title: Sathuranga Vettai

text:
Sathuranga Vettai () is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language heist film written and directed by debutant H. Vinoth, starring Natraj and Ishaara Nair in the lead roles, while Ponvannan, Ilavarasu, and Piraisoodan, among others, play supporting roles. Produced by Manobala, it features music by Sean Roldan and cinematography by K. G. Venkatesh. The film, touted to be an "indianized con movie", was released by Thiruppathi Brothers Film Media on 18 July 2014 and received positive reviews from critics. It has been remade in Telugu as Bluff Master and is being remade in Kannada as Jagath Khiladi. A sequel titled Sathuranga Vettai 2 starring Arvind Swamy and Trisha began production in October 2016 and wrapped in March 2017, but has not released as of 2023.

Plot
Gandhi Babu is a skilled con artist, who dreams of doing ingenious scams and executes them perfectly. His scams include selling ignorant people ordinary snakes, claiming that they are exotic and will fetch crores in the international market, promoting a nonexistent multilevel marketing company with its controversial chain referral schemes promising a BMW car within a year. His scams include duping people through impersonation – posing close to/claiming relationship with influential people, the convincing people of things such as Lilliput, exotic stones, and artifacts, last but not least the infamous Emu scam, where the investors were offered exorbitant returns through Emu farms. Bhanu is from a poor family, who comes to work for Gandhi and falls for his charms. Despite having a soft corner for her, Gandhi has money as his first priority. Because of this, he abandons Bhanu. Gandhi is arrested in a minor scam but the local police didn't realise his real identity. As the newspaper publishes this scam as a small box news of low importance, ACP Jaya Prakasham of Chennai Police identifies Gandhi and informs the local police and multiple cases are filed against him.

The cops subject him to torture and try to recover the money, but in vain.  As the court releases him months later due to absence of solid evidence, his associates betray Gandhi and escape with the remaining money. An angered investor hires Valavan and his gang to recover his money and kill Gandhi Babu, The gang nabs him outside the court and is beaten to a pulp. Later he convinces them of making another con of worth a billion and pay them more than their hirer. Believing his abilities they kill and dispose their hirer and pull another scam to fuel a bigger one.  He believes that if a person is foolish or greedy enough to be duped, then the person is to be blamed. He argues that every election voters are conned by the candidates who promise them the moon, but never come through. The next scam was nothing but a trap laid for gang by Gandhi Babu, he sends the gang to a his old scam's victim Chettiyar, knowing that they'll get caught as he's alert and will call the police due to his past experience. The gang gets arrested and angered by Gandhi Babu's betrayal. Meanwhile he moves back to Bhanu and she looks after him and they get married.

Later, Bhanu becomes pregnant. As the gang gets released they give Gandhi Babu a choice whether to pull a bigger scam and compensate their losses, or he and his wife get killed by them. Babu agrees to help them, The gang leaves Dravidan to keep an eye on pregnant Bhanu and leaves to Madurai to perform a final heist to hand over the money to them. They target Moovendhar, a rich and politically well-connected marble and granite businessman, they target him through the rice pulling scam, one of the high-profile scams during the times. They offer the artifact involved in the scam as a solution to his problems. As Moovendar agrees to the deal, the artifact is transferred after rituals and the gang receives  as payment. The passage of money results in a tussle. Gandhi kills them and returns to his wife and child with the money. Finally, the look on her face makes him realize the value of life, and he leaves the money to the police custody.

Cast

 Natty as Gandhi Babu, a skilled conman
 Ishaara Nair as Bhanu
 Ponvannan as ACP Jeya Prakasham IPS
 Ilavarasu as Chettiyar
 Piraisoodan as Judge
 Ramachandran Durairaj as Thilagan
 Madhusudhan Rao as Cheta
 K. S. G. Venkatesh as Moovendhar, an influential businessman
 Valavan as Valavan
 Dharani Vasudevan as Guru
 Senthi as Valli
 Vani Shree Shetty as Snake Doctor
 Flower A. Manoharan
 Divya Krishnan as NGO akka (sister)

Production
Director Vinoth said that he was turned down by several producers before he met director Nalan Kumarasamy who he handed over his film's script. While Nalan was on a trip, his mother found the script, read and loved it and asked Nalan to read it too, who too liked it and came forward to help him find a producer. Actor Manobala, who had wanted to start a new production house and had asked Nalan to find some good stories, read the script by Vinoth and instantly agreed to produce it.

The film was said to be a "con film". Vinoth stated, "My film is about the pace at which we all want to make money in our lives. It's about the anger of common man who thinks money is the solution to all his problems. When there's imbalance in nature, we experience tsunami and earthquake. Likewise, my story is about the imbalance in the social morals of a common man". Although it was a heist film, the director said that he had made the film "as funny as possible" and that it had been narrated with "a lot of fun, satire and dark humour". It was reported that the film's screenplay was written in "a six-episode format".

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed by Sean Roldan. The album features five tracks and was released on 27 April 2014. Many colleagues of Manobala were present at the launch.

The Times of India gave the soundtrack a rating of 3 stars and wrote, "the composer doesn't disappoint in his second outing. This five-track album has a fair mix of every genre...with a touch of Sean's guitar techniques that you cannot miss out". Indiaglitz.com wrote that Sathuranga Vettai was "Sean's supreme sophomore effort" and that he "is definitely here to stay for a long time".

Release
The film's rights were bought by Thiruppathi Brothers Film Media in June 2014. The satellite rights of the film were sold to STAR Vijay. Prior to the release, Manobala had held several sneak previews of the film for personalities from the film industry, who were impressed with the film. Thereafter, Thirrupathi Brothers were trying to release the film in over 200 screens in Tamil Nadu.

Critical reception
The Times of India gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Sathuranka Vettai shows what good writing can do to a film. The film is an expertly woven tale of a remorseless con man, for whom, "money is the ultimate"...The real hero of Sathuranka Vettai is its script, which, with its twists and turns, keeps us guessing for most parts of the film". Sify wrote, "With terrific screenplay, racy narration and out-of-the-box presentation, Sathuranga Vettai is a surprisingly fresh film that works big time. The film rests on intelligent writing peppered with smart dialogues and the fresh appeal of its lead actors. H Vinoth is definitely one of the great new finds of Tamil cinema and scores for his near perfect script, narration and packaging. Here is superior quality cinema perfect for a night out at the movies". The New Indian Express wrote, "With an intelligently-crafted screenplay, deft treatment, racy pace and some meaningful lines, director Vinoth establishes his credentials as a writer-director in Sathuranga Vettai, his very first effort. Weaving a tale centered around a conman, he infuses in it a judicious blend of humour, sentiment, intrigue and suspense, keeping one’s attention glued to the screen". Silverscreen.in wrote, "It’s a con movie of the highest order. It could also be a book. There’s intrigue, there’s laughter, there’s conspiracy, and more laughter. One moment, there’s feverish excitement, and the next, we slap our forehead in exasperation. It also makes us whistle. It’s that cool". IANS gave it 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "The reason newcomer Vinoth's Sathuranga Vettai is an almost flawless film in the genre is because it succeeds in managing to con the audiences as well, more than once. It's not a film about people who con but one about those who get conned, why they get conned and how they get conned".

Baradwaj Rangan gave a more mixed review, writing, "Vinoth employs a series of tricks to amp up his narrative, to make us feel we’re watching a really cool movie...What we don’t get is the pleasure of being conned. We don’t see too many of these films in Tamil, so the newness keeps us watching (this is one of those not-bad-for-a-first-film films) — but the cons aren’t shaped well. They seem too easy (except for the last one) and the victims seem too dumb".

Accolades
 Vikatan Award for Best Film
 Second Best Feature Film at Chennai International Film Festival

Sequel
In early 2015, Vinoth agreed to make his next film for the production studio, Thirrupathi Brothers, who had helped distribute the earlier film. Vinoth submitted two scripts to them, including a sequel to his earlier film. Soon after, Thirrupathi Brothers ran into financial difficulties and Vinoth went on to narrate the script of the sequel, to actors Ajith Kumar and Suriya, and potentially be produced by Sathya Jyothi Films and Studio Green, but neither venture materialised.

In August 2016, the original film's producer, Manobala, came forward and decided to produce the film himself, bringing in Arvind Swamy and Trisha, to play the lead roles. Vinoth parted with his script, because he was busy working on the pre-production of another film starring Karthi, so N. V. Nirmal Kumar, who had previously made Salim (2014), was signed on as director. The film subsequently began production in mid-October 2016. Arvind Swamy finished shooting his portions in March 2017, while Trisha finished hers the following month. Few portions of the film were shot at Penang. In June 2017, the crew has completed the filming and it is a complete wrap. However, for over five years the film remained in post-production hell due to Arvind Swamy refusing to dub for his character amidst Manobala's financial troubles.

