Information AboutFord Mondeo |
The Ford Mondeo is a Large Family Car , the Mk I version billed as Ford's 'world car', derivatives of which sold in North America as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique . The name Mondeo is derived from the Latin for world, ''mundus''. MK 1 (1993-1997) /MK2 (1997-2000) The Mondeo is produced at Ford's European plants in Germany and Belgium , as a Sedan (saloon), a 5-door Hatchback and a wagon ( Estate ). Intended as a world car it replaced the Ford Sierra in Europe, the Ford Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while the Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is Front Wheel Drive . Instigated in 1986 , the design of the car cost Ford dearly — at $ 6 Billion , it was one of the most expensive new car programs ever. The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing was shared between Ford-USA in Dearborn, and Ford of Europe. Its codename while under development reflected this; CDW27 signified that it straddled the C & D size classes and was a "World Car". The car was launched in the midst of turbulent times at Ford of Europe, when the division was bleeding hundreds of millions of dollars and had gained a reputation in the motoring press for selling products which had been designed by accountants rather than engineers. The infamous and much maligned fourth-generation Escort of 1990 was the zenith of this cost-cutting/high price philosophy which was by then beginning to backfire on Ford. The Sierra had never sold as well as the all-conquering Cortina before it, its archaic engines and Rear Wheel Drive layout were out of step technologically with the opposition, and sales were dwindling fast. Previously loyal customers were already turning to rival products and by the time of the Mondeo's launch, the future of Europe as a Ford manufacturing base was hanging in the balance. The new car ''had'' to be good, and it had to sell. Ironically, despite being billed as a world car the only external items the Mondeo saloon shared with the Contour were the windscreen, front door windows, wing mirrors and door handles. Even the interior was slightly different. The CDW27 project turned out not to be a true world car in the sense that Mk 1 Ford Focus was; one design for the world. Design and engineering A large proportion of the incredible development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely clean-sheet design, sharing very little, if nothing, with the Ford Sierra. Using an all-new platform the Mondeo featured a new (MTX75) manual and automatic transmissions, sophisticated suspension design, which Ford hope would give it class leading handling and ride qualities, and subframes front and rear to give it executive car refinement. The automatic gearbox featured electronic control with sport and economy modes plus switchable Overdrive . The biggest change from the Sierra though was the switch from rear-wheel drive to a front-drive set up. Safety was a high priority in the Mondeo design with driver's Airbag , side-impact bars, pre-tensioner seat belts and ABS (higher models) as standard features. Other features for its year included Adaptive Damping , Self-levelling Suspension (top estates), Traction Control (V6) and heated front windscreen, branded Quickclear . The interiors were usually well appointed, featuring velour trim, an armrest with CD and tape storage, central locking (frequently remote), power windows (all round on higher models), power mirrors, flat-folding rear seats etc. Higher specification models had leather seats, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer and alloy wheels. On the whole, this range of features improved over the years, except between 1996 and 1998 (detailed below). Engines Along with an all-new platform, the Mondeo also used Ford's then-new Zetec engines, first seen in 1991 in a revised version of the Mk 4 Ford Escort . Three versions of the 16-valve Zetec engine were used. The 1.6 litre and 115 bhp version of the 1.8 litre engines from the Mk 4 Escort were used, while a new 134 bhp 2.0 litre version was launched. An alternative to the Zetec engines was the Endura-D 1.8 L Turbo Diesel . This engine had origins in the older 1.6 L Diesel design used in the Fiesta and elsewhere. Although not without merits, it was not seen as a strong competitor to other European diesels such as that produced by Peugeot . The contrast between this unit and the competition seemed enormous by the time the engine was dropped in 2000. A less popular engine (for the UK and Ireland) was introduced in 1994 in the form of the 170 bhp 2.5 litre 24-valve V6 Duratec unit, primarily included for markets where four-cylinder Petrol engines are not favored and are usually intended for the upmarket European buyer. This engine, first unveiled in the Mondeo's North American cousin, the Ford Countour , is characterized by its smooth operation, chain-driven cam shafts and an ability to operate using only half its 24 valves at low engine speeds. Fuel economy was reasonable, with the automatic barely much worse than the manual. This engine was originally branded 24v (when valve count was all important) but later on sold as the more glamorous sounding V6. This engine was also used to introduce the new ST brand to the Mondeo range as a flagship model, the ST24, in 1997. The power of the engine stayed