Ford Mondeo

The Ford Mondeo is a Mid-size/large (D-segment) car that was manufactured and marketed by Ford across five generations of models from 1993 to 2022. As a self-declared world car,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Mondeo was intended to consolidate the European Sierra, the Telstar in Asia and Australia, and the Tempo/Mercury Topaz in North America. The first two generations used the CDW27 platform, the third-generation model used the EUCD platform, the fourth-generation used the CD4 platform, and the fifth-generation used the C2 platform.

Ford announced in March 2021 that it would discontinue Mondeo production in Europe and Argentina with no direct successor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Production of the Mondeo ended in Europe in March 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Mondeo nameplate derives from the Latin word mundus, meaning "world".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

First generation (1992)

Template:Main Template:Multiple image The first-generation Mondeo was introduced in November 1992, with sales beginning in March 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Intended as a world car, the first-generation Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing were shared between Ford USA in Dearborn and Ford of Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It replaced the Ford Sierra in Europe, the Ford Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while it is also sold as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in North America to replace the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mk I car only. Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared initially with the Contour built in Kansas City Assembly in Claycomo, Missouri, and Cuautitlán Assembly were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Three body styles were available, which are saloon, liftback, and estate.

The mid-cycle facelift was launched in October 1996 leaving only the doors, the roof, and the rear quarter panels on the estate the same as the original model. The extensive redesign in 1996 was known as the Mondeo Mk II.Template:Clear

Second generation (2000)

Template:Main Template:Multiple image The second-generation Mondeo was introduced in October 2000. This Mondeo was considerably larger than its predecessor, while the basic chassis and suspension design was carried over from the previous generation along with the CDW27 platform. Following the standard setting interior of the Volkswagen Passat (B5) in 1996, Ford paid a great deal of attention to the second generation Mondeo's interior and was the first major American manufacturer to react to the new standard set by Volkswagen. Ford abandoned its New Edge design theme for the second generation, opting to take the Prodigy concept car as a design reference. Ford dispensed with the rounded American style interior of the first generation, and developed a more sober 'Germanic' design. Saloon, liftback, and estate body styles were available.

This Mondeo came to Mexico, replacing the North American built Ford Contour, and was sold from 2001 to 2007, when the Ford Fusion replaced it. The second generation Mondeo was never sold in Australia, as Ford Australia argued that the segment of the market was in decline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Third generation (2007)

Template:Main Template:Multiple image The third-generation Mondeo was introduced in late 2006. Based on the EUCD platform developed with Volvo, the platform was the same as that used in the new large MPVs Galaxy and S-MAX. Its design theme was first<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> shown as the Ford Iosis concept at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, which gave an indication to the look of the Mk IV Mondeo. The new car, in estate bodystyle, was pre-launched in 'concept' form at the Paris Motor Show in September 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As with the previous model, the Mk IV Mondeo was not marketed in the United States or Canada because Ford sold the same-class Fusion, which was launched in 2005. The 2007 Mondeo marked the return to the Australian market after a six-year absence, due to a resurgence in popularity of medium-sized cars in the last few years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2010, a mid-cycle facelifted Mk IV Mondeo was introduced with some changes, such as the new EcoBoost engines and LED daytime running lights. The front and rear of the car had minor changes, the biggest being the new design theme dubbed as the Kinetic Design. The interior was improved, with a use of better materials.Template:Clear

Fourth generation (2012)

The fourth-generation Mondeo was presented by Ford at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Due to the merge of both models, the vehicle was marketed as the Fusion in the Americas. With a design team based in Detroit for the planning and global launch phase,<ref name="ACParis">Template:Cite web</ref> the new model took styling cues from the previous generation Ford Mondeo, and previous generation American Ford Fusion. Like then current redesigns of the Focus and Fiesta before it, the new Mondeo used a global platform shared with the now-identical Fusion marketed in North America.<ref>2015 FORD FUSION RINGS THE CHANGES, CAR, 15 July 2014</ref>

The range does not include five- or six-cylinder engines, and on launch had a complete range of Ford EcoBoost engines.

