When it came to signing a check with several zeros for the purchase of a new car, fans of large cars had the habit of turning to luxurious German brands .... And it is precisely to try to stop this phenomenon, and meet a premium demand of its customers, that the American manufacturer Ford launched more than a year ago now, to the assault of the automobile market. range through a new label named Vignale. Finally, a little like Citroën with DS, a few details.

Ford's Vignale label, what is it?

Behind the name of this luxury signature is actually that of a well-known Italian automotive designer, Alfredo Vignale . Through this name that has marked a whole generation of car lovers, Ford marks its rise in range: Vignale brand by Ford, available on some models of the brand, offers premium finishes outside. as on the cars concerned (leather and chrome, massage seats, parking assistance, recognition of traffic signs, wide angle front and rear cameras, among others). But beyond a body with a well thought-out design and a multi-options interior, Vignale customers also purchase a top-of-the-range service: home delivery, unique "OneCall" number available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 7 if needed, a monthly exterior wash in the FordStore of his choice and a subscription to the Ford Vignale quarterly magazine.

Other premium services may be purchased in addition, such as the "Service Jockey" which allows you to carry out the revision of the vehicle without having to move because it is directly supported and returned home or office.

For the moment, the Mondeo sedan and the Galaxy and S-MAX minivans are available in the Vignale brand. The SUV of the brand, the Kuga, should soon be too.

We tested the minivan S-MAX Vignale

Side comfort and security, nothing to complain about. We are here in the very high-end automobile.

- The front seats are massaging and heated, as the steering wheel ... convenient to warm your hands in 2 minutes top time in winter!

- A lot of settings are directly available from the voice command system, just activate the button on the steering wheel and then you can dictate the address to enter the GPS, to be dictated the last messages received if you plug in your mobile phone or raise the temperature in the cabin of the simple sound of his voice.

- Even better than the rear view camera, the wide angle camera located at the front of the vehicle. It can be switched on when you are at a stop, a red light or a stop, where visibility is reduced. Ideal for countering blind spots.

- Noise pads are arranged at the front and back. Result: the car is pleasantly quiet, cut off from all the outside noise and especially that of the engine.

- Big heart for the automatic recognition of signs. No need to wonder how much speed is limited, the computer system of this smart car tells us live: the limitations are displayed on the dashboard. Same if you do not respect the safety distances: a red light indicates if you are too close to the car in front. We certainly feel a little assisted, but at least we are safe.

- Well seen also, the car that stands up alone when you tend to turn the steering wheel a little too much right or left and out of its driving axis.

Outside, too, we are far from minivan in the early 2000s, looking mastoc and a little old. The design of the Ford S-MAX , designed in length, gives it a sporty appearance. It is extremely easy and fun to drive. A little less on the other hand when it comes to parking in the city ...

The Ford S-MAX Vignale is available in its high-end version from € 45,700.