Ford has announced that its SAV concept vehicle, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, will soon go into production.

The production version of the SAV Concept will become a new model in the Ford range, positioned between the Ford Mondeo and the Ford Galaxy MPV. It will be built at Ford's plant in Genk, Belgium.

The final name of the production model and full technical details will be revealed closer to its launch, in summer 2006.

"The media and public reaction to the Ford SAV concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show was outstanding, and it supported our decision to put a version of this vehicle into production," says Paul Thomas, managing director, Ford of Britain.

Ford said the production version would retain most of the design themes featured on the concept vehicle. It will offer two or three flexible seat rows providing up to seven seats.

The Ford SAV concept