Detroit motor show 2012: Ford Mondeo

The new Ford Mondeo has been revealed at the Detroit motor show 2012.

The new Mondeo is the latest example of the One Ford strategy to develop global models: the car at the show is the new US Ford Fusion sedan (saloon), but the European-spec Ford Mondeo hatchback will be all but identical.

Ford's Fusion will be on sale in the US by the summer, but well have to wait until March 2013 for the all-new Mondeo.

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Whats new?
The new Mondeos exterior design blends elements of the current car with cues from Fords Evos Concept model, which was shown at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

Evos was designed to show Fords new design DNA, and the Mondeo shows this with most clearly at the front, with slim headlights and an Aston Martin-esque trapezoidal grille.

The Mondeos side profile and window line are reminiscent of the current cars, but a sharper crease now runs the length of the car, linking the front and rear lights. More dramatic rear styling includes a smoother bumper, curvier bootlid and slimmer tail-lights.

The current Mondeo is already one of the biggest cars in its class, and the next one will be 8cm longer. The new cars body is 3cm narrower, however, and the roofline is 2cm lower.

Whats it like inside?
With an identical wheelbase to the current car, the new Mondeo is just as roomy inside; the decrease in width and height don't translate into a noticeable reduction in passenger space.

European boot space figures arent available, but wed expect the new car will at least match the current models mammoth 540-litre capacity.

Ford says the interior is essentially a European design, but we can't help thinking that it has a more US-style appearance. The materials are good quality, however, and the centre console includes a large touch-screen and a Volvo-style 'floating' design.

What about the engines?
The Mondeo will be available with updated versions of the current cars turbocharged 1.6- and 2.0-litre engines.

The petrol options will be Fords latest Ecoboost units; a 1.6 with around 180bhp and a 2.0 with more than 200bhp are likely.

The diesel versions will be the big sellers, though. Wed expect a 1.6 with around 115bhp that at least matches the current cars 65.7mpg and 113g/km CO2 emissions figure; updated versions of the current 138bhp and 161bhp 2.0 TDCi and 197bhp 2.2 TDCi units are also likely.

Ford hasnt confirmed whether the new three-cylinder, 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine will be available for the Mondeo, but Ford insiders told us this engine is being tested in larger cars. Given that the 123bhp version would be an ideal replacement for the current entry-level 118bhp 1.6 petrol engine, it seems like a forgone conclusion.

A hybrid version is also due. Itll use an updated version of the current US Ford Fusions powertrain, with a 2.0-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. A plug-in version labelled Mondeo Energi will also be available.

How much will it cost?
Prices havent been confirmed but, if the Mondeo follows the pattern set by the Focus, theyre likely to be very close to (and possibly even lower than) the current cars. That means the petrol range is likely to start from around 18,000, while the cheapest diesel model will cost around 20,000.

Standard kit is likely to be comprehensive, and a range of new high-tech features will be available. A lane-keeping system uses a camera to monitor the road ahead and, if the car drifts out of its lane, it will either warn the driver or - in extreme cases - steer the car back on track. A blind-spot-warning system and one that can steer the car into a suitable parking space will also be offered.

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