at 170 bhp, the same as other 2.5 models, but the ST featured unique cabin trim, unique 16" alloy wheels and a full RS bodykit as standard. The bodykit option was listed as a delete option for those that did not want it fitted as standard. This was later replaced by the ST200 in 2000, featuring a modified version of the V6 Duratec with a power output of 200 bhp. Although both these models never sold in high numbers the marketing was important to Ford as it was an introduction to the ST range as a sportier side to the full range, something not seen since the death of the XR range from the Eighties. Trim levels The 1993-1996 range had the following trim levels: Mirage - 1.6i petrol, base trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. - only offered in The Netherlands . LX - 1.6i/1.8i/2.0i petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate CLX - 1.6i/1.8i/2.0i petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate - not offered in UK. GLX - 1.6i/1.8i/2.0i petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, luxury trim level version of LX, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. Business Edition - 1.6i/1.8i/2.0i 4-cylinder, 2.5 V6 petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, luxury trim level version of LX, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. - only offered in The Netherlands . Ghia - 1.8i/2.0i 4-cylinder, 2.5 V6 petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate Si - 2.0i 4-cylinder, 2.5 V6 petrol, sports version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. GT - 1.8i/2.0i 4-cylinder, 2.5 V6 petrol, 1.8 TD turbodiesel, sports version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. Only offered in The Netherlands . Equivalent to UK-spec Si. V6 - 2.5 24v V6 petrol, luxury version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate. Never offered as V6 (base) in the Netherlands , only Business Edition or GT. Mixed sales success In Europe, the Mondeo was instantly declared a class leader, and was elected Car Of The Year in 1994 . A major facelift in 1996 saw two of the Mondeo's biggest criticisms addressed, namely its bland styling and cramped rear legroom. The lowering of specification levels around that time (e.g. air-conditioning and alloy wheels became optional on the UK Ghia models) may have indicated a desire by Ford to cut costs and recoup some of the huge sums invested in the original design. These specification levels were improved again in 1998 as the Mondeo approached replacement. Ford briefly sold a version using the 2.0 L Zetec engine and Four Wheel Drive . The timing was not ideal though as four wheel drive had already become synonymous with large SUV s such as the Land Rover Discovery and the bottom dropped out of the four wheel drive saloon market. In other words, people who would tolerate the knock on performance and economy preferred to graduate to a full blown SUV rather than a saloon with good all-round traction; especially since SUVs had become fashionable at the time. In Europe, the Mondeo is considered large, but in other markets such as the U.S. and Australia it had not fared well, as there were larger models that had stronger brand loyalty and offered better value for money. Ford claimed that it was a 'world car', but in a letter to '' Autocar '' magazine in the UK, a Ford dealer retorted 'What world was it designed for?' Because of this, the Contour and Mystique proved unpopular with US buyers. However, while the Contour sold at an average rate, the Mystique bombed. The Mondeo Mk II was much larger than the Mk I version but was not sold in North America, where Ford now offers the Fusion. There is however, another theory advanced by some motoring journalists: that because the Contour and Mystique were not created in the United States, it suffered from a lack of enthusiasm from inside Ford's North American operations. Those same theorists point to the fact that the BMW 3 Series — arguably a "world car" in the sense one version is sold globally — does quite well in the United States and it is the same size as the Contour and Mystique. The Mondeo fared badly in Australia , where, similarly, there was a much larger local model, the Falcon , and was dropped in 2001 . Ford Australia withdrew completely from the medium-sized segment of the Australian market, arguing that it was in decline. The wagon version, the first medium-sized Ford of its kind to be sold in Australia since the Cortina, was dropped in 1999 . It struggled against Japanese models such as the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy , as well as the Holden Vectra , also imported from Europe, although unlike the Mondeo, briefly assembled locally. By contrast, the Mondeo (like the Cortina long before it) was a success story in New Zealand , the Mk3 model in particular being voted Car Of The Year in 2001 by ''Autocar New Zealand'' and '' National Business Review ''. In addition, many earlier model Mondeos, Imported Used from Japan were also sold locally. (Japan was also a good market for the Mondeo, a rare feat in a country with a high amount of home-grown automotive product.) In its final year in China , the Ford Mondeo M2000 gained a front fascia not dissimilar from the outgoing Mercury Mystique's, but had Ford badges. Its rear end was identical to that of the European models. MK 3 (2000-2007) Launched in 2000 the Mk 3 Mondeo was considerably larger than its predecessor, but is still based on the Mk I's floorpan and running gear. Although Ford abandoned its 'New Edge' design theme for the Mk 3 Mondeo it still borrowed some styling cues from the Mk 1 Focus , giving it an overall effect which many critics felt was more restrained and mature than the Focus if much less distinctive. It looked more distinctive than the 1993 original though, although some felt the 1996 Mk 2 looked better. Following the standard setting interior of the Mk 4 Volkswagen Passat in 1996, Ford paid a great deal of attention to the Mk 3's interior and was the first mainstream manufacturer to react to the new standard set by Volkswagen. Ford dispensed with the rounded American style interior of the Mk 1 Mondeo and developed a more sober 'Germanic' design which not only seemed more sophisticated but, more importantly, was of a higher quality due to the use of more expensive materials. Engines For the Mk 3 the 1.6 litre Zetec engine was dropped while the 1.8 and 2.0 litre Zeta-family engines were heavily revised and were renamed Duratec . The standard 2.5 litre V6 engine was carried over, while a 3.0 litre version was developed for the ST220 model. As with its predecessor, passive safety was a major selling point of the 2000 Mondeo. With an even stronger bodyshell, Ford introduced its so-called "Intelligent Protection System" (IPS), which used an "intelligent" array of sensors based on a Neural Network to decide the best combination of safety devices (traditional front passenger airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags) to deploy for a given crash situation. To enhance active safety, all models were fitted with anti-lock brakes and electronic brake distribution, with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) available as an option. A new Automatic Transmission had been added to the range called the Durashift . This unit has five gears and may be shifted manually or shifted like an automatic. The archaic Endura-E 1.8L TD diesel engine was dropped from this series and replaced by a more sophisticated 2.0L Duratorq Direct-injection (TDCi) unit with a variable geometry turbine. This clever turbine system allows a certain amount of ''overboost'', giving an extra 10% or so of Torque for short periods. For 2004 , the Mondeo was given a very mild upgrade, the new models being identifiable by the larger chrome honeycomb radiator grille, a new central dashboard made from higher quality materials with electronic climate control, either a standard Ford radio, Sony radio or a Satellite Navigation radio/CD player which also has climate control built into the unit in lieu of the space taken up by the unit. The Durashift automatic is now available with steering wheel control, while a 96 kW (130 PS) Common Rail version of the Duratorq turbodiesel engine became available. The petrol engines were revised at this stage also — the new SCI (direct-injection) version of the 1.8L Duratec engine was introduced which generates 4 kW (5 PS) more than the standard unit. In addition, equipment was upgraded across the range — cruise control and electronic air conditioning were made standard on all models. In 2005 there were two new Duratorq Direct-injection (TDCi) options, a 2.2L with 114 kW (155 PS) and a detuned version of the 2.0L with 65 kW (89 PS). Also, the Seat Belt Warning System is added and now standard, with an audible/visual warning signal reminding the driver to fasten his/her seat belt. The styling was upgraded again, the most notable difference being tweaked rear lights. Eastern Asia In Taiwan , a derivative of the Mondeo is called the Ford Metrostar, and has a more formal grille and lights, befitting its status as Ford's top sedan for that market. The mainland Chinese market now also gets the Mondeo with the same formal front end. Engines:
REPLACEMENT The Mondeo will be replaced by a new model in 2007 , codenamed CD345, based on the Ford/Volvo EUCD/P24 Platform developed with Volvo . This platform will also form the basis of the replacement for the Galaxy MPV sold in Europe, but not the new Ford Fusion in the US or the Mazda6 in Japan. It will spawn a Crossover SUV model, the S-MAX (also part of the CD340 project), to be built at Ford's Genk , Belgium factory. The new Mondeo will surely adopt design elements from the Iosis concept shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show as part of the company's new family look. FORD MONDEO IN POPULAR CULTURE
: Tony Blair, then just a normal MP walked up this garden path where he met the owner of the house cleaning his new car, a Ford Mondeo. Tony Blair asked the man if he intended to vote Labour. "No way" he exclaimed, puffing out his chest, "I'm voting Tory". Blair could tell by his accent that he came from a working class background and he asked him why he wouldn't vote Labour. He replied "I used to vote Labour, but now I'm successful. I've got a nice house. I go on good holidays. I've got this new Ford Mondeo. Why would I want to vote Labour?" :This is cited by numerous sources as a pivotal moment in Blair's vision of New Labour .
The Ford Mondeo is credited as one of the favourites of Jeremy Clarkson 's cars. 2001 Car of the year for performance and reliability. SEE ALSO
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