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Ford Mondeo ST200


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by Murph

Earlier this year The Car Enthusiast was lucky enough to have a Ford Mondeo ST24 as part of a long term test, for approximately eight thousand miles. When the car went back one or two people in the office were sad to see it go. The cynics were glad to see it depart as they felt it was lacking the sort of rapid performance that one would associate with the image created by the Ford designers. I spent many miles behind the wheel of the ST24 and enjoyed every minute with the car.

On a recent trip to Belgium I was lucky enough to be offered a test drive in the new addition to the Ford stable of fast machinery, the
Not many people will realise the potential that this Mondeo has
Mondeo ST200. I arrived at a track near the town of Genk which is the home of Mondeo, to find a new blue ST200. It looked good in the sunshine. The five-door hatchback looks smart with many of its exterior styling characteristics coming from the ST24. What immediately took my attention was the twin chrome tail pipes cutting through the deep rounded rear bumper. This is something I have not seen on a Ford since the Capri 2.8i. The car sits on new design 14-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with low profile tyres. The body kit fitted to the car which includes rear spoiler, side skirts with deep front and rear bumpers make the ST200 look mean and purposeful but maintains an understated presence. Mesh is used to good effect on the front grille and in the air vents on the lower part of the front bumper.

This car first broke cover at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1998. Since then the market place for hot family saloons has seen the introduction of the Honda Integra Type R and the Vauxhall Vectra GSi. Breaking into this market meant that Ford had to come up with something special beneath the skin of the Mondeo. The ST200 badge was derived from the 200bhp produced by the tuned version of the superb 2.5-litre V6 Duratec engine. Lift the bonnet and there is not much to tell you that the powerplant is different from the ST24 version apart from the ST200 badge. Don't be fooled. The Dunton based engineers managed to wring the power out by making surprisingly few changes to the base unit. The fitting of higher lift camshafts, a dual air inlet system and modified exhaust system, hence the twin pipe arrangement, resulted in a power output of 202bhp at 6500rpm. Modifications have also been carried out on the cylinder head.

The estate version is not yet on sale - soon hopefully!

Out on the track the car is smooth but so is the ST24. Push hard and one begins to benefit from the engine tweaks. Hit 4000rpm and the car picks up pace right through the rev band. It keeps going without loosing breath, unlike the de-tuned V6. It still sounds good as you accelerate hard. Top speed is 140mph, and 0-60mph is reached in 7.3 seconds. Through the bends the handling matches the performance. The ST200 enjoyed the benefit of having an already class leading chassis so it was not too difficult to enhance the ride and handling. Body roll has almost been eliminated. The car is not short on grip, which enables composure on changing road surfaces. The pin sharp steering
assists the driver in exploring the car's wild side. After the Puma this is one of the most well balanced "fun to drive" cars on offer by the Blue Oval at present.

The cabin has had a minor makeover to help distinguish the ST200 from other Mondeos. The touches used make the car more distinctive. The dials are blue with the ST200 logo placed discreetly in the middle of the speedo. The instruments are housed in a carbon fibre effect surround. The carbon fibre finish is carried onto the door pull inserts also. One of the few faults I found with the car was the tacky plastic gearknob, also in carbon fibre finish. It looks cheap and feels terrible. I suggest it should be replaced with a leather item to match the splendid leather sports steering wheel. The highlight of the interior are the very supportive, leather trimmed, Recaro seats. The massive side bolsters keep the occupants firmly in place. The combination of good seating and an adjustable reach and rake steering create a brilliant driving position. Entertainment is provided by Ford's own radio/cassette system with a six CD autochanger.

Overall this is a remarkable improvement over the ST24. I may not have agreed with the office cynics but at least now I can understand what they were whining about. Still I'm sure when we get the chance to have one for a longer test there will be a fight for the keys. This is now a well-sorted hot family saloon offering good value for money at �23,000. Unfortunately only 6000 will be available so get your order in quickly. (Hope you like blue...)
Murph

1999 Ford Mondeo ST200
  • Engine: 2.5-litre DOHC V6 24v Duratec
  • Capacity: 2495cc
  • Bore x Stroke: 81.6mm x 79.5mm
  • Compression Ratio: 10.3:1
  • Power: 202bhp @ 6500rpm
  • Torque: 235Nm @ 5500rpm
  • Wheels: 17 inch aluminium alloy
  • Performance: 140mph, 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds
Not a sports car, but a serious motorway cruiser

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