Hybrid S-MAX is on the charge

The car will be the first European Ford to feature hybrid technology. Our spies caught the seven-seater MPV undergoing road trials. In the middle row of chairs is an engineer with a laptop, while directly below him is the nickel metal hydride battery pack, which provides the power for the petrol/electric drivetrain.

The S-MAX will be a full hybrid, running on electricity alone at low speeds. It will also have a regenerative braking system to keep the cells topped up. A launch date has yet to be revealed.