If you thought the presentation of the new European-market 2013 Ford Mondeo at the Blue Oval’s “Go Further” brand event in Holland today wouldn’t hold any substantial surprises since it’s basically a rebadged version of the North American market Fusion sedan with different powerplants, you’re wrong. Very wrong.
Along with the four-door sedan variant of the Mondeo, Ford also premiered the two more body styles, the sleek five-door liftback and the more spacious and practical Wagon (Estate) models, both of which were uniquely developed for Europe, which means don’t expect to see either in North America.
While Ford is keeping most details close to its chest until the world debut of the 2013 Mondeo series at the Paris Motor Show later this month, it did reveal some details about the powertrain options for Europe.
Besides the 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine with 123HP (125PS) and 170Nm (125 lb-ft) of torque that we told you about on Wednesday, Ford confirmed the availability of a hybrid variant.
The new Mondeo HEV is Ford’s first hybrid passenger car for Europe, and will be offered exclusively in sedan form. The hybrid model combines a specially-developed 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 35kW lithium-ion battery
Another first for the Mondeo will be a diesel-powered all-wheel drive variant.
Some of the features highlighted by Ford during the presentation are the full LED headlamps, rear inflatable seatbelts, a segment-first SYNC with MyFord Touch infotainment system featuring voice-activated in-car connectivity, an eight-inch color touchscreen and the ability to act as a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices.
“This is the most premium Mondeo we’ve ever built and the most premium vehicle Ford’s loyal European customers have ever been offered,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. “It raises the bar in its segment in terms of style, technology and quality.”
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