. Ford’s Flexifuel vehicles can run on any mix of bio-ethanol or unleaded petrol and can provide a reduction in the CO2 fuelling footprint of up to 80 percent when compared with conventional cars.