Wagon for facelifted Mondeo range

FORD Australia is ready to launch an upgraded Mondeo range in July, complete with updated versions of the current MA-series sedan and hatch and, for the first time, the new Mondeo wagon.

To be known internally as the MB-series, the 2009 Mondeo line-up goes on sale from August and will also comprise the debut of a striking Titanium-badged variant, while the Mondeo wagon will become available with three engine choices.

Taking the challenge directly to the mid-size Mazda6 wagon, Skoda Octavia wagon and Subaru’s new Liberty wagon, which will be released in Australia soon after, GoAuto sources say the new Mondeo wagon will be available with 103kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (TDCi), 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre petrol (Zetec) and 162kW/320Nm 2.5-litre turbo-petrol (XR5) engines, mirroring the Mondeo hatch line-up.

The Mondeo wagon rides on a 2850mm wheelbase and measures 4830mm long, 1886mm wide and 1548mm high, making it 52mm longer and 48mm higher than the sedan and hatch.

Like other Mondeos, it will come with a 750kg towing capacity, or 1200kg with trailer brakes (1600kg for turbocharged models). Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be available.

Also like the rest of the Mondeo range, standard wagon equipment will include ABS brakes with electronic stability control, air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, twin front and front-side airbags, cruise control, front/rear foglights and remote central locking, with a sunroof optional.

The revised Mondeo sedan and hatch range will also be blessed with the new wagon’s improved 2.0-litre TDCi turbo-diesel engine, which increases peak power from 96kW to 103kW.

Other changes to the existing Mondeo are expected to be cosmetic only, save for the addition of Europe’s popular Titanium variant, which essentially offers the look of the range-topping XR5 Turbo but without the performance (and price premium) of its Volvo-sourced turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine.

The Titanium Mondeo will be available with both 103kW 2.0 TDCi diesel and 118kW 2.3 petrol engines, mated to six-speed automatic transmissions.

While the entry-level Mondeo LX will continue with 16-inch steel wheels and other variants will still come with 17-inch alloys, the Titanium cars will feature 18-inch alloys like the XR5 Turbo hatch.

The additional ECOnetic version of the Mondeo announced this week in Europe will not be part of Australia’s revised 2009 line-up.

Available in both five-door hatch and wagon body styles overseas, the new 2.0-litre TDCi Mondeo ECOnetic variant joins the pre-existing 1.8-litre ECOnetic wagon, and returns average CO2 emissions of 139g/km.

However, Ford Australia says it continues to consider the local introduction of fuel-saving ECOnetic models, including both Mondeo variants, as well as the ECOnetic Focus and Fiesta.

Read more:

First drive: Euro Mondeo is Ford’s new medium

Mondeo wagon decision close

Ford considers three-way wagon war