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Ford wants to pick a fight. Image by Conor Twomey.

Ford wants to pick a fight
The Mondeo has been a highly successful car for Ford, but this new one needs to be even better. First impressions are good.

   



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| First Drive | Sardinia, Italy | Ford Mondeo |

An international car launch is a lot like a first date. I'm on my best behaviour, all mirror, signal mirror, while she's all dolled up to the nines, looking fantastic in her racy skirts and 18-inch heels. We meet, chat politely over a curvy mountain pass before I drop her back to anxious parents at the end of an all-too brief encounter. I've pushed her buttons to see how far she'll go and if she doesn't hasn't responded as I had hoped I tell her I'll call her as soon as I get back to Ireland and move on. You, on the other hard, will be married to her for at least a few years so it's very difficult for me to tell you that she's the one to bring home to Mammy. All I can ascertain during my hurried first acquaintance is whether or not there's any chemistry there. Will I be sitting by the phone waiting for that second date or am I hoping I never get that call so I can avoid the tedium of a week with this thing?

As first dates go, the Ford Mondeo is one of the big ones. It's almost like asking Pamela Anderson to join you for a film and a kebab - you know as soon as you get back everyone will want to know what she's really like. The Mondeo, as with the Pammy, carries certain expectations, too, particularly in the chassis department. Is it as good to drive as the old car? Is it any faster, any quieter, any bigger inside? The pressure to be something exceptional is immense because the old Mondeo set the bar so high in many ways. None of its competitors (Laguna, Avensis, Passat) ever came close to the Mondeo in terms of ride and handling even it began to feel distinctly old fashioned in terms of finish and plastic quality lately. Ford doesn't just have to make the new car drive better than the old one, it also has to be as better than the competition in terms of just about everything else, too. Anything less will be perceived as a disappointment. "Yeah, Pammy wasn't bad. If it wasn't for her annoying voice and lopsided mouth she'd be perfect."

Surprisingly, when I get my first look at the Mondeo in the metal, it's not as drop dead gorgeous as I had hoped. Riding on fussy 17-inch wheels and painted in a bland shade of offend-nobody blue, our test car is wearing flat shoes, a shapeless frock and very little make up to our first rendezvous. (Later I get my hands on a racy red one with the Focus ST's 18-inch wheels and it's a lot more pleasing to the eye). Ford can talk all it wants about 'Kinetic Design' and how they've used the shoulders and belt-line and fenders to create a sense of movement and muscle, the overriding impression I get when I see the car is that it's big and a bit business-like. It's a conservative and tasteful piece of styling which will no doubt appeal to its traditional conservative buyer, I suppose, but the Mondeo isn't going lure many customers into Ford showrooms on pure looks alone, I suspect. It’s the kind of car that grows on your over time rather than floors you the moment you lay eyes on it. It’s marriage material, not the kind you’d desire as a mistress.

Inside, things are equally as perplexing. On one hand the Mondeo's cabin looks clean, modern and ergonomically flawless, with a simple shape and a logical layout. Basic models have elegant, clear dials with a red trip-computer display in between the speedometer and tachometer which is controlled with wonderfully ease by the steering wheel-mounted phone-style toggle switches. The centre console has a slightly gaudy Sony stereo which at least is a doddle to operate while below that there's a climate control system which, again, is simple to use and understand. It's just a shame that none of the displays or graphics match one another, looking like a mismatched mish-mash of components rather than a simple cohesive design. It's only when you move up to the top Titanium X model with its LCD instrument bezel display and optional sat-nav system that there's a proper sense of unity amongst dashboard components, which means few Irish drivers will get to see the Mondeo's cabin look its best.

That aside, the Mondeo's cabin is a revelation. Soft-touch plastics don't just top the dashboard now, they continue all the way to the centre console and spill into the rear of the cabin. The switches, despite their varying styles, all operate with the same expensive and consistent click as you find in a premium vehicle. All the main contact points have been engineered to feel good and operate well, while the seats are also rather impressive, holding the occupants in place superbly well during hard cornering but remaining comfortable over longer distances, too. Best of all is the space that's now available inside the all-new Mondeo. There's so much elbow and legroom (front and rear) that you really have to remind yourself that this is still just a large family car, not an executive machine.

The Mondeo's party piece, however, is its handling. All Fords drive well and the old Mondeo was one of the company's very best cars, but this new model is something different. The poise and precision remain, as you'd expect, but now there's an extraordinary amount of refinement added into the mix as well. It's a true all-purpose car which can do the family car thing as well as any of its rivals (arguably better thanks to its huge, comfy and remarkably quiet cabin) but when the mood takes you it can also truly entertain as well. I had as much fun spanking the new Mondeo around Sardinia's superb mountain roads as I have had on many hot hatch and sports car launches - it really is that good. There's no one element that stands out, mind - it's the completeness of its dynamics that impresses. The steering, for example, is quick and responsive but not so over-geared it feels twitchy or unpredictable. Once committed to a corner, the standard suspension (a rather effective adaptive system is available as well) dials in just enough body-roll to relay to the driver just how hard the car is working. The tyres will yelp as the limits approach while the steering's weight is directly related to grips levels, too. A lift of the throttle tightens the line but the back remains supremely well planted - this isn't a hot hatch, after all, so tail-out antics aren't required. All it takes is a few corners to settle into the Mondeo's rhythm - it's as intuitive a car as I have encountered in a long, long time.

