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Should We Like the New Ford Mondeo?

The Ford Mondeo – a car from an American manufacturer, specifically designed for the needs and preferences of its very wide and loyal European audience. The first incarnation of the car made its official public debut way back, in 1993, and less than ten years and two generations of cars later, the Mondeo had reached ‘institution status’.
The current Mondeo is a truly excellent car, with superb almost sports-car like handling, excellent ride, a very good interior, and styling which may split opinions, but with some 18- or 19- inch rims, it would be hard for anybody to say no. My own personal car is a 2003 diesel Mondeo and I would honestly not trade it in for virtually any of the more ‘expensive’ and ‘desirable’ cars one could consider in the segment.

Now, the Mondeo story is taking a turn and heading off into a new direction. We Europeans are no longer getting a bespoke-designed product, but rather a rebadged American Ford Fusion. Ford’s ‘One Ford’ strategy is really kicking in and if they keep it up at this rate, then in a few years (really not that many, you know) you will be able to buy virtually any of their cars anywhere in the world.

So, should we like this rebadged Ford Fusion? Well, after having released the first official photos of the hatchback version, I have grown to like the shape of the rear, as it echoes that of the current car, yet builds on it and improves it – not too sure about the bluff and straight front. It is definitely a design decision taken to suit the Americans more than us – we like low, sleek and aerodynamic.

Still can’t get over the fact that despite it being designed by a team lead by Ford’s European design boss, Chris Hamilton, it is too much of a compromise in terms of looks. When have compromises ever been good? Never, and this car is no exception. It suffers from the same flaws found on the new ‘global Focus’ – it has a little bit of this, a little bit of that, it is uselessly larger and more cumbersome.

So, should we like the rebadged Ford Fusion? Well, judging by the pictures, the interior will be a considerable step up from what Ford is currently offering, with slightly more interior space, more modern design and more kit. However, one thing I personally have an issue with are the buttons – they are touch-sensitive and definitely not to everybody’s taste.

Now, you may have noticed the slightly tapering rear end, with the car’s shoulder line not rising over the rear wheelarch (one of the few design issues that plagued the current Mondeo) – this is an excellent design trick which really helps the car’s design flow nicely. However, the current car has a rising shoulder line in order to free up more interior space. The new model has a considerably lower roof line and it has an indentation in the rear part of the headliner, on order for the passengers not to brush their heads on it – this is both good and bad, depending on your priorities.

I personally think that the side profile of the car is its strongest design asset as it is very sleek and better than any of its competitors – it may even fool some people into thinking it is a luxury car (which it does try to be, by the way).

So, should we like the new Ford Mondeo? I say yes, and if the Focus is anything to go by, the Mondeo will be tailored for European tastes and it will undoubtedly be more than just a rebadged Fusion. It will get a totally different range of engines, including a very surprising addition, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost, special suspension and steering calibration as well as options which will better suit our needs and likes.

The only downside is the fact that they have postponed its introduction until the fall of 2013, despite originally planning to get it into dealerships much earlier than that. If they manage to keep the superb balance and handling characteristics of the current car (and hopefully build on them), it will complete and define a car which at first sounded like a simple rebadging job, but it turns out that it will be much more than that – I also like the estate version and think that it is one of the most handsome load-luggers of the type ever designed – just don’t buy one in white.
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