The all-new Ford Mondeo debuted at the 2006 Paris Motor Show recently. No doubt Ford in Ireland are keen to have it in their dealers’ showrooms, with the launch here scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.

“The new Mondeo is critical to the Ford of Europe business,” said John Fleming, president and CEO of Ford of Europe.

“It has always been a major player in the European CD segment, and, with over four million owners looking for us to deliver something special, we have every intention of meeting their significant expectations with this all-new model.”

This Mondeo follows the critically acclaimed S-MAX and Galaxy models and Ford say it will be more comfortable, more spacious, and have more features, while remaining affordable.

As a result of Ford’s ‘shared technologies’ initiative, the new Mondeo has much of its architecture and technology in common with S-MAX and Galaxy. This completes a €715m investment in modernising Ford’s Genk plant in Belgium, and, from early 2007, new Mondeo body styles will join S-MAX and the new Galaxy on the same assembly lines.

The company says the new Mondeo is “striking and unmistakably” a member of the Ford family with its ‘kinetic design’.

The new Mondeo will incorporate all of the key ‘kinetic design’ elements: dynamic lines and a three-plane, plan front-end view; full surfaces; strong shoulders; bold wheel lips; a rising belt line; and a distinctive kick-up of the window graphic at the C-pillar.

Immediately evident in the new model’s appearance is the distinctive front end, with its chamfered corners and the deep offset between the top of the bonnet and the front wings. Seen from above, the three-plane plan view of the frontal area is immediately obvious.

The new family face of Ford is represented at the front end by a premium-feel, large, upper grille opening, and an inverted trapezoidal lower grille. Large and distinctive headlamps and lower fog lamps are typical.

A muscular shoulder line runs through the side of the car to a high point at the rear.

This produces a dynamic window graphic when the so-called daylight opening (DLO) is viewed in profile, and an upward kick at the rear of the DLO further emphasises the feeling of motion. Distinctive rear lamps also feature carefully designed graphics that enhance the premium quality.

’Kinetic design’ themes are carried through to the new interior, which features quality surfaces, materials and finishes. Here, dynamic lines and surfaces are again evident, and the low-profile instrument panel provides generous cabin space for front-seat occupants. The flow-through centre console allows the gear shifter to be located high, and within easy ergonomic reach of the driver.

Rear seat headroom and legroom have also been scrutinised by the Mondeo development team, and these have been maximised for occupant comfort and safety.

A wide range of dependable Ford power trains will be offered, from the powerful and well-proven Ford Duratorq, 2.0-litre, TDCi diesel to 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 CD car we have ever delivered,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford of Europe’s vice president of product development.

“The finer technical details will be kept secret for a few more months, but we believe that the Paris showcar’s dynamic and kinetic exterior design and stylish, spacious new interior will give a clear indication of how different the new Mondeo range will be. We can’t wait to launch it,” he said.

By Declan Colley