With the Mondeo Ford has even sorted the things it has no real need to perfect: the ideal positioning of the pedals for heel-toe driving; the outstandingly well-judged gearing and the excellent gear change, the incredible strong and fade-free brakes; the gentle intervention of the ESP system -these are all things that could have been done in a half-assed fashion and we'd still have loved the car, but the fact that Ford went to the trouble to get all these elements just so shows how important dynamics are to Ford's brand identity.

Engine-wise, I'm afraid I don't have too much to report. The car was launched with the 2.5T and 2.0 TDCi engines only and I have to confess I was enjoying the company of the 2.5T too much to spend any time with her chain-smoking sister. With 220hp and 320Nm the turbo-charged 5-cylinder engine is the most powerful offered in the new Mondeo at present (there are no current plans for an all-out ST model) and while it's performance figures suggest it might be something of a goer (0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds, 245km/h top speed) it actually feels (and sounds) quite flat in the new Mondeo. Blame the 1.5 tonne weight for the performance shortfall as well as the unimpressive 9.3 litres/100km thirst. We have to wait until next month to sample the volume Irish models (Ford expects around 40 percent to be 1.6-litre models, with almost all the rest diesel-powered) but our experience in the 2.5T model doesn't bode well for the lesser Mondeos' in terms of get-up-and-go.

Overall, though, the Mondeo is a winner. It oozes class and desirability like no Ford before it (with the possible exception of the early eighties Granada) and has a depth of talents to really make a lasting impression on you if you take one out for a drive. The sexy but high-maintenance 2.5T might be fond of a drink and will undoubtedly have an appetite for expensive boots, but lesser models will still take it easier on your pocket while still putting a smile on your face at least once a week. Yes, as first dates go this wasn't a bad one at all. The only question now is, should I call Ford or should I wait for them to call me?
2007 Ford Mondeo range overview

ModelUK (£ on-the-road)Ireland: (€ on-the-road)
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.6i Duratec (110PS) 5 speed manual five-door£14,995n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.6i Duratec (125PS) 5 speed manual four-door£15,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.6i Duratec (125PS) 5 speed manual five-door£15,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual four-door£16,195n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual five-door£16,195n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (100PS) 5 speed manual five-door£16,495n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.6i Duratec (125PS) 5 speed manual four-door£16,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.6i Duratec (125PS) 5 speed manual five-door£16,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 5 speed manual four-door£16,795n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 5 speed manual five-door£16,795n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual four-door£16,995n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual five-door£16,995n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual four-door£17,195€30,915
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual five-door£17,195€31,515
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual four-door£17,395n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual five-door£17,395n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£17,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£17,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual four-door£17,995€31,745
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual five-door£17,995€32,345
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual four-door£18,395€34,195
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual five-door£18,395€34,795
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual four-door£18,445€33,515
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual five-door£18,445€34,115
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£18,495n/a
Ford Mondeo Edge 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£18,495n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£18,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£18,695n/a
Ford Mondeo Ghia 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual four-door£19,245n/a
Ford Mondeo Ghia 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual five-door£19,245n/a
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£19,495€34,445
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£19,495€35,045
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual four-door£19,645€36,795
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual five-door£19,645€37,395
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£19,945n/a
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£19,945n/a
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0i Duratec (145PS) 5 speed manual five-door£20,445€36,715
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£20,745€37,045
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£20,745€37,645
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.5i Duratec (220PS) 6 speed manual four-door£20,945€39,745
Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.5i Duratec 20V (220PS) 6 speed manual five-door£20,945€40,345
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual four-door£21,245n/a
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (125PS) 6 speed manual five-door£21,245n/a
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual four-door£21,645€39,395
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (140PS) 6 speed manual five-door£21,645€39,995
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£21,945n/a
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.3i Duratec (161PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£21,945n/a
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic four-door£22,745€39,645
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0 Duratorq TDCi (130PS) Durashift Automatic five-door£22,745€40,245
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.5i Duratec (220PS) 6 speed manual four-door£22,945€42,345
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.5i Duratec (220PS) 6 speed manual five-door£22,945€42,945
Ford Mondeo LX 1.6i 110 PS 5 speed manual four-doorn/a€24,995
Ford Mondeo LX 1.8 TDCi 100 PS 5 speed manual four-doorn/a€27,995
Ford Mondeo LX 2.0 TDCi 130 PS Durashift Automatic four-doorn/a€32,195
Ford Mondeo LX 1.6i 110 PS 5 speed manual five-doorn/a€25,595
Ford Mondeo LX 1.8 TDCi 100 PS 5 speed manual five-doorn/a€28,595
Ford Mondeo LX 2.0 TDCi 130 PS Durashift Automatic five-doorn/a€32,795
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.6i 110 PS 5 speed manual four-doorn/a€27,245
Ford Mondeo Zetec 1.6i 110 PS 5 speed manual five-doorn/a€27,845
Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.0i 145 PS 5 speed manual four-doorn/a€36,115


Conor Twomey - 3 Jul 2007



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2007 Ford Mondeo specifications: (Ghia 2.5i Duratec)
Price: £20,945 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 150mph
Combined economy: 30.4mpg
Emissions: 222g/km
Kerb weight: 1492kg

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Kyle Fortune.



2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 

2007 Ford Mondeo. Image by Conor Twomey.
 






 

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