New Mondeo is set to be yet another Ford winner

ONE of the most significant UK motoring events in the volume sector this year will be the much delayed launch of the all new Ford Mondeo which starts from £20,795 and is available as a five door and estate plus a four door hybrid bodystyle writes Bryan Longworth.

New Mondeo should have been on the UK streets over two years ago but due to production problems in mainland Europe the impressive new Ford which is now being produced at the Valencia plant in Spain had to wait until this year for its UK debut and it has only just gone on sale.

As a result of this delay in Europe the American version of the Mondeo badged as the Fusion has been on sale for two years as visitors to the States will probably have noticed and may even have driven it when hiring a holiday or business car.

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This is a significant new chapter for Ford with the latest Mondeo making high specification and premium features accessible to even more drivers including their industry first inflatable rear seatbelt and Ford’s first LED headlights in Europe.

The new car also debuts new pedestrian technology that can identify people in the road ahead or who could cross the vehicle’s path and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings.

The inflatable airbag rear seat belts that are a world first and an option will reduce rear seat injuries - the groundbreaking inflatable rear seatbelt combines the attributes of an airbag and a conventional seatbelt.

New Mondeo is a very handsome and quite a large car with a premium look about it and a roomy and up market interior which will help its UK sales programme for since the previous model was launched the competition is much more intense with rivals from Germany such as Audi, VW and BMW in particular.

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There is a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines including the first ever Ford hybrid electric car which achieves 99g/km and 67.3mpg and there will also be a four wheel drive diesel available.

The new Mondeo will also be the first car in its segment to be fitted with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost three cylinder petrol engine developing 125PS and CO2 emissions of 119g/km and offering 55.4mpg.

It will be interesting to see the reaction to the three pot power unit which will have benefit in kind tax advantages and how it will go down with the legendary Mondeo Man whose main motoring trips involve pounding the UK motorway network with a more powerful engine under the bonnet of the repmobile!

The interior and load area are both very roomy and the instrumentation is very impressive with a large infotainment touch screen plus a voice command system for various functions including one for the driver to say such things as “I’m hungry” and the screen will display restaurants in the area where the car is being driven!

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This latest Mondeo is a very impressive car in every way and the long UK launch delay has enabled Ford to tweak the car which no doubt will help to ensure it will again be the market leader.

Fact File

Model: New Ford Mondeo.

Engines: Petrol and diesel plus hybrid.

Drive: Front wheel drive plus 4x4.

Body styles: Five door, estate and hybrid saloon.

Prices: From £20,795.