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Ford's oft-delayed fourth generation Mondeo, based on the US-market Ford Fusion and technically already a two-year-old design, is at last available officially to order in Ireland, for delivery in late November. The Mondeo will arrive initially in two higher-end trim levels and with diesel engines only; petrol, four-wheel drive, hybrid and more basic models will follow in 2015.
What's arriving first are Zetec and Titanium spec cars running either the familiar 115hp 1.6-litre TDCi diesel or an updated 2.0-litre TDCi diesel, which now pumps out 150hp. The Mondeo will be available in four- and five-door guises, plus as an estate from the get-go - and both manual and Powershift dual-clutch automatic gearboxes will be available. Prices will start from €28,995, with cheaper versions coming next year.
Also due in 2015 will be the petrol variant including the one we're most intrigued to drive - the version sporting the 125hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. It's a cracking unit, but how will it fare hauling around a tonne-and-a-half of Mondeo? For those seeking a little more petrol-powered grunt, there'll also be a new four-cylinder 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine with 160hp, as well as a hybrid model based around a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a tax-beating CO2 figure of 99g/km. There will also be an optional all-wheel drive diesel version, the first four-wheel drive Mondeo for almost two decades.
As with all cars in this segment, the Mondeo now effectively has to compete with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A3 and A4 saloons, so tech is on the high side. Ford says that its engineers have focused on providing the Mondeo with (car launch buzz phrase klaxon) 'functional harmony', which basically seems to be a marketing-speak way of describing the traditional slick Ford feel to the steering, controls and handling balance. This time around, those sensations will be augmented by a new driving-mode select system, called Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control, which allows the usual options of Sport, Comfort and Eco modes to be picked and chosen from.
The Mondeo will also be bringing LED headlights to the family saloon sector. Combining full-LED headlamps offering daylight-mimicking light clarity with Ford's Adaptive Front Lighting System, the Mondeo adjusts the headlight beam angle and intensity to match the driving environment. There's also an updated automated parking system that can get you into (and out of) nose-in car park spaces as well as parallel parking.
Additional driver assistance features include Ford's Active City Stop collision avoidance system, which readies the brakes if a potential impact is detected and - if the driver does not respond - will automatically apply the brakes at speeds of up to 40km/h; plus Lane Keeping Aid, which applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into lane if drifting is detected. Ford's Sync infotainment system will also be included, complete with an eight-inch touchscreen, and Ford says that its new voice control system means you can issue commands in colloquial, conversational speak and the car will understand what you're on about. For instance, if you say "I'm hungry" then the satnav will call up a list of nearby restaurants.
There's also the inclusion of Ford's MyKey system that allows the master key holder to set prescribed speed, audio and mileage limits for those using spare keys - in other words, making sure your teenage child can't break for the border at breakneck speed with the radio blasting full volume.
And the official word?
"The all-new Mondeo is a significant new chapter for a car that has been one of Ireland's favourite vehicles since it first arrived here more than 20 years ago," said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford Ireland. "All-new Mondeo will make high specification and premium features accessible to even more drivers - including our industry-first Inflatable Rear Seatbelt and Ford's first LED headlights in Europe."
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