Earlier this year, Ford had announced its plans to discontinue the Mondeo sedan in Europe next March and that there will be no replacement for the model. This was due to dwindling sales of the sedan in Europe, thanks to the onslaught of SUVs. The discontinuation of the Mondeo is part of a larger move by Ford to focus more on SUVs and slowly reduce its sedan line-up all over the world.
Now, a series of photographs on the Chinese Ministry for Industry and Information Technology’s website suggests that the Mondeo name will live on for an all-new saloon in China. The next-generation Ford Mondeo will be produced as a joint venture between Ford and Chinese firm Changan in Chongqing. The Mondeo was sold as the Fusion in the US, and suggestions are, the new Mondeo could be a replacement for the current Fusion. However, details on where the North American models would be sourced from is yet to be confirmed.
- Next-gen Ford Mondeo draws styling inspiration from Ford Evos
- New Mondeo based on Ford’s C2 platform that also underpins the Focus
- Will be sold only in China; could make it to the US
Next-gen Ford Mondeo: what do the leaked images reveal?
The new Mondeo –internally codenamed CD542 – draws heavily on the recently launched Evos crossover for design inspiration, featuring what Ford describes as its Potential Energy Aesthetics design lineage.
Key design elements on the sporty ST-Line model revealed here include an octagonal-shaped grille, slim LED headlights connected by a light band within the leading edge of the bonnet, separate daytime running lights and an A-shaped graphic for the air duct within the lower part of the front bumper.
Further back, the new Mondeo features a contoured bonnet, large wheelhouses housing wheels up to 19-inch in diameter, structured flanks with flush-fitting door handles, a coupé-style line roofline in a contrasting colour to the rest of the body and, as on the Evos, feature lines within the trailing part of the rear doors and rear quarter-panels. The rear is characterised by its short deck, Mustang-inspired tail-lights (also connected by a full-width light band) and a bumper featuring an integrated diffuser.
At 4,935mm long, 1,875mm wide and 1,500mm tall, the new Volkswagen Passat rival is 63mm longer, 23mm wider and 19mm taller than the Mk4 Mondeo that will be phased out of production at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain. It also rides on a wheelbase that is 104mm longer than that of today’s Mondeo, at 2,954mm.
Next-gen Ford Mondeo: interior and features
Although we’re yet to get a look at the interior of the new Mondeo, Chinese sources confirm that it will receive the same basic cabin architecture as the Evos, – including a dashboard housing a 1.1-metre-wide display. It also consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a separate 27-inch infotainment touchscreen.
It runs Ford's new Sync+ 2.0 UX system bundled with a Baidu-developed software package offering a virtual assistant with over-the-air software-update capability, Level 2 driver assistance functions and car-to-X technology.
Next-gen Ford Mondeo: what else is known?
The new Mondeo is based on Ford’s C2 platform, which also underpins the existing Mk4 Focus. It has been conceived for cars ranging in size from the Fiesta supermini to the Edge seven-seater SUV. Elements of the platform are also found in the Tourneo and Transit commercial vehicles.
Chinese market models are planned to offer a choice between turbocharged 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, with the latter offering up to 238hp. Also planned is a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, details of which are yet to be made official.
Ford in India
While the Mondeo was sold in India a few years ago, the model was discontinued due to poor sales. Earlier in September, Ford announced that it would cease manufacturing vehicles for sale in India, although the carmaker’s existing facilities continue to serve the export market for a few more months to come. While the carmaker has stopped producing cars for domestic sale, it has committed to continue full support operations with service, aftermarket parts and warranty services. Additionally, the American brand will continue to sell imported CBU models like the Mustang Mach E, among others.
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