A Ford Mondeo Estate Hybrid joins the range, while the family favourite also gets a new 8-speed automatic gearbox and new diesel engines
A refreshed Ford Mondeo has been revealed at the Brussels Motor Show, with the flagging saloon receiving a new design, additional driver assistance features, new diesel options and the addition of a hybrid estate variant.
The redesign is a subtle one, with Ford claiming that there is now a greater visual difference between the Mondeo’s various trim levels. For instance, every car gets a new grille, with the Titanium model receiving horizontal chrome slats, a black finish applied on ST-Line cars, and flagship Vignale cars receiving the ‘flying-V’ grille applied to other Vignale models.
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Elsewhere, the bottom grille has also been tweaked and now sits between new fog lights in a revised, more aggressive looking front bumper. Around the back, the taillights have been transformed, and are intersected by a new chrome or satin silver strip spanning the width of the tailgate.
New exterior colour options and alloy wheels have been added to the Mondeo’s options list. New interior trims appear too, while automatic models have been updated to feature the new rotary gear selector from the latest Focus, freeing up additional space in the centre console and allowing Ford to equip a new USB port. Ford also claims that the fit and finish of the interior has been improved.
The new rotary gear selector arrives because the Mondeo has taken on the brand’s latest eight-speed automatic transmission. In turn, this has allowed Ford to equip the facelifted Mondeo with a new adaptive cruise control system with complete stop and go ability.
Also new is an updated speed limited function which works with the Mondeo’s traffic sign recognition software. The Intelligent Speed Limiter means that the vehicle’s maximum speed is automatically adjusted when the limiter is activated, in accordance with changing speed limits. It only decelerates though, and the driver must accelerate back up to speed when the limit increases.
Under the bonnet, the Mondeo receives a new diesel engine in the form of Ford’s EcoBlue 2.0-litre unit, which is offered in two states of tune – 148bhp and 187bhp. Replacing the older 2.0-litre TDCi, Ford has not issued fuel economy figures for the new engine, but claims greater efficiency, plus CO2 of 127g/km and 133g/km for the 148bhp and 187bhp versions of the engine respectively. Either diesel can be mated to an all-wheel-drive system, while a 163bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol remains available.
Ford has expanded its hybrid offering too by adding an electrified version of the Mondeo Estate to the line-up. The powertrain is the same 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor combination already found on the saloon hybrid, developing a maximum output of 184bhp and allowing electric only running over very short distances. Ford claims that the software behind the system has been recalibrated though, and that the powertrain is now smoother and more efficient than before.
The hybrid powertrain means that the Mondeo Estate Hybrid is not as practical as petrol and diesel powered versions of the estate. It features a boot 403 litres in size, with 1,508 litres of space with the rear seats folded flat.
The updated Mondeo goes on sale in March, priced from £21,995 for the saloon in Zetec trim. The new Mondeo Estate Hybrid will be available from £28,000, and offered in Titanium and Vignale trim.
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