• Ford for the first time offers the all-new Ford Galaxy people mover with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, delivering enhanced traction and road-holding

• Intelligent All-Wheel Drive continually measures how the car’s wheels are gripping and calculates in an instant when and where to deliver engine torque

• Ford is expanding the number of vehicles that offer Intelligent All-Wheel Drive – including the Kuga SUV, the all-new Mondeo, S-MAX, and upscale Edge SUV later this year

• Galaxy available to order now in Ambiente, Trend and Titanium series

• Seven-seater people mover offers luxurious and safe travel with practical innovations, class-leading refinement, and advanced driver assistance technologies

Cologne, Germany, April 29, 2015 – Ford Motor Company today announced that for the first time the all-new Galaxy will be available with all-wheel drive.

Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system delivers enhanced traction and road-holding with a seamless transition between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive performance to provide a more secure footing on the road especially in slippery conditions.

Measuring how the car’s wheels are gripping the road surface every 16 milliseconds – twenty times quicker than it takes to blink – the system can send up to 100 per cent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels, and make required adjustments in just 100 milliseconds. By only delivering torque where and when it is needed, Intelligent AWD has minimal impact on fuel-efficiency and CO2 emissions compared with permanent four-wheel drive systems.

“Families across Europe have grown up with the Galaxy. Customers are reassured by its ability to carry seven in first-class comfort and safety, and to constantly surprise with its unmatched versatility,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “The all-new Galaxy now delivers even more assurance with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, actively optimising traction for even smoother and more refined journeys.”

The technologically advanced Galaxy seven-seat people mover was “revealed” for the first time in April earlier this year – on the back of a moving trailer – through an incredible stunt performed with the help of illusionist Darcy Oake

Ford is expanding the number of vehicles that offer Intelligent AWD, which launched in Europe with the Kuga SUV, is also available on the all-new Mondeo and S-MAX, and will be offered on the upscale Edge SUV later this year.

More grip on demand
The all-new Galaxy’s Intelligent AWD is always on. The primary goal of Intelligent AWD at low speeds is to improve traction. If, for example, the front of the vehicle is on ice and the rear is not, the all-wheel-drive system can send all the torque the powertrain can produce to the rear, putting power where the driver needs it.

At speeds above 30 km/h (18 mph) Intelligent AWD is tuned to improve driving feel, handling and responses using information from body control, braking, gearbox and the Electronic Power Assisted Steering. By sending torque to the rear wheels when cornering at speed the system can help reduce understeer – those situations when a vehicle’s momentum causes it to continue straight instead of following the driver’s intended path.

“Intelligent AWD activates when it is needed, so it can help Galaxy drivers find grip in wintery conditions and enhance the signature car-like driving dynamics with minimal impact on fuel-efficiency and without affecting refinement. With Intelligent AWD, Galaxy drivers also can tow up to 2,000 kilograms,” said Ulrich Koesters, vehicle line director, Ford of Europe

The all-new Galaxy offers Intelligent AWD with the 150 PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission, and with the 180 PS 2.0-litre TDCi engine and six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. Galaxy also can be equipped with a 120 PS version of the 2.0-litre TDCi engine, and Ford’s new 210 PS 2.0-litre TDCi Bi-turbo diesel engine that offers enhanced responsiveness and 450 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm.

Petrol engine options include Ford’s new fuel-efficient 160 PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost and 240 PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost, and the entire Galaxy engine range meets Euro Stage VI emissions standards with CO2 emissions from 129 g/km* supported by Smart Regenerative Charging, Auto-Start-Stop and Active Grille Shutter technologies.

First-class travel
Ford also today announced the all-new Galaxy is available to order now in Ambiente, Trend and Titanium series. Featuring the company’s latest global design language with a sophisticated grille and slim-line headlamps, the all-new Galaxy offers seven full-size seats, with practical innovations, class-leading refinement, and advanced driver assistance technologies.

Families can easily switch between seating and load space with a segment-first feature that raises third-row seats at the push of a button. Comfort is enhanced for front seat passengers with massaging Ford Multi-Contour Seats; and for rear seat passengers with integral link rear suspension that offers a smoother, quieter ride and more space. Second- and third-row passengers benefit from up to 10 mm more headroom than in the outgoing Galaxy and the third‑row seats offer up to 40 mm more headroom than key competitors.

The all-new Galaxy also supports drivers in town and on the highway with advanced technologies including:

• Intelligent Speed Limiter, which when activated scans traffic signs and adjusts the throttle to help drivers stay within legal speed limits and avoid fines
• Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, which will reduce the severity of some frontal collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians, or help drivers avoid some impacts altogether
• Glare-Free Highbeam technology for the adaptive LED headlamps, which detects vehicles ahead and fades out light that could dazzle oncoming drivers, while retaining maximum illumination for other areas
• Front Split View Camera, which enhances the driver’s field of vision when pulling out of a parking space or junction with a 180 degree camera system installed at the front of the Galaxydisplays the image on the 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen in the centre console

Galaxy takes the nameplate’s signature car-like driving dynamics to a new level with Ford Adaptive Steering technology, which adjusts steering ratio according to speed to optimise manoeuvrability and precision.

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* The declared fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Results in MPG also correspond to this European drive cycle and are stated in imperial gallons. The results may differ from fuel economy figures in other regions of the world due to the different drive cycles and regulations used in those markets.