2013 Mondeo Is A Fusion Of Ford’s Best

Ford's brand-new Mondeo has made its international debut at this week's Detroit Auto Show, following weeks of teasers, spy photos and leaked images.

Arriving at the show in its US-market Fusion form, Ford's new global midsizer will continue to carry the Mondeo name in Europe, and, while Australian details have not been announced, you can bet we can expect the same here.

As revealed earlier, the new Mondeo draws its styling cues from the meataxe that is last year's Ford Evos study, translating the concept's coupe lines into a sharp and market-ready sedan.

Mechanical Package: Petrol, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid

In the US, the new Mondeo will be offered in S, SE and Titanium grades, powered by a range of petrol options and Ford's new Hybrid and Energy Plug-in Hybrid powertrains.

Among the direct-injected and turbocharged petrol EcoBoost engines are a 133kW/240Nm 1.6 litre option at the entry-level end, and the range-topping 177kW/340Nm 2.0 litre mill recently added to overseas versions of the current Mondeo.

Between the two is a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder 2.5 litre engine delivering 127kW. 

Front- and all-wheel-drive configurations will be offered in the US and Europe, along with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

For the Hybrid model, Ford has combined a 2.0 litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 135kW, with fuel consumption figures listed at 5.6 l/100km in city driving and 5.0 l/100km on the highway.

With those figures, Ford says its hybrid will be a better option that the hybrid versions of the new Toyota Camry and the Hyundai Sonata (i45 in Australia).

The Energi Plug-in Hybrid variant again combines a 2.0 litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined 139kW and drawing energy from a lithium-ion battery pack.

The hybrid system allows the two powertrains to operate separately - meaning the electric motor can drive the car on its own - or in the more regular parallel mode.

The petrol engine also can operate independently of vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed. On its own, the electric motor can drive the vehicle at low speeds, while working with the engine at higher speeds.

Features

Depending on the variant, new features for the Mondeo and Fusion will include a Lane Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Park Assist, and the Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert.

In the US, the Fusion-badged version of the new midsizer will get the MyFord Touch control system - a package we've yet to see in Australia - which combined voice control with a touch-screen and conventional buttons. 

Ford's SYNC system is also fitted in overseas markets, adding voice-activated connectivity to mobile phones, and voice-controlled stereo system functions.

Australia

The new Mondeo/Fusion is scheduled to hit US and European showrooms around the middle of this year, with an Australian debut unlikely to occur until early in 2013.