FORD has released the first images of its new Galaxy people mover which will be on sale later in the year.

The new seven-seater will be built alongside its S-MAX sister model at Ford's factory in Valencia, Spain where the company also makes the latest Mondeo.

Styled in a similar vein to the new S-MAX, the latest Galaxy is slightly larger and introduces a quick release system for the rear seats which Ford claims is a first in the MPV market.

Not only can the seats be folded flat at the touch of a button but they can also be returned to an upright position in a similar fashion.

The new Galaxy will be powered by a variety of engines including Ford's new bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel and a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which develops 160ps.

Like the S-MAX the fourth generation Galaxy will be fitted with Ford's new 'intelligent' speed limiter which can be set to adjust the vehicle's speed automatically.

Other systems deployed on the new Galaxy include anti-glare LED headlights, automatic parking, a hands-free tailgate and Ford's SYNC 2 connectivity technology with its emergency assistance function.

Ford showed the all-new Galaxy for the first time on the back of a moving trailer in an online stunt featuring illusionist Darcy Oake which can be seen at http://bit.ly/GalaxyIllusion

Prices for the new model have still to be announced but are expected to start from around £25,000 when the car hits the market in the summer.