2007 Ford Mondeo: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 26/Sep/2006

Spied: 2007 Ford Mondeo Hatch

Paris, France — Ford's popular mid-sized Euro-cruiser, the Mondeo, has been given an all-new platform and exterior styling for the 2007 model year. Ford's European arm is a money-making business and, unlike it's American counterpart which is bleeding funds, the Euro operation is being scrutinized by papa Ford to see how to do undo its current woes.

One of the vehicles that are expected to keep Ford Europe competitive is this new Mondeo model, which makes its world debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

"The new Mondeo is critical to the Ford of Europe business," said John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe. "The Ford Mondeo has always been a major player in the European C-D [mid-size] segment, and with over four million owners looking for us to deliver something special, we have every intention of meeting their significant expectations with this all-new model."

It is understood that Ford's European arm will offer the new Mondeo with a wide range of powertrains, from the powerful and well-proven Ford Duratorq 2.0-litre TDCi diesel and a high-performance 2.5-litre turbocharged Duratec petrol engine (derived from the new S-MAX). There will also be highly efficient and cost effective models, including a 1.6-litre Duratec 4-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.8-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, both of which will deliver outstanding fuel economy.

Ford Europe will also provide the new Mondeo with a modern suspension system to ensure a high level of driving quality and superior driving dynamics, mentioning that it is targeting best-in-class steering, ride and handling.

Though Ford Europe's new model is being previewed in its wagon bodystyle "in near production specification", some of the styling cues will be toned down when the vehicle first launches in Europe in the second quarter of 2007 with a range of diesel engines, and one or two motors.

Will the fancy new Mondeo mid-sizer be coming to Australia? Ford Australia says it's position on the Ford Mondeo hasn't changed. That position is as follows: it has no plans to release the car in Australia.

But for European buyers, the new Mondeo will be a reality half-way through 2007, which was designed in order to meet customer needs and wants, says Ford Europe, by doing what most new model updates do: grow in size. It be be bigger, with more interior space, but to compete with the Peugeot, Opel and Volkswagen mid sized vehicles, the new Mondeo will also have more premium quality features, while still remaining affordable.

The 2007 model-year Mondeo will build on the success of the new Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy models, and both of these European market vehicles have been launched to media and customer acclaim during 2006, according to Ford.

The European arm of the Blue Oval explains the new Mondeo benefits from Ford's "Shared Technologies" initiative, which in essence means the new Mondeo shares much of its architecture and technology with the S-MAX and Galaxy models, as well as a production line. This reduces manufacturing costs, which can be seen by end users in the form of lower prices - an aspect of the new vehicle that the company will be pushing.

In total, Ford has sunk €715 million ($A1.2 billion) into the new Mondeo to ensure it's got the best chances of survival in the new car market, and part of this investment went into upgrading and 'modernising' Ford's Genk plant in Belgium. Ford claims the new car production facility has been transformed into a world-class, flexible manufacturing facility, which in early 2007 will be able to churn out the new Mondeo bodystyles along with the current S-MAX and new Galaxy models on the same assembly lines using common architectures and technologies.

Ford says the upgraded plant efficiency will allow the company to respond to market demands and fluctuations, which could be a good thing if the new Mondeo proves to be a hit with the media and the public. Furthermore, Ford has revealed that the new MY07 Mondeo has been developed in line with Ford's Product Sustainability Index, or PSI. The PSI provides a basis for permanent evaluation and improved sustainability performance for new generations of vehicles across environmental, social and economic areas says Ford. This holistic approach to product development is an industry first, with the new S-MAX and Galaxy being the pioneer vehicles created with PSI.

Due to the new manufacturing advancements - and the need for a new design - Ford has given the 2007 Mondeo a new style, described by it's makers as  energy in motion. A comprehensive range of core bodystyles will be launched concurrently in the new range (sedan, wagon etc), but the Ford of Europe design team has chosen the new wagon as its Paris Motor Show hero.

"The wagon bodystyle is very important in the C-D [mid-size] segment so it is appropriate that we show this derivative in Paris first," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Design Director.

"The new Mondeo's wagon bodystyle really emphasises the sporty, dynamic and premium appearance of the new range," Smith continued. "Above all, we've managed to achieve this kinetic look without compromising luggage capacity. I believe new Mondeo will challenge everyone's perceptions of a big Ford car, and prove that we can once again deliver style with substance in a desirable form."

Ford Europe talks about how its 'kinetic design' language is shaping the company's new models, and that the new Mondeo is a clear demonstration of this new styling direction which is also gaining momentum in regions other than Europe. According to Ford Europe, the new Mondeo range will incorporate all of the key 'kinetic design' elements, which include the following:

• Dynamic lines and a three-plane plan front-end view

• Full surfaces

• Strong shoulders

• Bold wheel lips

• A rising belt line

• A distinctive kick-up of the window graphic at the C-pillar

"With the purest expression of 'kinetic design' revealed in the Ford iosis Concept at Frankfurt 2005, we then introduced the first elements into volume production on the new S-MAX and Galaxy," said Design Director Martin Smith. "Now, the new Mondeo takes the next major step along our journey towards a more expressive and emotional Ford range."

Looking at the front end of the vehicle, it's clear that the iosis had an impact on the new design. Immediately evident in the new model's appearance is the distinctive front end explains Ford, with its chamfered corners and the deep offset between the top of the hood and the front quarter panels above the wheels arches. Seen from above, the three-plane plan view of the frontal area is immediately obvious, and a key visual link between the new Mondeo and the 2005 iosis Concept vehicle, further emphasising their proportional relationship.

Ford adds that the new family face is further represented at the front end by a premium-feel, large upper grille, and an inverted trapezoidal lower grille. Large and distinctive headlamps and lower foglamps are a key design element, and draw the eye around the bevelled corners, neatly disguising the volume required to meet the latest pedestrian protection requirements.

Meanwhile a strong shoulder line runs through the side of the car to a high point at the rear, giving the car a continuous, flowing and contemporary profile, which Ford describes as a dynamic window graphic. This is emphasised further via an upward kick at the rear of the window line, directly above the rear wheel arches, which adds a sporty element to the design, while slim rear lamps contribute to the car's overall vision of a premium quality vehicle.

Pumped wheels arches outline large alloy wheels, and Ford says that its increasingly frequent 'Kinetic design' themes are carried through to the all-new interior, which features high quality surfaces, materials and finishes. Inside the new Mondeo, dynamic lines and full surfaces are in evidence, and the low profile instrument panel provides generous cabin space for front seat occupants, but the tangerine colour choice may be too much for some - but this is a mild concept and doesn't represent the production model to precise levels. 

The design team has also paid great attention to interior detailing, said Ford Europe, and examples of this include new generation infotainment systems, plus the next generation of Ford's Human Machine Interface (HMI). This easy to use system features the same steering-wheel toggle switches seen on new Galaxy and S-MAX, but introduces the availability of a large central LCD screen with full colour graphics situated between the main analogue instruments in front of the driver. It is not yet clear whether these will be standard features or cost options. Other interior improvement include rear seat headroom and legroom, which have been maximised for occupant comfort and safety.

After it's Paris Motor Show debut, the production-ready Mondeo will be revealed in early 2007 for a European launch in the second quarter of the year, when series information, technical specifications and detailed data for the new Mondeo range will be revealed.