Sathuranga Vettai 2 was scheduled to release on 7 October 2022, but was postponed indefinitely, reportedly due to the success of Ponniyin Selvan: I resulting in non-availability of screens.

References

External links

2010s heist films
2010s Tamil-language films
2014 black comedy films
2014 directorial debut films
2014 films
Films about con artists
Films scored by Sean Roldan
Indian black comedy films
Indian heist films
Tamil films remade in other languages
Films directed by H. Vinoth


title: Higashikuze Michitomi

text:
Count  was a Japanese noble and statesman of the late Edo period and early Meiji period.

He was among the pro-Emperor sonnō jōi faction nobles who escaped to Chōshū Domain after members of the pro-shogunate kōbu gattai faction staged a coup in 1863. After the Meiji Restoration, he was appointed among the first , and served the fledgling government in early negotiations. After this he continued to hold important positions, including Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, Chairman of the Hokkaido Development Commission, and Chamberlain, culminating in roles as Vice President of the House of Peers and Vice Chairman of the Privy Council. He was a count in the Japanese peerage. His art names included .

Life
Higashikuze was born on January 1, 1834, in Kyoto. His father was .

He served in the Imperial Court during his youth in the Bakumatsu period, participating in the sonnō jōi movement that advocated the overthrow of the shogunate and restoration of power to the emperor. However, on September 30, 1863, the pro-shōgun kōbu gattai faction took power in the court in a coup d'état. Protected by soldiers of Chōshū Domain, he escaped to Chōshū on a boat with six other court retainers. In 1864, he was moved from Chōshū to Dazaifu.

With the success of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Higashikuze was rehabilitated. On January 17 of that year he became one of the first , a position later replaced by that of Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role he presided over the first foreign relations incident of the new government, the Kobe incident, in which a misunderstanding between an Imperial army and two French sailors ballooned into an occupation of central Kobe by foreign troops. On March 19 he was appointed as Director-General of the Yokohama Court, a position which was renamed twice during the half year in which he held it, first to Director-General of the Kanagawa Court and then to Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture.

On August 25, 1869, Higashikuze was appointed as the second Chairman of the Hokkaido Development Commission. As the previous chairman, Nabeshima Naomasa, had resigned before beginning his work, it was Higashikuze who began the practical operation of the office. On September 21, he set out for Hokkaido on a ship from Shinagawa, accompanied by about 200 farmers and officials of the Development Commission. He arrived at his post in Hakodate on the 25th. That October, he was granted a fief of 1,000 koku as a reward for his service in the Restoration.

On October 15, 1871, he was appointed Chamberlain of Japan. In the same year he joined the Iwakura mission on its trip around the world, broadening his horizons.

In 1882, he served as Vice President of the Genrōin, and with the institution of the Kazoku peerage system in 1884, he was granted the title of count. The hereditary status of the Higashikuze family would ordinarily have placed him as a viscount, but Michitomi's own achievements in the Meiji Restoration led him to be awarded a higher rank. Only a few other exceptions were made in this way, including Sanjō Sanetomi and Iwakura Tomomi.

In 1888 he became a member of the Privy Council, in 1890 the Vice President of the House of Peers, and in 1892 the Vice President of the Privy Council.

Sources

People of the Boshin War
People of Meiji-period Japan
1834 births
1912 deaths
Governors of Kanagawa Prefecture


The National Industrial Training Service of the State of Rio de Janeiro is SENAI´s institution that serves the state. The organization works with vocational education (industry workers' qualification and specialization) and technological innovation in the industry (through technical assistance) of Rio de Janeiro state. It promotes the technology training of industry professionals with focus on professional practice, seeking to supply the demand for employees with higher training and ability to innovate in processes and products.

Areas of vocational education

The entity operates in several educational fronts, including: courses, technology centers, university and mobile units.

The areas that concern the so-called "creative industries" are covered in the courses of two Rio de Janeiro's units: SENAI Maracanã (audiovisual, computer animation, printing office, design, web and information technology) and SENAI Laranjeiras (audiovisual, computer animation and information technology).

SENAI’s history

It is possible to say that the idea of creating a school dedicated to the Brazilian industry in appeared in 1865, when "Sain recommended the creation of the first Industrial School in Brazil, which would work at the expense of this Company and that, after being established in 1870, was a precursor of the National Industrial Training Service of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SENAI), which would set in almost a century later."

In 1939 it was assembled a committee to study the feasibility of a qualification system. The study generated a report, subject of debate between the government and businessmen of the time. In 1941, Euvaldo Lodi and Roberto Simonsen managed the then President Getulio Vargas granted companies the responsibility to create an entity of industrial education: "Soon after, in January 1942, Getulio Vargas decreed the creation of SENAI.

It was established that the SENAI, born under the name of National Service of Industrialists' Training, would be maintained through contributions from industry employers. Its scope was broadened to the "transport, communication and fishing sectors, which, conserving the acronym, was renamed the National Industrial Training Service of the State of Rio de Janeiro, by Decree law in 4936, of 7 November 1942".

Notes

References

Industry in Brazil
Higher education in Brazil
Innovation organizations


title: Ford Mondeo (first generation)

text:
The Ford Mondeo I (first generation) is a mid-size car that was produced by Ford, beginning on 23 November 1992, with sales beginning on 22 March 1993. It is also known as the Mk I Mondeo; the 1996 facelift versions are usually designated Mk II. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk. In December 1992, Autocar published a section on the Mondeo, and how it would conquer rivals.

Intended as a world car, it replaced the Ford Sierra in Europe, the Ford Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared initially with the Contour were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Thus, the CDW27 project turned out not to be a true world car in the sense that the original Ford Focus and newer Fords developed under the "One Ford" policy turned out to be. The first generation Mondeo was replaced in 2000, by the larger second generation; in the United States and Canada, the Contour/Mystique were replaced initially by the Focus and later the Fusion.

Design and development

Mk I
Instigated in 1986 (just before its Sierra predecessor received a major facelift), the design of the car cost Ford US$6 billion. It was one of the most expensive new-car programmes ever. The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing were shared between Ford USA in Dearborn and Ford of Europe. Its codename while under development reflected thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C and D size classes and was a "world car". The head of the Mondeo project was John Oldfield, headquartered at Ford Dunton in Essex.

A large proportion of the high development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely new design, sharing very little, if anything, with the Ford Sierra. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mk I car only. Over-optimistically, the floor pan was designed to accept virtually any conceivable drivetrain, from a transverse inline-four engine to a longitudinal V-8. This resulted in a hugely intrusive and mostly disused bellhousing cover and transmission tunnel. Resultingly the front interior, especially the footwells, feels more cramped than would be expected from a vehicle of this size. The Mondeo featured new manual and automatic transmissions and sophisticated suspension design, which give it class-leading handling and ride qualities, and subframes front and rear to give it executive car refinement. The automatic transmission featured electronic control with sport and economy modes plus switchable overdrive. The program manager from 1988, and throughout its early development, was David Price.

By 1989, Ford had confirmed that it would be launching an all-new front-wheel drive car to replace the Sierra within the next four years, although it had not yet decided whether the Sierra name would continue or be replaced, with some subsequent reports even hinting that the Cortina name could make a comeback, having been axed in 1982 when replaced by the Sierra. Several prototypes were tested that year, but the launch of the Nissan Primera in 1990 prompted Ford to make a number of major alterations to the final product, as it saw the new competitor from Nissan to be the benchmark car in this sector, having previously identified the Honda Accord as the class leader.

The car was launched in the midst of turbulent times at Ford of Europe, when the division was haemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars, and had gained a reputation in the motoring press for selling products which had been designed by accountants rather than engineers. The fifth-generation Escort and third-generation Orion of 1990 was the zenith of this cost-cutting/high-price philosophy, which was by then beginning to backfire on Ford, with the cars being slated for their substandard ride and handling, though a facelift in 1992 had seen things improve a little. The Sierra had sold well, but not as well as the all-conquering Cortina before it, and in Britain, it had been overtaken in the sales charts by the newer Vauxhall Cavalier. Previously loyal customers were already turning to rival European and Japanese products, and by the time of the Mondeo's launch, the future of Europe as a Ford manufacturing base was hanging in the balance. The new car had to be good, and it had to sell. It was unveiled to the public on 23 November 1992, although sales would not begin for another four months. At this stage, Ford confirmed that the new car would feature a completely new name and would be called the Mondeo.

