FORD'S top selling vehicle range secured almost 17 per cent of the UK's total 2009 market for the blue oval, making one in six new vehicles a Ford.
This figure is within two per cent of its 2008 total and with rising confidence in the future Ford has announced that its popular S-MAX and Galaxy ranges have been upgraded and they will be on sale within weeks.
The 2010 S-MAX and Galaxy are the first cars to be available with Ford's all-new, high efficiency, 2.0-litre 203 bhp EcoBoost petrol engine. This joins new 115bhp and 163bhp 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, with a new 140bhp version arriving in the UK later.
Additionally, the latest Ford PowerShift double wet-clutch transmission system is available for the first time on Ford's large car range; it will be standard equipment with the EcoBoost petrol engine and optional with the 2.0 140bhp and 2.0 163bhp diesel.
Outwardly the new S-MAX includes a strongly sculptured bonnet and all-new front facia. Also new are the front grille and a lower front bumper which includes LED daytime running lights on high series models.
New Galaxy also features a re-designed front section, grille, new-look fog lights and chrome insets.
The new S-MAX and Galaxy are Ford of Europe's first vehicles to feature the new Blind Spot Information System. This radar-based technology warns drivers of vehicles in their blind spot area.
Prices are expected to start at around £18,500 for the S-MAX and £23,800 for the new Galaxy.
For 2010, Ford has also introduced the Focus ECOnetic, and its new technology includes the first production application of the Ford Auto-Start-Stop system which helps the popular Focus to achieve 74.2mpg on a combined run and its low CO2 emissions, at just 99g/km, means it attracts no road tax.