The chassis tune of the US and European versions is said to be ‘surprisingly close’, the minor differences explained by the requirement for the US version to ride on all-season tyres, whereas European cars ride largely on summer tyres.
Also significant is the new Mondeo’s styling which features an aggressively raked rear screen that gives a fastback look to the family hatch. Although US and mainland European markets will get a four-door saloon bodystyle, British buyers will be limited to the five-door and estate.
The styling is the work of Briton Chris Hamilton, who designed the Fusion/Mondeo in the US, but has recently returned to Europe to support the launch here. His design is bold, centred on a dominant chrome grille with a flavour of Aston Martin’s shape and body sculpting, and detailing inspired by the Evos concept shown at Frankfurt last year. However, a question that’s yet to be answered is how well the Fusion’s US-influenced design will transfer to Europe.
Hamilton’s design is said to incorporate significant engineering changes to the carry-over platform, like a lower seating position to accommodate the rakish roofline, a lower boot floor to guarantee adequate luggage capacity and narrower A-pillars to improve forward visibility. Clever interior design includes a sculpted rooflining in the rear cabin to create sufficient headroom under the sloping rear screen.
The new Mondeo also looks to feature a higher-quality instrument panel accented with generous metallic highlights complimented by a driver-focused instrument pack centred on twin-dials and a large central infotainment readout. But it’ll be interesting to see how European drivers respond to the moulded-in switchgear on the central console, which experience suggests won’t have the same tactile appeal as the more conventional controls used by rivals.
As part of the drive to high tech in Mondeo, it features no less than 148 actuators and 86 sensors, according to says global product development boss Raj Nair. More than 10,000 voice commands are available with Ford Sync and MyFord Touch, which will appear here first in the Focus Electric.
Ford believes it can achieve 15 per cent growth in D segment with the new Mondeo. Ford says the shrinking market has levelled off. Style is is the number reason to buy in the segment, and Ford says the strength of Mondeo design will help. Global design boss J Mays says impressive equipment levels and a high standard of finish, makes it "premium yet affordable".
There is still plenty of time for Ford to fine tune its large family car for Europe – there are 14 months to go to launch for the five door, while the estate is unlikely to arrive before January 2014.
Given this long lead time, Ford is keeping further powertrain details close to its chest, although it is reasonable to assume the bulk of sales will be centred on the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel and a new 1.5 TDCi, which is gradually replacing the 1.4 and 1.6. Petrols will be 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Ecoboosts; the most powerful 2.0 pushing out 240bhp. The bigger capacity 2.5-litre four fitted to the US Fusion won’t be heading to Europe.
Also coming is a plug-in hybrid, badged Energi, and powered by a lithium-ion battery pack and 185bhp Atkinson cycle 2.0-litre petrol engine and tipped for launch in 2014/15.
A six-speed manual will be the most common transmission, with a six-speed dual-clutch Powershift on the option list. The conventional, torque-convertor auto popular in the US won’t come to Europe.
Join the debate
artill
The front works better here
The front works better here than on the Fiesta. The Hatch rear isnt as good as the Saloon sadly though. Maybe the Estate will be the best looking, just like the current car.
As for the mechanical side, even with 120 bhp, the 1.0 triple is too small.
Will we be able to buy a driver focused version? Currently the largest petrol/manual combination is the 160bhp 1.6. not nearly enough for a car this size.
I am not sure what the point of showing now is though, if we have another 14 months to wait. it will seem like an old car before they even hit the road by then.
jamesf1
artill wrote: Currently the
Have you driven one? I havent to be honest, but currently drive the 2.0 petrol\Manual and its no rocketship (its our main family motor, it doesnt need to be) day to day its perfectly drivable. The 1.6 ecobbost extra bhp/torque compared to the 2.0 NA would make that car a good driveI should think. There is more to driver focus than 0-60. Ride and handling is more important IMHO which the current car does very well, and makes the mondeo more driver foucused in general than its rivals. It is a bit disappointing that the 2.0 ecoboosts only come with a dual clutch with no manual though - hopefully offered with manual on the next one.
artill
jamesf1 wrote: artill
I havent driven one, i dont really see the point whist they only come in low powered or auto form. But the last car of this type i bought was a 406 V6 manual. It was fine with just under 200 bhp, but the current Mondeo is much bigger, so losing 20% of the power whilst gaining weight is hardly going to help. Now i am realistic, the days of cars like this with V6's have gone but i agree the 2.0 turbo should come with a manual option.
I would like to see the saloon available here too. i know most will choose the hatch or estate, but i am sure they all come down the same line so making RHD saloons shouldnt cause any issues
hardshoulder
Power isn't everything
I would've thought torque would be more important on a car like this. Obviously the 1.0 turbo won't be sufficient for those used to 2.0plus petrol engines, but compared to the current entry level car which is a 120ish BHP 1.6n/a petrol the extra torque at low revs of the 1.0 ecoboost has got to be an improvement.
Geetee40
Depends where you live
Go search in Europe, I think you will find you can get the 240PS with a manual, just not here in the UK unfortunately
Citytiger
I dont think this will be good enough
The ride handling qualities are said to be similar to the US version, we have a masssive difference in how we expect a car to handle compared to the US, with another year to wait the design will be looking in need of a facelift befroe release, it looks like an electric handbrake will be standard, and they have nicked Volvos floating centre console.
Peter Cavellini
Looks?
Have nothing to do with it, it's the tech under the bonnet,as engine tech improves, smaller and smaller capacities will come, must be a good thing, lighter cars, better economy,ultra low Co2,what bothers most is, a large car with a tiny engine, but this is what's going to happen,do you know what a litre carton of Milk looks like?...well that's the capacity of this engine,ands it produces all that power....amazing!
jer
Ford
Looking forward to reading the interview in AutoCar this week with Roger Mulally. The sales numbers say it all. There is no way you can justify a Europe version. Its not a world car but a car for the US also sold in Europe. Unless there is enough scope to adapt the chassis, styling and interior spec to reflect higher Europe prices I don't see this will work. The styling is not pretty like a Mazda 6 the front is comically Aston. I wonder if they will sell an engine transmission combo I would consider i.e. 250ps with Powershift.
artill
jer wrote: I wonder if they
Well the 1.0 is half way there. All they need is to stick 2 together and we would have a fabulous 6 pot, 2 litres, 250 bhp. (I will have mine with a manual though)
Orangewheels
We were sceptical when large
We were sceptical when large cars stuck a 1.6 litre diesel engine in them, so I'm sure we will get used to this.
Buyers seem to have been taken with the 1.0 litre ecoboost in the Focus, although the 1.2 TSI engine in the VW Golf has been completely ignored.
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