Safety was a high priority in the Mondeo design, with a driver's side airbag (it was the first-ever car sold from the beginning with a driver's airbag in all of its versions, which helped it achieve the European Car of the Year title for 1994), side-impact bars, seat belt pretensioners, and antilock braking systems (higher models) as standard features. Other features for its year included adaptive damping, self-leveling suspension (top estate models), traction control (V6 and 4WD versions), and heated front windscreen, branded Quickclear.

The interiors were usually well-appointed, featuring velour trim, an arm rest with CD and tape storage, central locking (frequently remote), power windows (all round on higher models), power mirrors, illuminated entry, flat-folding rear seats, etc. Higher-specification models had leather seats, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer, and alloy wheels.

During its development, Ford used the 1986 Honda Accord and in the later stages the 1990 Nissan Primera as the class benchmarks that the CDW27 had to beat.

Mk II (facelift)

The mid-cycle facelift, launched in October 1996, addressed three of the original Mondeo's biggest criticisms: its bland styling, the poor headlight performance, the reflectors of which quickly yellowed, and the cramped rear legroom. The lowering of specification levels around that time, such as air conditioning and alloy wheels, became optional on the UK Ghia models and may have indicated a desire by Ford to cut costs and recoup some of the considerable sums invested in the original design. These specification levels were improved again in 1998 as the Mondeo approached replacement.

The facelift left only the doors, the roof, and the rear quarter panels on the estate the same as the original model. Even the extractor vents on the rear doors were replaced by a panel bearing the name Mondeo. The most notable change was the introduction of the grille and larger, wraparound lighting units. The saloon version featured some distinctive rear lights. These incorporated an additional reflector panel that extended around the top and the side of the rear wings. Unlike the iterations seen on the heavily facelifted Scorpio and Mk IV Fiesta during the previous year, this facelift was well received.

The interior was also mildly revised, though the basic dashboard architecture was the same as before. Safety specification was improved, with the car gaining a full-sized driver airbag in place of the smaller 'euro-bag' fitted in the Mk I Mondeo. The Mk II gained a 'flagged' three-star rating in Euro NCAP testing, which was average for rivals of its time (the same as the Vauxhall Vectra, better than the Citroën Xantia and Peugeot 406, and worse than the Nissan Primera). The cars' structure suffered excessive footwell intrusion in the frontal impact and a disturbing B-pillar displacement in the side test.

The Zetec engine was thoroughly revised in 1998. The updated version was far more refined at high revolutions. In December 1998, Ford released in Europe a sports car with a coupé body shell based upon the Mk II Mondeo called the Ford Cougar (or Mercury Cougar in North America). This car shared the engines (2.0 I4, 2.5 V6), transmissions, suspension (partially) and floorpans from the Mondeo, but the body shell was unique to the Cougar, and was one of the last Ford cars to be designed under Ford's New Edge philosophy.

Engines

Along with an all-new platform, the Mondeo also used Ford's then-new Zetec engines, first seen in 1991 in the Ford Escort, Ford Orion and Ford Fiesta.

Three versions of the 16-valve Zetec engine were used. The 1.6 L version, rated at  from the Escort was used, a 1.8 with  also found in the Escort and Ford Fiesta (), while a new  2.0 L version was launched.

An alternative to the Zetec engines was the Endura-D 1.8 L turbo-diesel. This engine had origins in the older 1.6 L diesel design (which in itself was based on the petrol OHV Kent engine block from the Mk1-2 Escort and Mk1 Fiesta) and was used in the Fiesta and elsewhere. Although not without merits, it was not seen as a strong competitor to other European diesels such as that produced by Peugeot. The contrast between this unit and the competition seemed enormous by the time the engine was dropped in 2000. Strangely, the diesel-powered vehicles could easily be distinguished by dint of their having a slightly redesigned grille so that more air would flow to the top mounted intercooler.

A new American designed V6 engine was introduced in 1994 as part of a model line-up review, in the form of the  2.5 L 24-valve V6 Duratec unit, primarily included for markets where four-cylinder petrol engines are not favored and are usually intended for the upmarket European buyer. This engine, first unveiled in the Mondeo's North American cousin, the Ford Contour, is characterized by its smooth operation, chain-driven camshafts, and additional butterflies in the lower inlet to close of the inlet path to one valve, giving better torque at low engine speeds, this was vacuum operated on the Mk1 and electronically controlled on the Mk2. This engine was originally branded 24v on the Mk1, but later on badged as the more glamorous sounding V6.

This engine was also used to introduce the new "ST" brand to the Mondeo range as a flagship model (with less specification than a Ghia or a Ghia X), the ST24 in 1997. The power of the engine stayed at , the same as other 2.5 L-engined models (so was slower than a Mk I 24v), but the ST featured unique cabin trim (half-leather seats), unique 16-inch alloy wheels (that were originally only available on a Ghia X Estate), and a full Rally Sport Appearance Pack body kit as standard. The bodykit option was listed as a delete option for those who did not want it fitted as standard. This was later replaced by the Limited Edition ST200 in 1999, featuring an SVT version of the V6 Duratec with a power output of .

Although neither of these models ever sold in high numbers, the marketing was important to Ford, as it was an introduction to the ST range as a sportier side to the full range, especially significant as apart from the Focus RS, both the XR and RS model ranges were phased out during the 1990s.

Ford briefly sold a version using the 2.0 L Zetec engine and four-wheel drive, available between 1995 and 1996 on cars with Si, Ghia, and Ghia X trim and in 1997 on the Mk2 in some European countries.

Market

Europe
The 1992–1996 range had the following trim levels:

UK market
Base – 1.6L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, base trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate (replaced by Aspen in 1995)
Aspen – 1.6 L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, base trim level, 5-door hatchback, estate
LX – 1.6 L/1.8 L/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate
GLX – 1.6 L/1.8 L/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, luxury trim level version of the LX, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate
24v – 2.5L Duratec V6, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate (1994–1995 only) with sports seats and 15” steel wheels and trims
Si – 2.0 L 4-cylinder with shorter ratio gearbox, 2.5 L Duratec V6 (Sept 1995- Aug 1996 only), sports version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate, optional 4x4 on 2.0L Zetec
Ghia – 1.8 L/2.0 L Zetec, 2.5 L Duratec V6, 1.8 L turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate, optional 4x4 on 2.0L Zetec
Ghia X – (1995-1996 only) 2.0L Zetec, 2.5 L Duratec V6, 1.8L turbodiesel, luxury trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate (from 1995), optional 4x4 on 2.0L Zetec

Special edition versions included the 1.8 L Ultima (1993-1994 only) and 1.8 L, 1.8 L turbodiesel Verona (1995-1996 only) models which included a mix of lower and higher model components and exclusive interior trims.

The Mk1 was available with a factory or dealer option, RS bodykit, from 1993 to 1995, consisting of additional front and rear aerodynamic bumper styling which was bonded to the factory bumpers, side skirts and a boot lid mounted spoiler on all body shapes, together with a choice of 15” and 16” alloy wheels.  A more subtle bodykit was offered as an option from Sept 1995 to Aug 1996 consisting of complete replacement bumpers with round front fog lights and smooth side skirts, the boot spoilers had an additional high level brake light added.

A special edition version of the 2.0 Si was available in 1993–1994 in limited numbers and came in Citrine Yellow with a special version of the Si seat fabric and included the full RS bodykit, these were issued to each Ford Dealer as a promotional tool for sale and an even smaller number of these cars (~50) were tuned by a dealer, Hendy Ford and fitted with different camshafts, producing approximately 150 PS and were identified by special graphics on the sides.

Additional trim levels in other European markets included:

Mirage – 1.6 L Zetec, base trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate – only offered in the Netherlands
CLX – 1.6 L/1.8 L/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate – not offered in the UK
Verona – 1.8 L, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback
GLX – 1.6 L/1.8 L/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L turbodiesel, luxury trim level version of the CLX, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate
Business Edition – 1.6 L/1.8 L/2.0 L 4-cylinder, 2.5 L V6, 1.8 L turbodiesel, luxury trim level version of LX, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate. – only offered in the Netherlands
GT – 1.8 L/2.0 L 4-cylinder, 2.5 L V6, 1.8 L turbodiesel, sports version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate. Only offered in the Netherlands, equivalent to UK-spec Si
V6 – 2.5 L V6, luxury version, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, estate. Never offered with a V6 (base) in the Netherlands, only Business Edition or GT.

