First look: Ford's production Mondeo breaks cover

WE SAW the curvaceous concept debut at the Paris motor show last September and we've heard Ford Australia's desire to import the Blue Oval's redesigned mid-size Mondeo - now Ford of Europe has issued details, specifications and pictures of the all-new Mondeo sedan, hatch and wagon.

Likely to be sold here in sedan guise to rival upmarket mid-sizers like Mazda6, Honda's Accord and Subaru's Liberty, Australia's Mondeo would be priced well above Holden's upcoming Daewoo-based Epica and the likes of Hyundai's Sonata and Kia's Magentis.

In Europe, the three-car Mondeo range will be available across four trim levels: Edge, Zetec, Ghia and Titanium X.

Engines will include a Volvo-sourced 167kW 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, a Mazda-sourced 120kW 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol and Ford’s own 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol units. Two (1.8-litre and 2.0-litre) TDCi turbo-diesels will also be sold in Europe.

Set to make its production premiere at the Geneva motor show next month, the all-new Mondeo follows a succession of successful predecessors, which together attracted more than four million sales globally since 1993.

"The exciting new Mondeo is very important to us", said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain's Chairman and Managing Director. "It's probably the most elegant car we've ever launched, and it's certainly the most technologically-advanced." Remaining faithful to the Paris concept's "kinetic design" language, the production Mondeo will feature standard ESP stability control, the Ford Easyfuel capless refuelling system, an alarm, air-conditioning, "follow-me-home" lights, a trip computer and an MP3 connector socket.

Options in Europe will comprise keyless entry and keyless start with a "Ford Power" start button, Ford's new "Convers+" Human Machine Interface (HMI) instrument display, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert, Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control with Hill Launch Assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Ford claims the new Mondeo will feature wiser wheel tracks, an "optimised" front MacPherson strut suspension design, a new four-link Control Blade rear suspension design, an isolated rear subframe and an "optimised" steering system.

Together, they're said to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, as well as improved sound quality. Ford claims best-in-class wind noise.

The previous Mondeo was introduced here in 1997 and withdrawn in 2000, barely 12 months after it was revamped and a sports-oriented ST24 variant was added.

However, Australia's now-booming medium sedan sector should be enough temptation for Ford to introduce the all-new model here. If Mondeo results in more substitutional sales from Falcon, at least the dividends will stay in Broadmeadows' coffers.