Ford Mondeo

By Sam Hardy

18th October 2007

	The hot version of the Mondeo takes cues from the car James Bond drove in Casino Royale

The wraps have come off the hottest Mondeo ever! Auto Express has the first pictures that every fast Ford fan has been waiting for.

Feast your eyes on the XR5 Turbo, which points the way to a top-of-the-range ST version of the latest family model. Made by the blue oval’s Australian arm, it debuted at this week’s Sydney Motor Show and draws inspiration from the car driven by actor Daniel Craig in the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

The XR5 Turbo name won’t come to the UK; instead, the model is set to wear Ford’s ST badge here. And there is even potential for a diesel version.

As with the Mondeo 2.5 T, the XR5 uses a 217bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, giving a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.3 seconds and a 151mph top speed. It also has a bodykit with mesh grilles, new fog­lights and side skirts. At the rear, there is a diffuser-style bumper, twin chrome exhausts and a bootlid spoiler.

Chunky 18-inch alloy wheels finish off the package, while the new model also features Ford’s adaptive dampers and lowered sports suspension.

The XR5 provides a glimpse of a UK-spec Mondeo ST – a car Ford is refusing to rule out. “The tech­nology is there, but it would be more viable to do a diesel ST,” explained a spokesman.

“In Europe, the market for a large petrol-engined car with a non-premium badge and relatively high CO2 emissions is limited, so an oil-burner would probably be the way forward.”

Ford has access to two performance diesel units: the 2.2-litre four-cylinder, which delivers 173bhp, and the 206bhp 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6. Both were created in conjunction with PSA Peugeot Citroen. There is scope to develop the firm’s own TDCi range, too.

Regardless of the powerplant, an ST is unlikely to arrive before 2009. But buyers who want the XR5 Turbo look can order the bodykit via Ford’s new ‘Individual’ range.

Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the visual enhancements are also available on the S-MAX people carrier, and include 20-inch alloys.

Meanwhile, when Ford’s Kuga SUV arrives next May, it will come initially with diesel power only. The 4x4 gets a 136bhp 2.0-litre TDCi engine, and Zetec or Titanium trims. Prices start at just over £20,000. Towards the end of 2008, the firm’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol turbo will join the range.

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