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2007 Mondeo - Ford US need to send their designers overseas to learn..

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THE Ford Motor Co has taken the covers off the wagon version of its all-new Mondeo medium-sized car which, as well as being a remote contender for sale in Australia, is a strong indication of what the next-generation Falcon will look like.
Making its world debut at the Paris motor show which opens today, the new Mondeo borrows strong design elements from the Iosis concept car unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt motor show – the same car that Ford executives, including the Blue Oval’s chief designer J Mays, confirmed uses similar design
DNA to the 2008 Falcon.
Despite a resurgent medium-sized sector and a serious decline in large-car sales in Australia, Ford Australia spokesperson Sinead McAlary said it was unlikely the Mondeo would be reintroduced to Australia as a mid-size contender– but did not rule it out. “We’re very much of the belief of never say
never,” she said. “But that segment (mid-size) hasn’t changed a lot in terms of sales.
“The large-car segment has gone down but people aren’t going to medium – they’re going to small and light cars.” When the Iosis was unveiled in Frankfurt last September, J Mays confirmed that the Falcon – codenamed Orion and due for release next March – would borrow Iosis cues, including its
dramatic front-end treatment.
“What we’re looking at right now is that Ford of Europe and Ford Asia-Pacific are working a lot more closely together right now, as to a certain extent they are with Ford of America,” Mr Mays said. “And we’re all sharing lessons
learned about future design DNA.
“Will this be a direct reflection on what the Falcon looks like? No. But there are elements of this that you would find in the front end of the vehicle and certain aspects of it.” Ford described the Iosis as a “saloon that thinks it’s a coupe” and it is clear the Mondeo wagon follows the same theme, sharing the
rising shoulder line, strongly defined grille and headlights and bulging wheel-arches. Ford of Europe showed photographs of the wagon version of the Mondeo late last week, keeping its powder dry for the sedan and hatch
versions – which might still be shown when the curtains rise in Paris.
Roomier, safer and offering a more upmarket ambience than the current model, the all-new Mondeo goes on sale in Europe early next year and shares much with the S-MAX and Galaxy people-movers, including the production line at Ford’s Genk plant in Belgium. Ford will offer a range of body styles and
performance variants for Mondeo, but it chose to preview the wagon first because of its importance in the European market.
“The wagon body style is very important in the C/D segment so it is appropriate that we show this derivative in Paris first,” Ford of Europe’s design director Martin Smith said.
“The new Mondeo’s wagon body style really emphasises the sporty, dynamic and premium appearance of the new range.”
Inside, the car gains higher-quality trim and a new generation of entertainment systems, plus the next generation of Ford’s Human Machine Interface (HMI). Rear-seat headroom and legroom have also been improved over the current car. Several engines will be available at launch, including Ford’s Duratorq 2.0-litre TDCi diesel and a high-performance 2.5-litre turbocharged Duratec petrol engine derived from that fitted to the new S-MAX, to efficient 1.6-litre Duratec petrol and 1.8-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.
“The new Mondeo wagon we are previewing at Paris is aimed at preparing our customers for the most exciting and high quality Ford C/D car we have ever delivered,” Ford of Europe’s vicepresident of product development Joe Bakaj said.
And Falcon? Watch this space.
 
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