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| Ford Mondeo |
The Ford Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk. The Sierra had been built there since its launch in 1982, although until 1989, right hand drive Sierras had also been built in UK at the Dagenham plant.
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 Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Unlike the Sierra, the Ford Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mk1 car only. Instigated in 1986, the design of the car cost Ford US$6 billion. It was one of the most expensive new car programs ever. The Ford 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 thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C & D size classes and was a "World Car".
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| Ford Mondeo |
The Mk2 Ford Mondeo, known in some quarters as the Mk1 Face-lift, launched in October 1996 seeing three of the Mk1 Mondeo's biggest criticisms addressed: its bland styling, the bad performance of the headlights, the reflectors of which quickly yellowed and the 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 Ford Mondeo approached replacement.
Mk3 (2000–2007)
This third generation Ford Mondeo model was launched in October 2000 and is known as the Mk3. This Ford Mondeo was considerably larger than its predecessor, and although Ford abandoned its New Edge design theme for the Ford Mondeo Mk3, it was their first vehicle to fully benefit from the Prodigy concept car. This gave it an overall effect which many critics felt was more restrained and mature, if much less distinctive. Two of the old car's biggest weaknesses, the modest rear legroom, and uncompetitive diesel version were addressed by a longer wheelbase and the new Duratorq diesel engine. The basic chassis and suspension design was carried over from the previous generation, which meant that the car continued its predecessor's reputation for class leading handling and ride. This Ford Mondeo came to Mexico, replacing the North American built Ford Contour, and was sold from 2001 to 2007, when the Ford Fusion replaced it. The North American market Fusion and Five Hundred/Taurus sported very similar styling, inside and out.
Mk4 (2007-present)
The fourth generation Ford Mondeo (codename: CD345) was officially unveiled in 5-door production form in late 2006. Based on the EUCD platform developed with Volvo, the platform is the same used in the new large MPVs Galaxy and S-MAX, but not the North American Ford Fusion or the Mazda Atenza in Japan. It will also possibly be used for several Volvos.
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| Ford Mondeo |
Mk5 (2013-)
The fifth generation Ford Mondeo aka 2013 Ford Fusion was unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The new model takes many styling cues from the European Ford Evos concept unveiled last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the previous generation Ford Mondeo. Like the newest redesigns of the Focus and Fiesta before it, the new Ford Mondeo is set on a global platform that is shared with the now identical Fusion, which will be sold in the U.S.
Ford Mondeo photos