The 1996–2000 range had the following trim levels:
Aspen – 1.6 L Zetec, 1.8 L TD Endura, base trim level, 5dr, Estate
LX – 1.6/1.8/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L TD Endura, midrange trim level, 4dr, 5dr, Estate
Verona – 1.8 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 5dr
GLX – 1.8/2.0 L Zetec, 1.8 L TD Endura, midrange trim level, 4dr, 5dr, Estate
Si – 2.0 L Zetec, 2.5 L V6 170 PS, sports version, 4dr, 5dr, Estate
Zetec – 1.8/2.0 L Zetec, replaced Si, 5dr, Estate
Zetec-S – 2.0 L Zetec, rare Zetec based special edition with ST bodykit, 5dr
Ghia – 2.0 L Zetec, 2.5 L V6 170 PS, 1.8 L TD Endura, luxury trim level
Ghia X – 2.0 L Zetec, 2.5 L V6 170 PS, 1.8 L TD Endura, top spec trim level
ST24 – 2.5 L V6 170 PS, Sports Variant Luxury bucket seat half leather trim, sports-suspension, RSAP Kit
ST200 – 2.5 L V6 205 PS, Sports Variant, Luxury Recaro leather trim, 17" alloys, tuned engine & suspension, RSAP Kit, digital Climate Control

The facelifted Mk II Mondeo sports variants included the ST24 and the ST200. The ST24 produced  from its 2.5-litre V6 24v engine and was launched with Rally Sport Appearance Pack body kits, along with sports suspension and half-leather sports bucket seats. Its standard setup had the ST24 from standstill to  in 8.0 seconds, coupled with a maximum speed of . North America got an SE "Sport" Version of the Contour, which featured exclusive wheels and the coveted 9-inch Sport Drum rear brakes. Rear disc brakes eventually became available in North America on certain Contour and Mystique models, although some customers bemoaned the reduced level of feel over the original sport drums.

The ST200 was then launched as the Enthusiast's car, with a tuned 2.5-litre V6 24v engine producing . This engine made the ST200 go from standing to  in around 7.7 seconds, and reach a maximum speed of . Tuning included a different throttle body, cams, flywheel, and upper manifold,  to name a few. This version of the Mondeo also had even harder sports suspension than the ST24, and came with half-leather Recaro sports bucket seats, full leather was available as a cost option. The ST200 was released to the public in Imperial Blue (All Countries due to receive the ST200) and additionally in Europe, Stardust Silver, Panther Black and Radiant Red. 66 were also made in Diamond White 73 (for use by various UK police forces). The North American counterpart to this model was known as the Contour SVT.

Africa
In South Africa, the trim levels offered were:
LX – 1.8 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon
CLX – 2.0 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon
2.0 Aspen – 2.0 L Zetec, luxury trim level version of the LX, 4-door saloon
Si – 2.5 L V6, sports version, 5-door hatchback

South America
In Brazil, the trim levels offered were:
CLX – 1.8 L Zetec, standard trim level, 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback, and 5-door station wagon.
GLX – 2.0 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 4-door saloon and 5-door hatchback, and 5-door station wagon.
Ghia – 2.5 L V6 Duratec HE, Luxury&Sport trim level version, only was 4-door saloon.

Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique

The Ford Contour and its rebadged Mercury variant, the Mercury Mystique, are North American versions of the first-generation Ford Mondeo, marketed for model years 1995-2000 as a four-door sedan, replacing the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz.   Production at Kansas City Assembly in Claycomo, Missouri, and Cuautitlán Assembly started on August 15, 1994.

Derived directly from (and developed together with) the Ford Mondeo Mk 1, the Contour and Mystique shared the Ford CDW27 platform with its European counterpart.  In contrast to the first Ford "world car" (the 1981 Ford Escort), the Contour was redesigned slightly to better suit American demands. The three shared major systems, including body structure, powertrain, and suspension.

While officially classified a mid-size car, the Contour was among the smallest sedans in the segment, with its interior dimensions becoming a point of criticism.

The Contour and Mystique shared two engines with the Mondeo, a 125 hp 2.0 L Zetec inline-4 and a 170 hp 2.5 L Duratec V6; the 1.8L turbodiesel of the Mondeo was never sold in North America.  A five-speed manual transmission was standard with both engines, with a four-speed automatic offered with as an option.

The Ford Contour was produced with three trim levels: base-trim GL (1995-1997), a higher-content LX, and a sporty SE trim.  The 2.0L engine was standard on GL and LX versions, with the 2.5L standard on SE-trim examples.  As a running change during 1996, a "Sport" option package was introduced for GL and SE-trim models.  The Mercury Mystique was produced with two trim levels: standard-trim GS and higher-trim LS (with a "Sport" option package available for both versions); from 1997 to 1999, an undesignated base-trim Mystique was offered.

Facelift
Released in January 1997 for model year 1998, Ford introduced a updated version of the Contour and Mystique with redesigned front fascia, front and rear quarter panels, headlamps and taillamps.  All three models added the model name to the rear door behind the passenger window (with Mercury adding its brand emblem).

For 1998, a high-performance version variant of the Ford Contour was introduced, the Ford SVT Contour (in line with the larger Ford Taurus SHO).  For 1999, the Ford Mondeo would introduce the ST200 trim; while sharing the powertrain of the SVT Contour, the Mondeo ST200 adapted different chassis and interior modifications from the SVT Contour.

Ford SVT Contour
The SVT Contour was a modified version of the Ford Contour sedan from Ford's in-house Special Vehicle Team, with all examples sourced from Kansas City Assembly.  It was powered by an upgraded version of the 2.5 L V6, producing 195 hp (200 hp from 1999).  Paired solely with a 5-speed manual transmission, the vehicle underwent handling and performance upgrades, including re-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes, larger wheels and high-performance tires, along with the installation of different seats, trim, white-face instruments, and new bodywork.  In line with Ford Mustang SVT Cobras, the Ford SVT Contour was available primarily by special order at specially designated Ford dealerships.

The SVT Contour was produced from 1997 to 2000, with a major running change during 1998 (effectively making a 1998.5 model year for the variant).

Engines
 2.0 L Zetec I4 125 hp (97 kW)
 2.5 L Duratec 25 V6 170 hp (125 kW)
 2.5 L Duratec 25 V6 195 hp (145 kW) (1998 SVT)
 2.5 L Duratec 25 V6 200 hp (149 kW) (1999 and 2000 SVT)

Model year changes
1996
The backs of the front seats were recessed, improving rear seat leg room.
Rear seat cushions were repositioned to increase room.
Chrome bumper strips were now body color, resulting in bumpers that were monochromatic.
Seven-spoke alloy wheels become standard for SE model.
Split rear seats now available on all models.
The powertrain control module was changed to the newer EEC-V to be OBD-II compliant.
Manual transmission was reworked for easier shifts.

1997
New value-priced base models were introduced in late 1997 for both Contour and Mystique.
Traction control is dropped as an option.
Added interior trunk light
Steering wheels now tilt
Heated mirrors are dropped as an option.
"Unleaded fuel only" label was removed from the fuel gauge.
Various interior plastic pieces and covers on the Contour are no longer spray-painted silver and are left black.
Remote fuel door release is dropped.
Mystique – optional CD player and power front seats on GS, standard on LS
Monochromatic bumper strips were removed altogether.

1998
New design for front and rear fascias, including a chrome grille surround and larger headlights; Mystique gets side Mercury emblems on the rear quarter windows.
Mystique's interior also received new fabric choices (leather seating, previously optional, became standard on LS models) and faux wood trim to make it more upscale than the Contour.
Five-speed manual transmission changed from rod shift to cable shift.
High-performance Contour SVT version debuts, available only in Silver Frost, Toreador Red, and Black Ebony with Midnight Blue interior.
Roof line altered and the rear deck shortened for improved rear seat headroom
Seat recliner is changed from a knob to a lever.
Seatbelt for rear center seat is improved from two-point to three-point.
New center consoles; pop-up cup holders are replaced and are now molded into the console.
Glove box light, underhood light, lighted sun visors, and door handle lights are removed.
Integrated rear child-safety seats are optional on the Mystique.
Warning lights on the instrument cluster were relocated to different spots. Moldings stayed the same.
The red empty marker on the fuel gauge was left white.
Less forceful "second-generation" airbags were made standard.

