The industry has been talking about world cars for a long time, but they have rarely had the desired success. This also applies to Ford: The Escort, planned as a global model in 1980, had practically no identical parts in the series. And the first generation of the Mondeo was sold as the Contour in America - where it turned out to be too compact. But now the US company is making a big hit under the aegis of the “Ford One” program. The smaller series are already largely identical, now the Mondeo follows. It already exists in America - and there we examined several versions of it.
Exclusive: That's how the next Ford Mondeo drives
Although the middle age in the US listens to the model name Fusion, but basically it is the same car. And that almost goes beyond its segment: Proud 487 centimeters measures the new Mondeo - nine inches more than the current generation of the model. With 148 centimeters in height and 185 centimeters wide, however, the new one is a bit narrower and flatter than previously advised. In the US, there is only a four-door, in Europe, the focus is on the hatchback with large tailgate and the tournament. Incidentally, the design language has been upgraded with a radiator grille inspired by Aston Martin; technically, the body remains conventional: it is not distinguished by its special lightweight construction.
The sense of space is still generous, and the trunk can be significantly increased by folding rear seat. In the offered hybrid variants, however, a significant portion of the luggage compartment is occupied by the voluminous battery pack. The pass-through shrinks to the extent of a letter slot, of variability can be no question.
Extremely European, the cockpit sounds like; Optics and feel correspond approximately to the standard, for example, a VW Passat submits. However, the central screen on which the "My Ford Touch" system can be operated requires some getting used to. Ford has already improved significantly in the US, and the most important functions can now also be operated via fixed buttons. For the rest, the sober dashboard would suit some decor well; the 2015 upcoming top version called Vignale should drive away the rental car charm. The Vignale models take the place of the earlier Ghia models, which have only recently disappeared in favor of the “Titanium” variants because their model designation was considered old-fashioned. Ironically, the body builder Vignale was swallowed by none other than Ghia in 1969.
Among the variants driven by us was the 1,6-liter turbo gasoline engine with 126 kW / 176 PS the biggest surprise: coupled to a precise and easily switchable six-speed transmission four-cylinder enters spirited and brings the Mondeo relatively fast on country road speed , Hardly better it can be the 2,0-liter turbo gasoline engine with 177 kW / 240 horsepower: Its considerable extra power is partially swallowed by the six-speed automatic, and its benefits he can only play in the upper speed range. Common to both models is the pleasant acoustics; the vibrations are well insulated, the machines sound sonorous. Ford will probably also include a 1,5-liter turbo in the program.
For fans of the fancy, there is a plug-in hybrid called Energi: It is powered by a 2,0-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine and an 85 kW / 116 PS strong electric motor, the maximum system performance is 141 kW / 192 PS. In hybrid mode, it seamlessly switches back and forth between the drive units; the muffled howling of the internal combustion engine is underlined by the continuous CVT automatic transmission. However, if you take it deliberately, you can also drive up to 30 kilometers - or after 130 km / h peak after an endless start. At the same time, the driver can devote himself to the display, which rewards particularly thrifty driving with a magnificently thriving digital plant. Bleefuß, however, is acknowledged by leaking leaves by return, until finally only a plucked stem remains. The actual benefit of the hybrid for the environment is, moreover, left undecided, especially since there will be the Mondeo in Europe with other, very economical units - including a 1,0-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and several diesel engines.
The suspension of the Mondeo offers a good compromise between tautness and long-distance comfort. The precise steering behavior and the pleasantly weighted power steering prepare an unusually high level of driving pleasure in this segment. Only the hybrid variant is subjectively a little slower. Incidentally, driving comfort is limited by strong wind noise, which comes to the fore at about 140 km / h and will hopefully be put on the market launch in Europe.
When the Mondeo comes to Europe in autumn 2014, he will look like some old acquaintance on some observers, after all, he was already presented in the autumn 2012 at the Paris Salon. Probably also because of the sales figures of the predecessor suffered significantly last year. Rarely has a world car been so eagerly awaited.
[=” ” ]An article by Jens Meiners, provided by Auto-Medienportal.net