Ford S-Max: sporty face, seven seats - On the road

The engine line-up takes the S-Max into a niche not covered by the Galaxy. At the top of the range, there's a five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged engine from Volvo, developing 215bhp and 240lb ft of pull – that's as much as the most powerful diesel, and at similar revs.

Got the feeling you've seen it before in a Ford? You have – it's the engine used in the Focus ST, which means Ford is getting ready to steal the Vauxhall Zafira VXR's thunder.

At the other end of the scale, you will be able to get 123bhp 1.8-litre and 137bhp 2.0-litre diesels, as well as a 142bhp 2.0-litre petrol. A six-speed gearbox is fitted to all but the 2.0-litre petrol engine.

The suspension has been fine-tuned to give the S-Max a crisper drive than the Galaxy, and there'll be a sports option which will almost certainly include lowered suspension and bigger wheels and tyres.