1998.5
In mid-production for the 1998 model (manufactured after February 1998), Ford decided to make several more changes to the SVT Contour. This resulted in a noticeable distinction between early and late 1998 SVT Contours. To differentiate between the two, the late 1998 model is sometimes referred to as the "1998.5", or alternatively the early 1998 model as the "E0" and the late 1998 model as the "E1". The mid-year changes are as listed below.
Split rear seats are now available only on the SE model.
In-dash clock is relocated to the stereo head unit display.
New Cobra-style SVT aluminum alloy wheels
SVT-specific Goodyear Eagle F1 tires replace Goodyear GS-C tires. The 205/55-16 size is retained.
Different strut valving and tires raised skid pad numbers from .84 to .90 G.
The word "normal" was removed from the temperature gauge. "C" for cool and "H" for hot were added.

1999
All models are equipped with a slightly larger fuel tank at 15.4 gallons.
A slight change was made in dash design. The plastic piece around front window was eliminated.
Seats were again altered for additional rear leg room.
The 2.0 L I4 engine received an additional 5 hp
Contour SVT engine rating was upped 5 hp to 200 hp due to additional abrasive flow machining of the primary and secondary intake ports.
SVT is offered in Tropic Green.
SVT gains tan leather interior for Tropic Green and Toreador Red, and optional on Black Ebony cars.
SVT gets new BF Goodrich KDW tires. Size changes to 215/50-16.
Revised transmission synchronizers addressed an issue in the 1998 SVT.
Mystique's suspension was tuned for a softer ride.

2000
Displacement on the Duratec V6 engine decreased slightly, but the compression ratio was increased to compensate. This was done to keep the engine used in Mazda vehicles to maintain a lower engine displacement based tax level in Japan.
Ground effect side skirts on the Contour SE Sport were discontinued
Rear spoiler option was added for the SVT
Four-cylinder Contour models continued as fleet vehicles only.
Mystique GS and LS models returned with emergency in-trunk releases. Mercury pulled the Mystique from its lineup early in the 2000 model year.  Production ended for the Mystique on December 23, 1999, but Contour production continued into late fall of 2000 to support rental fleets.
The last Ford Contour rolled off the assembly line on October 19, 2000.
Ford narrowed its lineup, with the most similar replacement for the Contour, the Fusion, not debuting until 2006

Reception
Both the Contour and Mystique were praised for their handling and ride quality, and were even dubbed "A fun four-door sedan that offered European moves at American prices" in an Edmunds review.  For the SVT trim, Edmunds.com named the Contour SVT the most wanted sedan under $25,000 for 1999

The Contour and Mystique were on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1995, 1996 and 1997. Although Car and Driver staff wrote an article in 2009 apologizing for the inclusion of the Ford Contour on the "Ten Best" list, it was the only car the staff did not outright recant from the list, but did cite that, in hindsight, the car should have been considered too small for its price range to properly meet criteria, and that this is the likely reason for the car's failure to achieve widespread appeal.

The Ford Contour was also named as an Automobile magazine All Star for 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Contour a "Poor" overall rating in the frontal impact crash. The head, neck, and chest were all well protected and the dummy movement was well controlled, but excessive footwell intrusion contributed to high forces on both legs and a "Marginal" structural rating. The Contour received five stars for both the driver and passenger in the NHTSA test.

Sales
In Europe, the Mondeo was instantly declared a class leader. It was elected Car of the Year in 1994, ahead of PSA's new Xantia model. The facelifted Mondeo was initially popular, being Britain's third-best selling new car in 1996 through to 1998. However, in 1999 it dipped into sixth place and had been outsold by its biggest rival, the Vauxhall Vectra.

However, the Contour/Mondeo struggled to compete in North America and Australia. In the United States and Canada, the Contour suffered from market incompatibility with the preceding Ford Tempo, which by the end of its production run was an outdated design from the mid-1980s which sold primarily on its low price to lower-end customers and fleets.  In contrast, the Contour was significantly more expensive as Ford hoped to sell it on its redeeming qualities, instead; a base model Contour was several hundred dollars more expensive than a loaded Tempo LX, pricing it out of the market for prospective and returning Tempo customers. Customers in the Contour's price range were instead drawn to the Taurus which was larger and offered better value for money; large factory incentives on the outgoing Taurus throughout 1995 in anticipation of a completely redesigned model due to launch later that year helped the Taurus cut into the Contour's initial market. The Ford Focus then replaced the Contour after 2000.

Anticipating this, Ford moved the Taurus upmarket with the release of the redesigned 1996 model, but poor customer reception to the new model's design and high price forced Ford to heavily discount it and continuously reduce its base price through its life, reviving the in-showroom competition between the two models. Additionally, the Contour was hurt by strong competition in the medium segment by the other American automakers. The similarly priced Chrysler Cirrus, which was concurrently launched by the Chrysler Corporation for the 1995 model year, matched the Contour in design, performance and driving dynamics, but had more features and a larger interior. The 1996 launch of the lower-priced Chevrolet Malibu by General Motors further cut into Contour sales. The Mondeo faced similar issues in Australia, as it was hampered by stiff competition from Japanese competitors in an already limited medium-sized market while its high price drove prospective customers to the larger and better equipped Ford Falcon. Heavy fleet sales of the Taurus and Falcon, which led to a large volume of low-mileage, low-priced one- and two-year-old examples saturating the used vehicle market was also a factor in making the Contour/Mondeo a tough sell to respective American and Australian consumers.

However, another theory was advanced by some motoring journalists; because the Mondeo was developed in Europe with limited input from Ford's North American and Australian operations, executives at both operations were unenthusiastic about the car and had no qualms about letting it fail in the marketplace to allow for the continued success of their locally developed models. Ford withdrew the Mondeo and exited the medium-sized markets in both continents in 2000, not to return until the 2005 launch of the Fusion in North America and the 2007 return of the Mondeo in Australia. The Mondeo returned to North America in 2012 as the redesigned 2013 Fusion as part of the "One Ford" business plan. The redesigned Mondeos, due to their larger size, better prices, increased development input from Australian and American customers, and changing market demographics, proved successful in both continents.

The Mondeo was released in Australia in 1995, but was not a sales success, where, similarly, a much larger local model, the Falcon, was available, and was dropped in 2000. Ford Australia withdrew completely from the medium-sized segment of the Australian market, arguing that it was in decline. The estate version, the first medium-sized Ford of its kind to be sold in Australia since the Cortina, was dropped in 1999. It struggled against Japanese midsized models such as the Honda Accord and Subaru Liberty, as well as the Holden Vectra, also imported from Europe, although unlike the Mondeo, briefly assembled locally. The Mondeo has since returned to Australia in 2007 with an all-new model.

In Australia, the 1995 to 2000 Ford Mondeos were assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly better than average" protection for their occupants in the event of a crash.

The Mondeo launched in New Zealand to replace the Mazda 626-based Telstar following the closure of the Ford New Zealand assembly plant in 1997. Many earlier-model Mondeos, imported used from Japan, were also sold locally.

In 1997, the Mondeo was introduced into South Africa as a replacement for the Ford Telstar. It was produced locally at their Silverton plant in 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre saloon models. As production was limited to one body style, Estate (2.0-litre) Hatchback (2.5-litre V6) models were imported alongside the saloon models. The Mondeo was one of the first mainstream cars in South Africa to introduce airbags as standard equipment. Saloon sales were never a major success – fairly radical styling being cited as the main problem by a still conservative vehicle market. Styling was partly addressed by an Aspen model, which featured 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, and full leather trim.

In Taiwan, Ford Lio Ho produced a version of the Mondeo known as the Mondeo M2000, which had a front end similar to the outgoing Mercury Mystique, but with Ford badges. Its rear end was similar to that of the European models. This model was also exported to China.

References

1st
Euro NCAP large family cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Hatchbacks
Sedans
Station wagons
Cars introduced in 1992
2000s cars
Cars of Mexico


title: Marmellata n. 25

text:
Marmellata #25 is a song by Cesare Cremonini. It is the first single taken from his second album Maggese. The title makes reference to a passage from the lyrics in which the singer, having been left by his girlfriend, gets rid of woes by eating "kilos of jam", exactly the same one that the girl had hid from him. The jam represents happiness while #25 is the age of Cremonini at the moment of the release of the track. Throughout the song, in addition to his dejection due to the end of his relationship, Cremonini also makes a reference to his sadness due to his nostalgia for former Italian footballer Roberto Baggio, and late Formula 1 racing driver Ayrton Senna.

An alternate version of the track, Marmellata #24, was produced as a b-side single on the subsequent Maggese.

The single
The single of the song was released in store on 16 May 2005, almost a month ahead of the full album Maggese. The single entered the charts at number 18. The song would remain on the charts for about three months, reaching number 9 at its peak.

