All New Ford 2007 Mondeo Range. COLOGNE,
September 22, 2006 The all-new Ford Mondeo makes its
world debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show between
September 30 and October 15. Ford of Europe's stylish
new flagship model is being previewed in its wagon
bodystyle in near production specification, with launch
scheduled across Europe in 200
"The new Mondeo is critical to the Ford of Europe
business," said John Fleming, President and CEO of
Ford of Europe. "The Ford Mondeo has always been a
major player in the European CD segment, and with
over four million owners looking for us to deliver
something special, we have every intention of
meeting their significant expectations with this
all-new model."
New Mondeo will follow and build on the success of
the new Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy models, both of
which have been launched to media and customer
acclaim during 2006.
To meet customer needs and wants, the 2007 Mondeo
will deliver more comfort, more space, and more
premium quality features, while remaining
affordable.
Benefiting from Ford's 'Shared Technologies'
initiative, new Mondeo shares much of its
architecture and technology with S-MAX and Galaxy,
as well as a production line.
New Mondeo completes a €715 million investment that
has modernised Ford's Genk plant in Belgium and
transformed it into a world-class, flexible
manufacturing facility. From 2007, new Mondeo
bodystyles will join S-MAX and new Galaxy on the
same assembly lines using common architectures and
technologies.
This gives the company tremendous flexibility and
manufacturing efficiency to respond to market
demands and fluctuations.
Genk also plays an increasingly important role in
the global Ford business. Ford of Europe continues
to strengthen its role as the developer of high
quality vehicles like the new Mondeo which are
targeted not just at Europe, but also at the Asia
Pacific and African markets.
New Mondeo has also been developed in line with
Ford's Product Sustainability Index. PSI provides a
basis for permanent evaluation and improved
sustainability performance for new generations of
vehicles across environmental, social and economic
areas. This holistic approach to product development
is an industry first, with the new S-MAX and Galaxy
being the pioneer vehicles created with PSI.
The new Mondeo is striking and unmistakably a member
of the Ford family. It takes the company's 'kinetic
design' form language to a new level.
A comprehensive range of core bodystyles will be
launched concurrently in the new range, but the Ford of
Europe design team has chosen the new wagon as its Paris
hero.
"The wagon bodystyle is very important in the CD segment
so it is appropriate that we show this derivative in
Paris first," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Design
Director.
2007 All New Ford Mondeo
"The new Mondeo's wagon bodystyle really emphasizes the
sporty, dynamic and premium appearance of the new
range," added Smith. "Above all, we've managed to
achieve this kinetic look without compromising luggage
capacity. I believe new Mondeo will challenge everyone's
perceptions of a big Ford car, and prove that we can
once again deliver style with substance in a desirable
form."
The new Mondeo clearly demonstrates how Ford of Europe's
'kinetic design' language is shaping the company's new
models. This form language will be progressively applied
to future Ford vehicles in an appropriate way, depending
on individual vehicle or market segment tastes.
The new Mondeo range will incorporate all of the key
'kinetic design' elements:
- Dynamic lines and a three-plane plan front-end
view
- Full surfaces
- Strong shoulders
- Bold wheel lips
- A rising belt line
- A distinctive kick-up of the window graphic at
the C-pillar
"With the purest expression of 'kinetic design' revealed
in the Ford iosis Concept at Frankfurt 2005, we then
introduced the first elements into volume production on
the new S-MAX and Galaxy," Smith added. "Now, the new
Mondeo takes the next major step along our journey
towards a more expressive and emotional Ford range."
Immediately evident in the new model's appearance is the
distinctive front end, with its chamfered corners and
the deep offset between the top of the bonnet and the
front wings. Seen from above, the three-plane plan view
of the frontal area is immediately obvious, and a key
visual link between the new Mondeo and the 2005 iosis
Concept vehicle, emphasizing their proportional
relationship.
The new family face of Ford Mondeo is further represented at
the front end by a premium-feel, large upper grille
opening, and an inverted trapezoidal lower grille. Large
and distinctive headlamps and lower foglamps are a key
design element, and draw the eye around the chamfered
corners, neatly disguising the volume required to meet
the latest pedestrian protection requirements.
A muscular shoulder line runs through the side of the
car to a high point at the rear. This produces a dynamic
window graphic when the so-called "daylight opening" (DLO)
is viewed in profile, and an upward kick at the rear of
the DLO further emphasizes the feeling of motion.
Distinctive rear lamps also feature carefully designed
graphics that enhance the overall feeling of premium
quality.
A strong undercut line runs from the bold front wing
wheel lips through the side of the car. Under this, full
surfacing extends down to strong rocker panels to ensure
the vehicle maintains a dynamic road presence.
The undercut and full surfaces are key graphic elements
of 'kinetic design' and are already becoming familiar as
new S-MAX and Galaxy become more visible on European
roads.
'Kinetic design' themes are carried through to the
all-new interior, which features high quality surfaces,
materials and finishes.
Here, dynamic lines and full surfaces are again evident,
and the low profile instrument panel provides very
generous cabin space for front seat occupants. The
flow-through centre console allows the gear shifter to
be located high and within easy ergonomic reach of the
driver.
The design team has also paid great attention to
interior detailing, and examples of this include new
generation infotainment systems, plus the next
generation of Ford's Human Machine Interface (HMI). This
easy to use system features the same steering-wheel
toggle switches seen on new Galaxy and S-MAX, but
introduces the availability of a large central LCD
screen with full colour graphics situated between the
main analogue instruments in front of the driver.
Rear seat headroom and legroom have also come in for
scrutiny by the Mondeo development team, and these have
been maximized for occupant comfort and safety.
"New Mondeo will deliver premium levels of comfort in a
class-leading package," says Steve Adams, Ford's Vehicle
Line Director for Large Cars. "You can also expect
innovative and top-of-the-range new technology features,
particularly those aimed at assisting and pampering the
driver."
The 2007 Mondeo range will feature many of the new
technologies seen on Ford S-MAX and Galaxy, and also
introduce some new features unique to the new model.
The Ford team is also determined to ensure that new
Mondeo will maintain its position as the best CD car for
driving quality, with superior driving dynamics, and
targeting best-in-class steering, ride and handling. A
wide range of dependable Ford powertrains will be
offered, from the powerful and well-proven Ford Duratorq
2.0-litre TDCi diesel and a high-performance 2.5-litre
turbocharged Duratec petrol engine derived from that
fitted to the new S-MAX, to efficient 1.6-litre Duratec
petrol and 1.8-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines with
outstanding fuel economy. Continued. -6- Full series
information, technical specifications and data for the
new Mondeo range will be revealed in 2007.
"The new Mondeo Wagon we are previewing at Paris is
aimed at preparing our customers for the most exciting
and high quality Ford CD car we have ever delivered,"
concluded Joe Bakaj, Ford of Europe's Vice President of
Product Development. "The finer technical details will
be kept secret for a few more months, but we believe
that the Paris showcar's dynamic and kinetic exterior
design and stylish, spacious new interior will give a
clear indication of how different the new Mondeo range
will be. We can't wait to launch it!"
