Ford unveils all-new 2013 Mondeo 09 | 01 | 2012
THIS IS THE first official image of the all-new, fourth generation Ford Mondeo, seen for the first time more than year before it goes on sale in Scotland next March.
Why the early release? Well Ford has launched the Mondeo's sister vehicle, the US-market Fusion, at the Detroit Motor Show today.
The reality is, thanks to Ford's ‘One Ford’ policy, the US Fusion and the European and Asian-market Mondeo have merged to become essentially the same car.
The newcomer is based on an all-new, “10 per cent stronger” platform that replaces the one under today’s Mondeo and the Mazda 6-sourced platform. It's also engineered primarily in America.
The new model — and remember, the current Mondeo is already a big car — has grown even more. It's just over 13mm longer, and is 26mm higher. Thankfully, it's also 35mm narrower. At the back of the car, there's shallow LED tail-lights which retains the closest styling links with the Evos concept.
See more official photos of the all-new Ford Mondeo
Inside the new Mondeo, there's a large, central touchscreen and touchpad audio interface. Ford claims the quality of the cabin has improved over the current car, with tighter shutlines and softer surfaces.
When the new Mondeo enters UK showrooms in March 2013, expect 168bhp/172lb/ft 1.6-litre and 234bhp/250lb ft 2.0-litre turbocharged Ecoboost petrol engines. There will also be Ford’s 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesels.
Ford has yet to confirm whether the 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid, which will appear in the Fusion, will make its way into the Mondeo variant.
The new Mondeo will also have brake pedal pressure-activated stop-start as an option. Lane Keeping Assist, adaptive cruise control, Active Park Assist and a Blind Spot Information System will also be available as options, as will a new Active Noise Control set-up.
And not surprisingly, SYNC, Ford’s in-car internet service, will also be offered on the new Mondeo, after appearing later this year in the UK in the Focus.
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Jim McGill