Update: The new Ford Mondeo will come with the option of two different petrol-electric powertrains: one a traditional hybrid and the other a plug-in hybrid.The latter is known as the Mondeo Energi, while the other will be badged simply Mondeo Hybrid.
The plug-in Energi and Hybrid both share a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but the Energi boasts a larger battery pack, and will be able to travel on electric power for around 20 miles.
The standard Hybrid will only be able to manage a couple of miles. Both systems will produce 185bhp, allowing for 0-62mph in around 8.5 seconds. Expect to see fuel economy of around 60mpg for the Hybrid and well over 100mpg for the Energi.
Bookmark this page as we will be updating it regularly with the latest news and rumours on the new Ford Mondeo.
Meanwhile, Ford UK boss Mark Ovenden confirmed to Auto Express that there would be no further delays to the Mondeo's debut in the UK.
“It will be with us in the final quarter of next year,” he said.
However, Ovenden was less forthcoming on whether we will get a facelifted version of the model initially revealed as the Fusion at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2012.
The UK launch date will fall almost three years after that, but Ovenden would not say whether UK buyers will be offered a mid-cycle revised model.
Bookmark this page as we will be updating it regularly with the latest news on the new Ford Mondeo.
The release date of the new Ford Mondeo is late 2014, Ford officials have revealed.
The Mondeo was scheduled to be released in Europe this year, but factory disputes have resulted in the launch being pushed back until late next 2014.
Barb Samardzich, Ford’s Vice President of product development, has revealed that discussions are ongoing at Ford’s Genk plant but that a date towards the end of 2014 is now most likely.
That's more than two years after the car's official unveiling at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2012.
New Ford Mondeo engines
The 2014 Ford Mondeo will get a new 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine. Revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013, the 1.5-litre unit is expected to provide similar horsepower and torque performance to Ford’s current 1.6-litre EcoBoost in its lower state of tune (148bhp and 240Nm respectively), while delivering improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
The European-spec Mondeo will also get Ford’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, making it one of the cleanest cars in its class, with CO2 emissions of under 130g/km.
The rest of the engine range will be revealed closer to launch, but expect the 2.0 and new 1.5-litre TDCi diesels, plus 1.6 and 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrols too.
Six-speed manual gearboxes will be offered as standard, with dual-clutch six-speed Powershift transmissions optional. A diesel model, with an auto gearbox, will be offered with four-wheel drive for the first time.
Dimensions and styling
The new Mondeo measures 4,869mm long, 1,852mm wide and 1,476mm tall – about the same size as the current car – but it’s four centimetres lower, meaning it has a much sleeker profile. There are slimmer roof pillars and the bodywork has a smooth, unruffled finish. The 19-inch wheels give the show car plenty of presence, and will be available as an option on the popular Zetec trim level.
The new grille and headlamp arrangement takes inspiration from the Evos concept and signals a new evolution for Ford’s Kinetic design language. Sparkling LED tail-lamps and polished exhausts add a touch of class to the car.
The driver-focused cabin offers upmarket fit and finish, with soft-touch plastics and fabrics on the dash and doors. Seats are supportive, and there’s an oversized centre console, which helps separate the driver from the rest of the cabin. Elsewhere, extra space has been freed up by moving the dash closer to the windscreen and redesigning the seats to make the most of the car’s 2,850mm wheelbase.
We've sat in the new cabin, and can report that the quality does represent an improvement over current Fusion.
New Ford Mondeo specs
The new Mondeo will also feature a host of upmarket technology, including SYNC, Ford’s Microsoft-developed in-car entertainment system, which streams music to the car’s speakers from your phone and also incorporates Bluetooth and Internet access.
The MyFord Touch system will be available, too, offering voice control for all major systems.
Driver-assist systems include a lane-keeping, fatigue detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and active park assist. Safety is also enhanced by inflatable rear seat belts.
Ford Mondeo Estate
A Mondeo Estate will also be offered, but as release date of the hatchback has been pushed back, a new Mondeo Estate is not expected until 2015.
Meanwhile, Ford has tweaked the existing Mondeo line-up to boost its appeal. A better-equipped, and over £2,000 cheaper entry-level Graphite model and a Titanium X Business model have been added, while the 2.0 TDCi engine has been reengineered for improved economy.
For an alternative review of the latest Ford Mondeo Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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Ford have shot themselves in the foot in delaying the European roll out of the new Mondeo. The styling looks to be a huge improvement over the chintzy current model, and is probably the first interesting Mondeo in years.
But releasing it mid-cycle smacks of contempt for the European market, and in the meantime other competitors will have played catch up.
Facts please, not "rumours".
What's happening to the sports model? Where's the XR5/ST version we loved from the 2007 models onwards? So what petrol prices are going up... some of us still pay for the experience!