Ford plans to introduce its best-selling MPVs with a new powertrain

Ford plans to give their best-selling MPVs - Galaxy and S-Max, a complete refresh and introduce them with a hybrid powertrain. The company invests an amount of $ 47,690,000 for a production facility in Valencia, Spain.  

The investment amount will allow the creation of two separate assembly lines for the creation of batteries needed to power the S-Max and Galaxy hybrids. The cells are planned for production in September 2020. 

The advancement of Ford towards a hybrid MPV will serve as an alternative to their diesel-powered engines. Additionally, the automaker plans to introduce 14 electrified vehicles in Europe by the end of 2020, and their new investment might speed up their advancement towards their objective. 

The present generation of the Ford Galaxy is powered by a 2.0-L diesel engine that is offered in three trims. The base trim generates an output of 148 hp, and the top trim offers a maximum speed of 237 hp. While the base models get a six-speed manual transmission, an eight-speed automatic transmission is available in higher trims.

Additionally, the present generation of the S-Max is powered by a 2.0-L EcoBlue diesel engine offered in two outputs, generating maximum powers of 148 hp and 188 hp respectively.  

When asked about their future plans with such an investment, the president of Ford Europe commented, “With electrification fast becoming the mainstream, we are increasing our investment in Valencia to provide even more electrified models and powertrain options for our customers,” he also added. “By making it easier than ever to transition into an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.”

Lastly, for the future offering, both the Galaxy and S-Max hybrids are said to be powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine, electric motor, generator, and a lithium-ion battery.

Also read: Upcoming Ford Focus RS may get a hybrid engine