It's the new Ford S-Max!

This is the new Ford S-Max. Okay, so a sensible people carrier perhaps isn't the Monday morning perk-up you were hoping for, but as family buses go, the S-Max has always been a bit of a winner.

Which probably explains why Ford hasn't messed with it too much. It's the same size as before, and the overall silhouette is nigh on identical to the car it replaces; the shapes are broadly similar, the detailing a bit classier. Note the slightly slimmer window line and subtler wheel arches.

It's a similar vibe up front, with Ford's signature grille treatment (it's not like an Aston Martin at all, oh no), more intricate headlights, and the absence of the distinctive spotlights of the old car. At the rear, there looks to be a more steeply raked tailgate, a move to boost rear luggage space, no doubt.

Essentially the production version of the posh S-Max Vignale concept, it's a smart looking thing - certainly in the MPV segment - but has it lost a bit of its design mojo? Or has the pleasant surprise of the S-Max making kiddie-carrying less staid simply worn off a bit? Tell us your thoughts below.

Inside, it follows Ford's current philosophy of shoehorning in lots of tech. The second and third rows of seats (the S-Max can cram in seven, remember) can fold electronically, while there are side airbags for rear passengers and Ford's gamut of safety tech is available, too. As seen on the new Focus, there's a plethora of options from lane-keeping assist and crash-avoidance warnings to self-parking. Though the thought of a row of these simultaneously swinging themselves into bays outside the school gates is faintly terrifying...

More luxury-minded options include a hands-free tailgate (like on the Kuga, you wiggle your foot underneath the rear bumper to open it when your hands are full) plus heated, cooled, massaging seats.

The reason we like the outgoing S-Max so much isn't its mass seating, though; it's that for a big, sensible car, it's damn good to drive. Ford won't be willing to drop the ball on that front, we'd wager, though talk of an optional adaptive steering system has us suspicious. It will no doubt make the car more manoeuvrable at low speed, but we've not driven many of those systems that provide satisfaction at speed.

Engines are yet to be confirmed, but as well as big-selling 2-litre diesel options we can expect the new 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol - available with 180bhp - to make an appearance. We've also got our fingers crossed for a version of the 247bhp 2-litre engine from the Focus ST to create a brisk Q-car. A four-wheel-drive system will be optional on the more powerful diesel variants.

Let's hope it's as good as it sounds...