Ford uncovers updated Mondeo in Europe
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 22nd Jan 2019
FORD has revealed an updated version of its Mondeo sedan and wagon at the Brussels motor show in Belgium, with updated diesel engines, tweaked styling and new advanced safety features ahead of a local arrival in the second quarter.
The biggest change in the update is the introduction of a pair of new Euro 6d-compliant EcoBlue 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines that replace the existing TCDi mills of the same capacity.
Two tunes are available – either 110kW or 140kW, while torque is unspecified but can be assumed to sit around the 350-400Nm range.
Selective catalytic reduction tech helps keep nitrous oxide levels down, while CO2 emissions are pegged at 127-133 grams of CO2 per km.
The EcoBlue diesels are paired to a new in-house eight-speed automatic transmission that features a restyled rotary shifter, and has been calibrated to optimise gear shifting in uphill, downhill and hard cornering scenarios.
Ford has also unveiled a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain for the Mondeo wagon, however Ford Australia has confirmed that the hybrid will not be making its way Down Under when the model is updated.
The hybrid teams a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine to an electric motor and 1.4kWh lithium-ion battery for a combined output of 138kW, mated to a power-split continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Ford has already offered the hybrid motor in overseas Mondeo sedans, but now the electrified powertrains is available in the wagon body style.
It is expected that in place of the hybrid, Ford Australia will continue to offer the 149kW/345Nm 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol engine.
Another addition to the updated Mondeo is the inclusion of adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, which has been enabled with the inclusion of the eight-speed auto.
In addition to adaptive cruise control, the Mondeo will also feature the Intelligent Speed Limiter function, which combines the car’s speed limiter and traffic sign recognition systems to ensure the vehicle does not exceed the speed limit.
Light visual updates have also been applied to the Mondeo, including restyled LED daytime running lights and foglights, new front bumper with a more pronounced lip spoiler, revised lower grille design and an enhanced upper trapezoidal grille shape. New 18- and 19-inch alloys options will also be available.
At the rear the Mondeo scores new C-shaped LED tail-lights, which are intersected by a full-width applique finished in satin silver or chrome.
Two new exterior paint hues – Blue Panther and Stealth grey – will be offered on European Mondeos.
More details on the Australian Mondeo update, including pricing and specification, will be revealed closer to its launch.
Mondeo sales slipped a considerable 35.3 per cent in 2018, from 2959 units to 1914.
It still finished as the third best-selling sub-$60,000 medium passenger car behind the Toyota Camry (15,269) and Mazda6 (3328).