Tracks
Marmellata #25
Marmellata #25 (Quiet)
Marmellata #25 (Smooth)

The video
Filmed in 35 mm by Gaetano Morbioli for Run Multimedia, the video of Marmellata #25 sees the singer awake one morning to find that all the objects of his apartment had come to life. When Cremonini leaves the apartment and thinks himself to be free, he finds himself face to face with a giant spider (formed by the objects of his home) that follow him on the streets of Bologna, until arriving at the Giardini Margherita, where Cremonini bangs his head against a branch and passes out. Upon reawakening the singer finds himself once again in his own bed and once he gets up everything is perfectly normal, while in the kitchen he finds his girlfriend who gives him a good morning kiss. The apartment in which the video was filmed was the true home of Cremonini.

Another video was produced, available on the official site of Cremonini, of Marmellata #24, an alternate version of Marmellata #25. In this video, completed with some images that were discarded from the original video, appears also Ballo, who did not appear in the original version.

Billboard Charts

References

2005 songs
Italian pop songs


title: 1940 LSU Tigers football team

text:
The 1940 LSU Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1940 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bernie Moore, the Tigers complied an overall record of 6–4, with a conference record of 3–3, and finished sixth in the SEC.

LSU was ranked at No. 33 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.

Schedule

References

LSU
LSU Tigers football seasons
LSU Tigers football


title: Eburoceras

text:
Eburoceras is an early nautiloid cephalopod from the Upper Yenchau and Wanwankau, Upper Cambrian Trempealeauan of China, assigned to the Ellesmeroceratidae.

The shell of Eburoceras is long and narrow, curved in a broad arc of near constant curvature, interpreted as endogastric, assuming the small siphuncle on the inner margin to be ventral.  Known for sure dorsal siphuncles do not appear until later in the Early Ordovician with the Trocholitidae, which if so would make it (Eburoceras) exogastric. Eburoceras is the most strongly curved of the Cambrian ellesmeroceratids.

Eburoceras is the earliest ellesmeroceratid except for the short lived Hunyuanocers, from the lower part of the Upper Yenchou, that proceeded it. Eburoceras died out at the end of Wanwankau time, along with the other Late Cambrian ellesmeroceratid genera, except for Ectenolites and Clarkoceras, which persisted into the Ordovician.

Late Cambrian Tanycamerocers (Ellesmeroceratidae) is similar in being long and narrow and having a small marginal siphuncle, but is straight. Late Cambrian Huaiheceras (Hauiheceratidae) is also similar in being long with a small marginal siphuncle, but is exogastric and less strongly curved.

References
 Chen Jun-yuan & Curt Teichert.  Cambrian Cephalopods.  Geology  v.11 Nov. 1983
 Curt Teichert. Main features of Cephalopod Evolution. the Mollusca Volume 12. Paleontology and Neontology of Cephalopods. Academic Press Inc. 1988.

Ellesmerocerida


title: Ford Mondeo (second generation)

text:
The Ford Mondeo Mk3 (second generation) model was launched by Ford in October 2000. This Mondeo was considerably larger than its predecessor, and although Ford abandoned its New Edge design theme for the second generation, it was their first vehicle to fully benefit from the Prodigy concept car. This gave it an overall effect which many critics felt was more restrained and mature, if much less distinctive. Two of the old car's biggest weaknesses, the modest rear legroom, and uncompetitive diesel version were addressed by a  longer wheelbase and the new Duratorq diesel engine. The basic chassis and suspension design was carried over from the previous generation, which meant that the car continued its predecessor's reputation for class leading handling and ride. This Mondeo came to Mexico, replacing the North American built Ford Contour, and was sold from 2001 to 2007, when the Ford Fusion replaced it. The North American market Fusion and Ford Five Hundred/Taurus sported very similar styling, inside and out.

Following the standard setting interior of the Volkswagen Passat (B5) in 1996, Ford paid a great deal of attention to the second generation Mondeo's interior and was the first major American manufacturer to react to the new standard set by Volkswagen. Ford dispensed with the rounded American style interior of the first generation, and developed a more sober 'Germanic' design, which not only seemed more sophisticated but, more importantly, was of a higher quality due to the use of more expensive materials.

This Mondeo simplified trim levels a lot, for example the UK trims had been simplified down to
LX, Zetec, Zetec S, Ghia, Ghia X and ST. Despite this, a mid-cycle facelift in 2003 saw the introduction of some new trim levels. Titanium and Titanium X slotted in between Zetec S and Ghia, and ST220 slotted in above ST.

As with its predecessor, passive safety was a major selling point of the 2000 Mondeo. With an even stronger bodyshell, Ford introduced its so-called "Intelligent Protection System" (IPS), which used an "intelligent" array of sensors based on a neural network, to decide the best combination of safety devices (traditional front passenger airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags) to deploy for a given crash situation. To enhance active safety, all models were fitted with anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution, with electronic stability program (ESP) available as an option. Performance blue was also an option at £2000. Ford's marketing of the time claimed the Mondeo was 'One of the safest places to be'. However, Euro NCAP's testing of the 2000 to 2007 Mondeo found that it protected worse than most key rivals (Vauxhall Vectra, Citroën C5, Toyota Avensis, Volkswagen Passat), achieving a lower-end 4 star rating. Ford redesigned part of the car and it was re-tested, but the higher-than-average risk of chest injury to the driver in the frontal impact remained because the first and second generation Mondeo were based on the relatively dated CDW27 platform which related to the Mazda GE platform designed in late 1980s.

The Mondeo established itself as Britain's most popular automobile in its class and held this position every year from 2001 onwards, though this size of car has fallen slightly in popularity during the 2000s. This version of the Mondeo has never come higher than sixth in the SMMT's official list of the top selling cars in the UK each year. In 2003, it came tenth in the list.

The second generation Mondeo was never sold in Australia, as Ford Australia argued that the segment of the market was in decline. However in neighbouring New Zealand, it was voted Car of the Year in 2002 by the New Zealand Motoring Writers' Guild.

Engines

For the second generation Mondeo, the Zetec engine was replaced with 1.8 and 2.0 litre Mazda L engines, branded Duratec by Ford. The standard 2.5 L V6 engine was carried over, while a 3.0 L version was developed for the ST220 and higher trim models.

There was a design flaw with the new 1.8 and 2.0 L petrol units with the butterfly valves in the inlet manifold, which could cause severe engine damage when they failed. The plastic components of the butterfly valves wear out too quickly and when loose enough can result in them falling apart and releasing metal and plastic parts into the engine cylinders, potentially causing severe engine damage (How to Diagnose) The part was upgraded by Ford in late 2002 to early 2003 and this largely prevented the problem from occurring in later engines, though random failures have still been reported on even the upgraded parts.

The archaic Endura-D 1.8 L turbodiesel engine was dropped, and replaced by a more sophisticated 2.0 L 16v Duratorq common rail (TDCi and TDDi) unit with a fixed or variable geometry turbine, this clever turbine system allows a certain amount of overboost, giving an extra 10% or so of torque for short periods. This engine, known within Ford as the "Puma"-type Duratorq, was first seen in the Transit in detuned form.

A new automatic transmission was added to the range called the Durashift. This unit has five gears and may be shifted manually or shifted like an automatic. A six-speed manual transmission was also added to the range, instead of just having a five-speed manual as seen in the previous model.

In June 2003, the Mondeo was given a very mild upgrade, the new models being identifiable by the larger chrome honeycomb grille, redesigned fog lights, a new central dashboard made from higher quality materials, with electronic climate control, either a standard Ford radio, Sony radio, or a satellite navigation radio/CD player, which also has climate control built into the unit in lieu of the space taken up by the unit. The Durashift automatic is now available with steering wheel control. The petrol engines were revised at this stage also — the new SCI (direct injection) version of the 1.8 L Duratec engine was introduced, which generates 4 kW (5 PS) more than the standard unit. In addition, equipment was upgraded across the range — with trip computer now standard on all models, and cruise control is also standard in selected trim levels and markets.

The main Sports version was the ST220, replacing the ST200 from the last model series. This was available in liftback, estate and saloon form. The ST220 produced  from the newly developed 3.0-litre V6 engine, which made it capable of 0 to  in 7.4 seconds, and on to a maximum speed of . There was also a ST TDCi, a sports version of the regular diesel. This, available in all forms, had a 2.2-litre 4-cyl diesel engine, developing . It accelerated from 0 to  in 8.2 seconds, and had a maximum speed of .

