23 August 2002: Ford Ireland has introduced a new automatic transmission to the top of the range Mondeo TDCi Executive model - the Durashift ‘5-tronic’.

The transmission adapts to the driver’s style and adjusts to varying driving conditions. Its ‘next-generation’ ATCU Control Unit allows it to select from 11 distinct operational modes in foreseeing what a manual driver would do in different circumstances.

Modes include ‘auto-sport’, ‘mountain’ and ‘downhill’, ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ mode, where it monitors its own operating temperature and enters cooling mode above 120C, and ‘stop and go’, where stress in urban conditions is minimised by the selection of 2nd gear instead of first in stop-start traffic for a less jerky operation.

With the Durashift 5-tronic, the driver can switch between automatic and manual mode at any time and at speed.

The Durashift 5-tronic has been designed specifically for the Duratec V6 of the Mondeo ST220 and the powerful TDCi common rail diesel in the Mondeo Executive.

The Mondeo Executive TDCi is available with the Durashift 5-tronic transmission from E37,507 ex-Cork.