Ford's Mondeo Gets A Make-Over

[russellw]

• Enhanced exterior and interior styling
• New driver safety technologies and equipment
• Petrol and turbo-diesel engines available; Powershift® six-speed dual-clutch automatic available with diesel power

Ford today announced its award-winning Mondeo will arrive in Australia later this year with a number of enhancements.

These product enrichments will bolster the critically acclaimed Mondeo, a model range renowned for its blend of styling, comfort, ride and performance. New, state-of-the-art safety features head the list of changes, along with new standard equipment and enhancements to exterior and interior styling.

"I am delighted to announce these enhancements for the popular Mondeo," said Marin Burela, Ford Australia President and CEO.

"The Ford Mondeo is already an excellent example of balancing the right mix of equipment and technology with the right price in a car that is beautifully designed and packaged. These generous additions simply build on this winning formula.

"Despite its ongoing sales growth now is the right time to make it an even more compelling choice for new-car buyers," he said.

New driver safety features
Underlining Mondeo's reputation for class-leading technologies will be the addition of several new safety-related functions, many of which can usually only be found in far more expensive European automotive brands.

These new features are:

- For Mondeo Titanium TDCi

• Driver Alert – on-board driver drowsiness detection system which calculates specific driving parameters to monitor driver vigilance and alertness.
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW) – a camera-based system which monitors the road ahead and warns the driver if their car unintentionally wanders out of its road lane.
• Adjustable Speed Limiting Device (ASLD) – this simple switch mounted on the indicator stalk allows the driver to set the car's maximum speed when driving.
• Automatic High Beam headlights – this system constantly assesses the ambient light ahead of the vehicle and automatically adjusts the headlights from main- to high-beam when conditions become dark enough. Conversely, when lights from an oncoming car are detected, the system automatically switches back from high- to main-beam.

- For Mondeo Titanium and Titanium TDCi

• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) – detects vehicles travelling in the driver's visual blind spots. This system uses two bumper-mounted radars to detect vehicles in these locations and alerts the driver with a warning light in the corresponding rear-vision mirror.
• LED Day Time Running Lights (LED DTRL) – a first for this segment (according to VFACTS Medium <$60K) these two striking arrays of LEDs (Light-emitting Diodes) are fitted to the front of the car; not only do they add an impressive visual touch to its looks they enhance the car's visibility to other road users.

These features join Mondeo's already-impressive standard five-star ANCAP safety arsenal which includes seven airbags (including side curtain airbags and a driver's kneebag), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).

Sharper style and new equipment
Mondeo's sleek form has been sharpened by Ford's skilled design team. Its new style further emphasises Ford's Kinetic styling philosophy, a design language which conveys ‘energy in motion’ through athletic stance and muscular surfacing. The resulting changes are subtle and add more appeal to Mondeo's good looks.

Joining these exterior enhancements will be revisions to Mondeo's already-rich standard equipment. These are listed below.

- All models – New Features

• New bonnet design
• New upper and lower front grilles
• New front and rear bumper bars
• Revised tail-lights
• Mirror-integrated indicators
• New front fender bezel
• New tailgate and deck-lids
• Glass-mounted antenna (deletion of roof-mounted antenna)
• Passenger seat lumbar support
• Wagon cargo area courtesy lamp
• Woven headliner
• Sliding cover for centre console
• New interior décor with satin black audio surround
• New polished chrome scuff plate (wagon models only)

- Mondeo LX – New Features

• Power front and rear windows (available from February 2011)
• Centre console sliding cover
• Passenger seat lumbar support
• Power two-way driver's seat height adjustment
• New 16-inch steel wheel cover design
• Body-coloured door handles

- Mondeo Zetec – New features

• 17-inch alloy wheels in a new design
• Front interior reading/map lights

- Mondeo Titanium – New features

• Driver Alert (TDCi only)
• Lane Departure Warning (TDCi only)
• Adjustable Speed Limiting Device (TDCi only)
• Automatic High-beam headlamps (TDCi only)
• Blind Spot Information System
• Updated high-series HMI (Human Machine Interface; dash-mounted head unit)
• 18-inch alloy wheels in a new design
• New body-styling kit (includes new front and rear bumper skirts and new side rocker panel mouldings)
• Unique upper and lower front grilles
• LED daytime running lights and unique fog lamp kit
• Enhanced interior lighting
• Anodised aluminium-finished roof rails (Titanium wagon only)
• Cloth-covered B-pillar interior trim

Engines and transmissions
The MC Mondeo will continue to offer Australian customers the choice of four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel power.

Turbo-diesel power will come from Ford's highly efficient 2.0-litre Duratorq 16-valve turbo-diesel engine. This impressive unit ensures the Mondeo LX Hatch achieves a fuel consumption rate of only 5.9-litres per 100km*1 – making it more fuel-efficient than a Toyota Camry Hybrid. It also makes for spirited driving, producing maximum power and torque levels of 120kW and 340Nm. This TDCi engine will be optional for all models except for Mondeo Titanium wagon where it is standard fitment.

Partnering this impressive diesel engine is Ford's Powershift®six-speed automatic transmission. This technically sophisticated gearbox uses clutch technology, a transmission design normally found in much larger, more expensive vehicles. This advanced gearbox delivers the best of both worlds: the fuel economy and responsiveness of a manual and the convenience of an automatic.

Standard equipment on all MC Mondeo models (except Titanium wagon) will be Ford's 2.3-litre Duratec petrol engine. This 16-valve unit produces a peak power level of 118kW and a maximum torque of 208Nm. Combined-cycle fuel consumption is 9.5-litres per 100km*. A six-speed torque-convertor-equipped automatic transmission backs this efficient power unit.