The higher range models, (i.e. the Zetec S, Ghia X and Titanium X), now had two V6 engines available; one being the existing Duratec 25 carried over from the previous model, and one being a Duratec 30; a quieter, smoother variant of the ST220 3.0-litre engine, which produced . This was not dissimilar in performance to the ST220, with a 0 to  time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of .

In 2005, there were two new Duratorq common rail (TDCi) options, a 2.2L with 114 kW (155 PS) and a detuned version of the 2.0L with 65 kW (89 PS). Also, the Seat Belt Warning System was added and is now standard, with an audible/visual warning signal reminding the driver to fasten his/her seat belt. The styling was upgraded again, the most notable difference being tweaked taillights.

Market

Europe
Engines:
 1.8 L (1798 cc) Duratec I4, 110 PS ( and ) (1.8)
 1.8 L (1798 cc) Duratec I4, 125 PS ( and ) (1.8)
 1.8 L (1798 cc) Duratec SCi I4, 131 PS ( and ) (1.8 SCi)
 2.0 L (1999 cc) Duratec I4, 145 PS ( and ) (2.0)
 2.5 L (2495 cc) Duratec 24v V6, 170 PS ( and ) (2.5)
 3.0 L (2967 cc) Duratec 30 V6, 204 PS ( and ) (3.0)
 3.0 L (2967 cc) Duratec 30 V6, 226 PS ( and ) (3.0 ST220)
 2.0 L (1998 cc) Duratorq I4, 90 PS ( and ) (2.0 TDDi 90)
 2.0 L (1998 cc) Duratorq I4, 116 PS ( and ) (2.0 TDDi and TDCi 115)
 2.0 L (1998 cc) Duratorq I4, 131 PS ( and ) (2.0 TDCi 130)
 2.2 L (2198 cc) Duratorq I4, 155 PS ( and ) (2.2 TDCi 155)

North America
Mexico
In Mexico, the model was similar to the European version to replace the Ford Contour. Trim levels were Core, Edge, Ghia and 100 units of the ST220 (sold as a limited edition), it was sold only with the 2.0 4-cylinder, 2.5 V6 and 3.0 V6 (for the ST220) petrol: no turbodiesel or estate versions were available in Mexico. Its nearest rival were the Chevrolet Vectra and Volkswagen Passat. 2007 was the last year of the Mondeo for Mexico, being sold together with the Ford Fusion until it finally replaced it.

South America
Brazil
In Brazil, Ford do Brasil re-imported the Mondeo from 2002, until the Fusion replaced it in 2006.
The Mondeo was offered only as a saloon, and had the 2.0 143 hp inline-4 engine. The V6 version was sold only during the past generation (1999–2000). No flexifuel variant was available.
There was only one trim level, the Ghia, with manual or automatic gearbox.

Asia
Taiwan
In Taiwan, the second generation Ford Mondeo (CD132) was produced in Chungli, Taiwan from 2001. It was redesigned and marketed by Ford Lio Ho as the Ford Mondeo Metrostar. The redesign featured 17 inch alloys, 14 inch brake disks, a completely redesigned front end and restyled tail lamps, while the interior remained the same as the European model, featuring Nappa leather and the IP imported from Germany. Two versions of the grilles were offered, with the earlier one featuring vertical bars with the Ford badge on the top and the latter-launched one from 2003 for the V6 models featuring horizontal bars and the Ford oval in the center. The V6 version of the grilles were later available in lower trim models as the Koln Edition. A facelift called the Ford Mondeo Metrostar A+ was launched by the end of 2003, featuring completely redesigned front end and restyled tail lamps once again. The Europe spec Mondeo RS model was also produced in Taiwan starting from 2002 and offered as a sportier variant, while the European Mondeo ST220 performance model was imported.

The Ford Mondeo Metrostar in Taiwan was also exported to a few countries in east Asia including China and Vietnam. The Ford Mondeo Metrostar in Taiwan was produced from 2001 to 2007 as a 4-door sedan only. The model is powered by a 2.0 liter DOHC inline-4 engine or a 2.5 DOHC V6 engine option for the post 2003 model.

China
In China, the version sold was the top of the trim Taiwanese Ford Mondeo Metrostar exported from Taiwan, the Mondeo Metrostar Ghia X model, which was not offered in Taiwan, and sold from over 300,000 RMB initially. Later prices of the Taiwan-produced model were dropped to 230,000 RMB. After the Ford Mondeo Metrostar A+ facelift, Changan Ford started to produce the Ford Lio Ho designed model domestically as the Ford Mondeo in China, and a minor facelift featuring a new front bumper was launched later.

References

2nd
Euro NCAP large family cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Hatchbacks
Sedans
Station wagons
Cars introduced in 2000


title: Ford Mondeo (third generation)

text:
The Ford Mondeo Mk IV (third generation), codenamed CD345 was officially unveiled in five-door production form by Ford in late 2006. Based on the EUCD platform developed with Volvo, the platform was the same as that used in the new large MPVs Galaxy and S-MAX, but not the North American Ford Fusion or the Mazda Atenza in Japan. It was also used for several Volvos starting with the Volvo S80 II.

History

The Mk IV Ford Mondeo was released in May 2007 in the United Kingdom, where it was available in five different trim levels: Edge, Zetec, Ghia, Titanium and Titanium X. In February 2008, Ford announced that in some European markets the Mondeo will be made available with a new Titanium X Sport trim. This model aims to add an even more 'sporty character' than the current Titanium series. In March 2008, a new 2.2  TDCi common-rail diesel engine will be available on Mondeo providing acceleration to 0- in 8.4 seconds on the saloon and fuel consumption of returning 45.6 mpg combined (this engine was replaced with the 2.0l TDCi 163 returning a combined 53.3mpg imp gallons, with a marginal loss of performance). In March 2008, a new Mondeo ECOnetic based on the Zetec series was released. The Mondeo ECOnetic is powered with a 1.6  TDCI diesel that returns CO2 ratings of just 139 g/km on the 5-door.

Although the fourth production model, after the Mk III Galaxy, S-Max and C-Max, to adopt Ford's current 'kinetic' design language, the Mondeo's design theme was first shown as the Ford Iosis concept at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, which gave an indication to the look of the Mk IV Mondeo. The new car, in estate bodystyle, was pre-launched in 'concept' form at the Paris Motor Show on 30 September 2006.

The new platform allowed for the use of Volvo's five-cylinder petrol engine, already featured in the Focus ST and S-Max. Also, Ford dropped the two V6 engines for this platform. The petrol engines include a 1.6-litre with two power outputs (110 PS & 125 PS), the 2.0-litre (145 PS), 2.3-litre (161 PS) for 6-speed automatic models only, and a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo with . It was initially believed performance models may have featured engines from Jaguar and Volvo, but following Tata's purchase of Jaguar/Land Rover, performance variants are more likely to feature other 'in-house' Ford engines such as an uprated 2.5l T5 petrol (as found in the Focus RS) or Volvo's D5 diesel and Mazda's 2.3l petrol.

The new Mondeo uses the new electro-hydraulic steering system, first used on the C-Max, that sharpens the steering response, and helps to save fuel Inside, the Mk IV features Ford's Human-Machine Interface (HMI) first seen on the Galaxy and S-Max whilst an enhanced instrument cluster featuring a  LCD for displaying trip computer and satellite navigation is available as an option on all models. Like the facelift Mk IV, base specification models have a manual heating/air-conditioning system in place of the climate control system. Also new on the Mk IV is the option of keyless starting of the engine via a "Ford Power" button on the dashboard.

A product placement promotional initiative made the Mk IV Mondeo James Bond's car for one incidental scene in Casino Royale, introducing the new model to global audiences in November 2006, on the launch day of the movie.

As with the previous model, the Mk IV Mondeo was not marketed in the United States or Canada because Ford sold the same-class Fusion, which was launched in 2005. The new Mondeo was not sold in Venezuela, Brazil or Colombia because the Fusion is sold locally, nor is it offered in Mexico, although the Mk IV model was popular there. It was, however, sold in Argentina. In Middle East and Central America, it was sold along with the Ford Fusion until 2013, when the fifth Mondeo was introduced. It was not even sold in South Africa because Ford South Africa did not want to sell it after the MK II Mondeo went out of production, which meant that the Ford Fusion became sold in South Africa in 2015. thus replacing the Mondeo altogether.

