Ford focuses on quality with improved new Mondeo

Ford may have fallen a little short when it came to dealing out the new-edge design to its Mondeo.

However, recent testing of the new car showed they’ve pulled out all the stops and left few, if any, stones unturned in the technical, mechanical, space and safety departments.

Available in Ireland from this month in saloon and hatchback formats and with a terrific-looking large estate version due early in 2001, the new Mondeo is expected to have a starting price of around £18,000.

While my initial reaction of seeing the Mondeo for the first time was somewhat less than first seeing the Focus, it would only be fair to admit that all the signs show the Mondeo to have the same kind of top-notch build quality as its smaller stable-mate.

More distinctive than its predecessor - of which 2.5 million were sold in 60 countries - the new Mondeo has smoother curves and crisper lines. New-edge style headlamps, Cougar-style rear lamps and Focus-style wheel arches filled with 16 inch wheels help to give this car a fine stance.

Not quite in the ‘drop dead gorgeous’ league, the new Mondeo’s sights are clearly more focused on the quality and accommodation of the likes of the VW Passat. Depending on which way you view the new Ford, you can detect cues from VW and Audi.

Measuring 150mm longer and with a wider track than the previous Mondeo, interior accommodation for the new model isn’t too far away from what was on offer from the old Ford Scorpio.

At the same time, Ford did not push boot space back in order to achieve this excellent interior spaciousness. Offering 500 litres of boot capacity, the company also aims to satisfy those in the semi-removal business. Gaining access to the new Ford is also easier because of the wider door openings.

There is no falseness or silicone implants about this Mondeo. It’s a car that clearly says that what you see is what you get. Feel the door handles, open and close the doors and its new-found ‘upmarketness’ shows.

Developed in just 24 months, 1,500 hours were spent in the wind tunnel in order to achieve drag figures of 0.30 (saloon) and 0.31 (hatchback).

The new Mondeo opens a new chapter for Ford in so far as this car helped pioneer a development process that will see the company triple the pace of its new model introduction.

Back in 1993 when the Mondeo was first introduced, it set the precedent of being the first mainstream car to have a driver airbag included as standard. Seven years on sees an even greater emphasis placed on safety.

Adapting what they call IPS (Intelligent Protection System), the front airbags have the ability to inflate at different speeds, depending on the type and severity of the impact and the size of the occupants. Side airbags are built into the front seats and curtain airbags are also fitted to provide protection at head level.

As well as having a collapsible pedal structure and active head restraints, the active safety side sees ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and all-round disc brakes as standard equipment. Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Stability Control Programmes (ESP) are optional.

With the 1.6 litre having fallen by the wayside, the new Mondeo will be powered by a range of brand new Duratec engines. The starting level 1.8 litre petrol will have 110 and 125 bhp options while there will also be a 145 bhp 2.0 litre unit.

Distantly related to the new Transit van, the 2.0 litre direct-injected turbocharged turbo-diesel will have a choice of 90 bhp or 115 bhp engines. A 2.5 V6 petrol completes the line-up.

While the new Mondeo is said to produce 50% fewer emissions than a 1995 Zetec-engined Mondeo, another statistic shows one Cortina back in 1977 produced as many emissions as 50 new Mondeos. Service intervals are extended to 12,5000 miles and work time has, we were told, been reduced by 18 per cent on the 22 most common non-routine repairs.

Underneath, virtually every component of the suspension system has been revised.

Inside the car boasts new surface qualities which relay a more up-market, Germanic appearance. This blends well with the new controls, dash layout, fascia and steering wheel.

During the test period conducted on foreign soil, the new Mondeo proved to be a substantial car with excellent driving qualities. So much seems to have improved that seeing is believing. Ford has done an excellent job with exception of the small door mirrors.

The car comes in LX, Zetec, Ghia and Ghia X versions. All models come with air conditioning and those features mentioned while a DVD multi-media system, electronic parking sensors and xenon headlamps are optional extras on all models.

At the time of going to press Europe’s two largest markets, Germany and the UK, have just given the new Mondeo Best-In Class insurance ratings. It will be interesting to see if Irish insurance companies follow suit.