Wikipedia:WikiProject Automobiles/Layouts
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- The Ford Mondeo is used as an example; please do not edit the Ford Mondeo article on this page, use the main page.
The Ford Mondeo is a large family car / mid-size car billed as Ford's 'world car', and also sold in North America as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique. The Mondeo was launched in 1993 and is still in production. The name Mondeo is derived from the Latin for world - Mondus.
| Ford Mondeo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Also called | Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique |
| Production | 1993–present |
| Predecessor | Ford Sierra Ford Telstar Ford Versailles Ford Royale |
| Successor | none |
| Class | Midsize car (C/D-Class) |
| Transmission | Ford MTX75 (Manual) Ford CD4E (Automatic) |
| Length | Mk 3 4731 to 4804 mm |
| Width | Mk 3 1958 mm |
| Height | Mk 3 1429 to 1481 mm |
| Curb weight | Mk 3 1895 to 2335 kg |
Contents |
[edit] Background
Mondeo is produced at Ford's European plants in Germany and Belgium, as a sedan (saloon), hatchback or station wagon (estate). It replaced the Ford Sierra as the large family car in Ford's European range, and the Ford Telstar in Asia and other markets, while Contour and Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front wheel drive. Instigated in 1986, the Mondeo (or CDW27) project cost Ford dearly - at $6 billion, it was one of the most expensive new car programmes ever.
[edit] Technology
A large proportion of the incredible development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely clean-sheet design, and used Ford's then-new Zetec engines, all-new manual and automatic transmissions and a sophisticated suspension design which gave it class leading handling and ride qualities. Subframes front and rear gave it executive car refinement. The automatic gearbox featured electronic control with sport and economy modes plus switchable overdrive. 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 impressive 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, arm rest with CD/tape storage, central locking (frequently remote), electric windows (all round on higher models), electric mirrors, flat folding rear seats etc. Higher specification models were particularly nice, with leather, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer, alloy wheels to name but a few luxuries. On the whole, this range of features improved over the years, except between 1996 and 1998, see below.
Ford briefly sold a version using the 2.0 Zetec engine and four wheel drive. The timing was not ideal though as four wheel drive had already become synonymous with large off-roader vehicles such as the Land Rover Discovery and the bottom dropped out of the saloon 4x4 market. In other words, people who would tolerate the knock on performance and economy preferred to graduate to a full blown off-roader rather than a saloon with good all round traction. Especially since off-roaders had become so fashionable at the time.
An alternative to the Zetec engines was the Endura-D 1.8 turbo diesel. This engine had origins in the older 1.6 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) was introduced in 1994 in the form of the 2.5 24v V6 Duratec unit, primarily included for markets where four cylinder petrol engines are not favoured and for the up-market European buyer. This engine is characterised by its smooth operation, chain driven cam shafts and an ability to operate using only half its 24 valves at low engine speeds. Economy is reasonable, with the manual barely much worse than the 2.0 automatic. This engine was originally branded 24v (when valve count was all important) but later on sold as the more glamorous sounding V6.
[edit] Mixed sales success
In its native 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-con and alloy wheels became optional on the UK Ghia models) may have indicated a desire by Ford to cut custs and re-coup some of the huge sums invested in the original design. These specifcation levels were improved again in 1998 as the Mondeo approached replacement.
In Europe, the Mondeo is considered large, but in other markets such as the U.S. and Australia it has not travelled well, as there are larger models that have stronger brand loyalty and offer better value for money. In response to Ford's claim that it was a 'world car', Ford dealers retorted 'What world was it designed for?' The Contour and Mystique proved unpopular with US buyers, who preferred the larger local model, the Taurus, and was dropped in 2000. The Mondeo also fared badly in Australia, where, similarly, there was a much larger local model, the Falcon, and was dropped. Ford Australia has withdrawn completely from the medium-sized segment of the Australian market, arguing that it is in decline. By contrast the Mondeo was retained by Ford New Zealand, which had more success with the current model.
[edit] New Mondeo
The current model, slightly longer, but based on the original Mondeo's floorpan and running gear was launched in 2000. It is much more distinctive than the bland 1993 original, borrowing styling cues from the smaller Focus, and sporting a much more upmarket interior and higher standard of build quality influenced by Volkswagen's Passat. The Zetec engines have been replaced by the newer Duratec units. A new automatic gearbox has been added to the range called the Durashift. This unit has 5 gears and may be shifted manually or left to its own devices.
The old 1.8TD was dropped from this series and replaced by a more sophisticated 2.0 Duratorq direct-injection unit with variable geometry turbine and (later on) common rail fuel injection. The clever turbine system allows a certain amount of overboost, giving an extra 10% or so of torque for short periods.
[edit] Image
In the UK, at least, the Mondeo suffers from an image as a Repmobile or fleet car. This (and the styling) led to the original car being derided as Mundane Mondeo or Mundano.
