From Auto Express: www.autoexpress.co.uk
Wednesday 3rd May 2006

Testing: Ford's bold new Mondeo.

The heat is Mon! As our exclusive pictures show, we are getting closer and closer to knowing how the fabulous new Ford Mondeo is going to look - even though bosses at the company are still trying to cover things up while testing.

They are the very latest shots of the replacement for Ford's best-selling family car. Development of the hatchback is nearly complete as the company prepares to give it a world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September - and thanks to our eagle-eyed photographer, we can even bring you a glimpse of the new model's interior.

Look closely and you can see that the cabin borrows some of the styling cues which have debuted on the firm's new S-MAX people carrier. With neat chrome-ringed air vents and a soft-feel facia, the next-generation Mondeo will undoubtedly represent a step upmarket for the range, and is set to challenge the Volkswagen Passat in terms of fit and finish. The Ford will be larger than the machine it replaces, with in-
creased passenger space.

Improved safety equipment includes knee airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system, and the car will also gain a host of innovative features, such as adaptive cruise control.

As well as these enhancements to the interior's quality and standard kit tally, the Ford will attract buyers with its handsome styling. At the front, the sleek nose boasts bold grilles, rakish headlights and lower foglights, while at the rear, the tail-lamps are derived from those seen on the S-MAX.

A sweeping profile with a rising tail should help the new Mondeo become one of the most distinctive cars in the family class. And backing up those looks will be driver-focused road manners, with sharp steering and firm yet compliant suspension. As with the sporty people carrier, the Mondeo will benefit from Ford's advanced active suspension system, with dampers which can be adjusted by the driver via a switch on the centre console.

Under the bonnet, buyers are likely to be offered a choice of three turbodiesels in 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2-litre tune. Petrol fans will be able to take their pick from 1.8 and 2.0-litre units, while a top-of-the-range variant will feature the 2.5-litre 225bhp five-cylinder turbo motor from the Focus ST.

However, rumours suggest Volvo's new 3.2-litre in-line six-cylinder could also appear, along with the 2.7 twin-turbodiesel co-developed by Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroen. Most models will get six-speed gearboxes as standard.

On sale in early 2007, the Mondeo is likely to come as a hatch and estate only, with prices from around £16,000.

Sam Hardy



Heavy camouflage can'thide next Mondeo's sleek headlights and double grille


Our spies snapped test car being unloaded from truck to give best look yet at forthcoming Ford family favourite


Low profile
Even on disguised prototype, sweeping look of new Ford is clear to see - and this will make it one of the most distinctive models in the class.


Inside line
Open door provides glimpse of new car's interior, which will not only mark a step up in quality, but also offer greater space than ever before.

Looks promising.

Indeed.

The current Mondeo is a very good car. Probably the second best car in its class followed by the Vectra, Laguna and Octavia.

The first is the new Passat!

They are the best and most real photoshop pics so far.

This is the Hatchback



And this is the Estate



They look very good IMO. Although, I can't see too much Iosis influence on the design.

There is a very similar article on the WorldCarFans.com

New Generation Ford Mondeo Spy Photos

and hopefully there will be a new S60, which wil share the new Mondeo's platform if it is to be.

Looks like a bad Volvo?!... or something that might have resulted from a drunken sex party between a focus and a S40?!

Those chops look too much like the Focus, especially in the front. I'm sure it will be more distinctive than that.

I like it, I like it a lot. The headlights have hints of Iosis.. but yeah, the rest is mostly Galaxy/S-Max van, with touches of Focus, all rolled into one.

The only clumsy part is the rear window of the hatch.

Still, if the real thing turns out like this, then I hope they bring it to Australia. The Mondeo of several series back wasn't a good seller here, but now the time is right for smaller cars. The midsize sector is taking up some of the slack where large cars sales are withering due to public concern over fuel costs.

I think I'd rather have a Scion TC. This definitely isnt going to pull the company out of the self made ditch....

Why you Americans are bashing it?

This car will not even be available in North America. So why the reason of the bashing?

As long we Europeans like it, Ford will be very happy.

Hey! Maybe this is the Mondeo that will be used in the next James Bond movie.

I'm not American... so does that make it OK to bash.

I call them how I see them... besides I think eveyone is intitled to an opinion.