Both of these four-cylinder engines are fitted to the current MB Mondeo range.

Australian sales release and prices

The MC Mondeo range will arrive in showrooms in November this year, with the exception of the Mondeo Titanium Hatch and Wagon which will be on-sale in December. Recommended prices will be announced closer to the time.

At a glance: MC Ford Mondeo model range









Source: Ford Media

[rancidpunx]

i hope any FG update does not get the same front bar treatment.

[Iggypoppin']

I think that looks great, good fuel consumption and good torque levels too. Win!

[samsy351]

That looks good !

[chrisfpv]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

i hope an FG update gets the same front bar treatment.

I'm sure this is what you meant to say.

[Wretched]

Good update except the LED DTL. Not a fan.

On another note, seem to be seeing a lot more Mondeo station wagons every day. Good work Ford.

[demondan]

The LED's are hideous and the foggys/driving light aren't far behind. The headlights themselves were also in need of an refresher. The update in the looks department is a major letdown I think.

[irlewy86]

Bejeebus, that Mondeo Titanium has to be the most feature packed car this side of a 100k.

[Polyal]

Why is everyone bagging the LED's, you can barely see them, just look like extra fog lights.

Its very nice, I hope the diesel wagon does well and Ford pushes it more. I wonder if they hold back from advertising because they would rather sell territory's?

[T3ts50]

Will the TDCI be available on the Titanium Hatch or is it just the wagon?

[bovva66]

TDCI is available for both Zetec and Titanium models Hatch or Wagon, but not base model LX.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Im a big fan of the mondeo after buying our XR5 T...

The Titanium Diesel would be the pick, but its pricey.

[Fev]

I've got the Dealer brochure on this car and the amount of tech goodies in this thing! In the Titanium TDCI You almost don't even need to watch where you're going!

[fou_bleu]

I'll have a Titanium hatch in Panther Black please, all boxes ticked... ;)

EDIT: Oh! Add those MB XR5T wheels to that and it'll be perfect!

[demondan]

[QUOTE=Polyal]Why is everyone bagging the LED's, you can barely see them, just look like extra fog lights.

They're being bagged for the same reason they are criticised on the HSV E2.
They look like s*** and a Ford badge does nothing to change that.

[XW 393]

I like the tech but that front bar is hideous, maybe its more to do with the headlights the more I look at it.

[HLC]

i reckon it looks mad, and awesome tech levels. shame they arent rwd... i know what my next car would be...

[Rastas]

The front end treatment is just getting us used to the ultra radical look of the next generation mondeo due in a little over a year,,,,,, i dont mind it !

[zetec]

Originally Posted by bovva66

TDCI is available for both Zetec and Titanium models Hatch or Wagon, but not base model LX.

TDCi is available on ALL model variants.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by demondan

They're being bagged for the same reason they are criticised on the HSV E2.

Er, no, as far as I reckon, HSV's were bagged for the ridiculous placement of LED's for the sake of doing it. They look like a cheap and tack add on. In the mondeo case, the LED's are properly intergrated into the bumper and look like they are meant to be there (as a few guys have already stated).

The car looks great, and the features are unbelievable, feature and equipment wise, the Mondeo is the only competitive car on the global scale that they sell here. It blows the Falc away.

Unless you wanted a turbo 6, S/C 8 or a ute, then I see very little business case for the standard Falcons in the shadow of the Mondeo. In a country where the Mazzy 6 sells like hotcakes, why are Ford not Agressively pushing this Mondeo??

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Danny

Er, no, as far as I reckon, HSV's were bagged for the ridiculous placement of LED's for the sake of doing it. They look like a cheap and tack add on. In the mondeo case, the LED's are properly intergrated into the bumper and look like they are meant to be there (as a few guys have already stated).

The car looks great, and the features are unbelievable, feature and equipment wise, the Mondeo is the only competitive car on the global scale that they sell here. It blows the Falc away.

Unless you wanted a turbo 6, S/C 8 or a ute, then I see very little business case for the standard Falcons in the shadow of the Mondeo. In a country where the Mazzy 6 sells like hotcakes, why are Ford not Agressively pushing this Mondeo??

Exactly.

RE mondeo sales, well at the end of the day Ford should be trying to capture the 6/camry market better than they do. Issues arise when there is a potential for Falcon sales to take a hit when people start buying the mondeo.

At the end of the day I think ford would rather sell a few mondeos and keep the falcon profitable than the other way around, as it keeps more aussies employed.

[duaned]

A nice V6 in one of these and it will be on my driveway! Shame that aint gonna happen!

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Danny

In a country where the Mazzy 6 sells like hotcakes, why are Ford not Agressively pushing this Mondeo??

Because to make it viable, the Mondeo gets a comparative price premium over its competitors :(

[DJM83]

I like it

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by duaned

A nice V6 in one of these and it will be on my driveway! Shame that aint gonna happen!

What, 185kW I4T not enough? ;)

[duaned]

Originally Posted by fordman6

What, 185kW I4T not enough? ;)

Well yes, but in a new Mondeo? Where?

[JG66ME]

I want a Turbo Diesel 6 speed manual like the one I rented in the UK. I do not want an auto. Why is it that Aussies don't like manuals?

[fat4D]

i heard awhile ago that they are making the LED day driving lights compulsory on all cars after 2013? is this correct or did i hear this from an armchair philosopher?

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by duaned

Well yes, but in a new Mondeo? Where?

That will happen before a V6...

[Rastas]

I4T available in euro spec mondeos , probably waiting till falcon gets it here first before we see a 185kw mondeo....