Ford ended Mondeo production at their Valencia Plant in March 2022 as buyer interest shifted to crossovers and SUVs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear

Fifth generation (2022)

Template:Main Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image The fifth-generation Mondeo saloon was released in China in January 2022. Ford confirmed that the model would not be marketed in Europe and North America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is marketed in the Middle East as the Ford Taurus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Clear

Motorsport

File:Will Hoy 1998 BTCC.jpg

Will Hoy driving for Ford Mondeo Racing in the 1998 British Touring Car Championship

File:Racing Ford Mondeo.jpg

Ford Mondeo as driven by Alain Menu for Ford Team Mondeo in the 2000 British Touring Car Championship

The Mondeo competed in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) between 1993 and 2000. The cars, prepared by former series champion Andy Rouse, did not enter the 1993 season until the eighth round, at Pembrey, in Wales. Rouse and Paul Radisich were the drivers in the Mondeo's first season. Radisich went on to win the FIA World Touring Car Cup in both 1993 and 1994 driving a Mondeo.

Ford ran a factory-sponsored team, called Ford Team Mondeo, for eight seasons. Andy Rouse Engineering ran the cars from 1993 to 1995, when West Surrey Racing ran the works team from 1996 to 1998, with Prodrive taking over beginning 1999.

In 2000, the team expanded from two cars to three when drivers Alain Menu and Anthony Reid were joined by 1998 series champion Rickard Rydell, recruited from the disbanded Volvo team. The team dominated the season of 2000, finishing 1–2–3 (Menu–Reid–Rydell) in the drivers' standings and winning the manufacturers' championship by 104 points.

A complete overhaul of the BTCC following the season of 2000 had the Super Touring regulations scrapped as the series moved towards less expensive, but slower race cars. Ford withdrew from BTCC competition prior to 2001.

The touring cars, after their withdrawal, went on sale to the public and are now in the hands of other drivers. Two of the 2000 series Mondeos have been spotted in the BRSCC series of LMA Euro saloons; drivers known to own them at present are Bernard Hogarth and Alvin Powell.

The Mk I and Mk II Mondeo have followed many other previous Ford models into the world of banger racing in the United Kingdom, and with plenty of older cars being available for very little money, the Mondeo is now a popular and relatively easy car to race. The Zetec engines are converted to run off a carb set upTemplate:Clarify and the Mondeo bodyshell is fairly tough, but they are proving rather rigid, with many drivers getting injured in high-speed impacts. Mondeos are proving more popular than the Sierra and Mk III Granada.

In Argentina, the Mondeo is one of several cars to compete in the local Top Race racing category; its body is handcrafted in reinforced fiberglass. The Mondeo is so far the most successful car in the category, with three championship titles in the TRV6 class and two championship titles in the Top Race series (formerly Top Race Junior).

The winning drivers in the TRV6 class were Omar Martínez (2006), José María López (2009), and Guido Falaschi (Copa América 2010) with the Mondeo II (based on the MkIII Mondeo), and in the TR Junior category, the championship was won by Gonzalo Perlo in 2008 and Humberto Krujoski in 2010. In 2009, the Mondeo III (based on the MkIV Mondeo) bodystyle was approved and presented as an option within the category; however, the Mondeo II bodywork is still being used.

Similarly, in the United States, the Fusion/Mondeo Mk 5 bodywork began use for the sixth-generation body in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting in 2013, replacing the current Mazda6-based Fusion.

Sales

Year	Europe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	China<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1997	322,716
1998	310,809
1999	227,167
2000	178,130
2001	286,794
2002	250,316
2003	199,370
2004	183,357	22,988
2005	165,303	40,664
2006	131,749	48,922
2007	148,818	32,062
2008	163,262	12
2009	117,565	0
2010	96,898	0
2011	86,471	0
2012	69,871	0
2013	50,180	35,747
2014	45,405	109,806
2015	79,673	120,202
2016	70,900	103,274
2017	56,173	112,158
2018	49,596	45,405
2019	39,555	17,642
2020	21,222	25,027
2021	12,584<ref>https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/Europe/en/2022/01/Sales/FoE%20Q4%20sales%20tables.pdf</ref>	33,302

See also

• Mondeo Man, stereotypical figure in the 1990s England

External links

• Ford Mondeo UK (archived)
• Ford Mondeo Australia (archived)
• Ford Mondeo Sport Club - biggest fan club at Taiwan