The 2007 Mondeo marked the return to the Australian market after a six-year absence, due to a resurgence in popularity of medium-sized cars in the last few years. This is in no small part the result of high fuel prices making people reconsider purchasing large cars like the Ford Falcon. Marketing for the Mondeo in Australia focused on the theme that the Mark IV Mondeo looks good but offers even more than style, with television commercials showing silly quotes from celebrities such as Britney Spears ("I've been to lots of overseas places... like Canada") interspersed with scenes of the vehicle and finally the slogan "more than just good looks".

Initial sales have been good in Australia, despite supply constraints from Europe limiting the car's success there. The Mondeo was initially sold as a sedan and liftback body styles in the Australian market, with diesel or petrol engines, and in four trim levels: LX, TDCi, Zetec and XR5 Turbo. In June 2009, Ford Australia announced that the 'Titanium' badge would also be used on Australian spec Mondeos, along with the release of the Mk IV Mondeo station wagon. Only the 2.3L petrol, 2.5L petrol and 2.0L diesel engines were offered there, the 2.5 being the only model available with a manual transmission. The ECOnetic Mondeo was also considered for the Australian market, but was never launched.

Facelift
In September 2010, a mid-cycle facelifted Mk IV Mondeo was introduced with some changes, such as the new ecoboost engines and LED daytime running lights. The final changes were shown at the 2010 Moscow International Motor Show. The front and rear of the car had minor changes, the biggest being the new Kinetic Design. The interior was improved, with a use of better materials.

The Ghia trim line was removed in the United Kingdom, so the Titanium takes over as the top of the range models, along with the saloon. The new econetic has higher mpg and further reduced CO2 emissions thanks to Stop-Start technology. Also introduced is an improved version of the 2.2L PSA diesel engine, delivering a healthy 200PS. This facelift is prompted by similar revisions to the S-MAX, which was launched in August 2010.

Trim levels

The Irish range has the following trim levels:

Style
ECOnetic
Zetec
Titanium X
Titanium X Sport

The Norwegian range has the following trim levels:

Trend
ECOnetic
Ghia (discontinued 2010)
Titanium
Titanium X
Titanium S
Premium

Features
The Mk IV Mondeo hosted features such as:

Human Machine Interface: A system so advanced it could present all features within the car being triggered with voice activation. (Only available on Zetec and higher spec)
Blind Spot Monitoring: The Mk IV Mondeo could detect cars coming within the drivers blind spot areas, avoiding such issues.
Active Cruise Control: The Mk IV Mondeo could detect vehicles coming ahead, slowing the car down to a desired safety to not cause any harm to any road users.
Navigation: The Mk IV Mondeo featured a Blaupunkt-based NX System, though not quick it was vastly packed with features.

Sales
Despite positive reviews from the motoring media right up to the final year of production, this generation of Mondeo has not been a strong seller in the United Kingdom, falling out of Top 10 Best Selling Cars In Britain in 2010, when just over 30,000 were sold, and plummeting to just over 16,000 sales in 2013, and less than 7,000 during 2014. In 2009, it was outsold by its main rival, the Vauxhall Insignia.

This placed it well short of competitors, like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Vauxhall Insignia. This in stark contrast to the 1990s, when sales of the original Mondeo topped 100,000 per year, and even the second generation model peaked at more than 80,000 in 2001. It was still selling above 50,000 units per year in 2005. However, the popularity of more expensive versions of the Focus, the Kuga SUV and the related S-MAX have minimized the impact of the Mondeo's fall in popularity on overall Ford sales.

Awards
2007 Auto Express Car of the Year (Auto Express quoted the Mondeo is: "Ford's finest ever car")
2007 Auto Express Best Family Car
2007 Fifth Gear: Best Family Newcomer
2007 Top Gear Car of the Year (Joint COTY, Subaru Legacy Outback)
2007 RACV: Best Mid–Size Car Over $28,000
2007 Drive Car of the Year: Best Medium Car
2008 Semperit Irish Car of the Year
2008 What Car? Best Estate Car
2008 What Car? Best Family Car
2008 Motor Trend: Top 10 Car
2008 Car and Driver: 10 Best Car
2008 Car News Magazine (Taiwan): Best Domestic Large Sedan
2008 Sina: Best Driving Performance Car
2008 Drive Car of the Year: Best Medium Car
2008 The Caravan Club: Tow Car of the Year (Mondeo 2.5t Estate)
2008 Auto Express Best Family Car
2009 What Car? Best Estate Car
2009 What Car? Best Family Car
2009 New Zealand Automobile Association: Best Medium Car
2010 Drive Car of the Year: Best Medium Car
2011 What Car? Best Estate Car
2011 What Car? Best Family Car
2012 What Car? Best Estate Car
2012 What Car? Best Family Car
2012 Now Magazine: "Most Attractive Car For A Man To Drive"
2013 What Car? Best Estate Car
2013 What Car? Best Family Car

References

External links

3rd
Euro NCAP large family cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Hatchbacks
Sedans
Station wagons
Cars introduced in 2007
2010s cars


title: Ford Mondeo (fourth generation)

text:
The fourth generation of the Ford Mondeo, (Mk 5 in the UK, codenamed MD in Australia) is a range of mid-size cars produced by Ford from 2013 to 2022. Developed under the model code CD391, it is a rebadged variant of the American-market Fusion sold in Europe, Latin America, China and Australia. Revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, the Mondeo is based on a new iteration of Ford’s C/D platform, which it shares with the Galaxy and S-Max large MPVs. The Fusion had started production in 2012, which was about one year before the Mondeo had. At its launch, it served as the flagship model for Ford’s lineup in China, and was tested on Chinese roads in 2013.

At the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Ford confirmed product details, and delayed the European launch from early summer 2013 to late autumn 2014 to address quality issues in ramping up production of the fourth-generation Mondeo receiving updates.  It was later explained that European sales of the latest Mondeo would be delayed by "at least a year" because of the closure in 2013 of the Ford plant at Genk, which is where previous generations of the car had been produced for the European markets. In October 2014, the fourth-generation Mondeo finally appeared in Europe, manufactured in Valencia, powered by a range of four-cylinder engines.

The facelifted Mondeo was revealed on 18 January 2019 as a 2020 model, making its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. The Mondeo was discontinued in Australia in 2020. Ford had retired the Mondeo nameplate in Europe on March 2022 after 30 years of production. As of late 2023, the Mk5 Mondeo is exclusively sold in China and the Middle East, due to Ford Europe’s decision to move towards the crossover SUV market.

History of development
The Mondeo/Fusion was revealed on 9 January 2012 at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Assistant vehicle line director for C/D vehicles Steve Pintar had stated that the clean-sheet architecture, of which the Mondeo is based on, is flexible enough to accommodate the brand’s large passenger car and SUV when the Australian Falcon and Territory were replaced in 2016. With the Mondeo/Fusion based on the C/D platform’s transverse engine and front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration would mean the end of Ford Australia’s straight-six longitudinal engine and rear-wheel-drive architecture of the Falcon and related Territory. "We haven’t designed (the C/D platform) for a RWD configuration," Pintar stated. According to Pintar, the Mondeo/Fusion would initially be produced in Belgium, the US, Mexico, Russia and China, however the Mondeo was produced only in Spain and China, while the Fusion was produced only in North America. Darren Palmer had stated, "CD4 platform will eventually underpin 10 models, with an expected combined annual volume of 1.2 million."

Mike Rogers, Ford's Engineering Launch Manager, had played a significant role in the European market receiving the Mondeo. As the Mondeo was derived from the Fusion, Rogers and his team of developers had to integrate new petrol and diesel powertrains, two new body styles (liftback and station wagon), right-hand drive, and a completely restyled interior to differentiate it from its American sister model. Rogers and his team additionally had to switch from the now-closed
Genk, Belgium plant to the assembly area in Valencia, Spain. Rogers had also stated that "because the car was developed initially as a global vehicle, Ford teams in North America, Europe and Asia were all involved in setting up the program." The Mondeo features an available 1.0-litre engine. While a 1.0 engine is unlikely for car of the its size, Rogers and his team of engineers have promised an adequate level of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) and low C02 emissions. The launch team was initially composed of 150 engineers at the Valencia assembly plant, however Rogers had emphasised that there was also backup if necessary from Ford’s technology and engineering facilities in Cologne, Dunton, and Dearborn to ensure the car and each of its body styles (sedan, liftback and estate) would meet all criteria. In October 2012, Ford had announced that they would move production to the Valencia plant, following their announcement to shut the Genk plant down after 50 years and 14 million vehicles produced there. Rogers states that the move of plants "necessitated a very significant development and re-investment in the Valencia plant". The model was launched under the company's new "One Ford" strategy, which called for single models to be manufactured and sold globally to achieve efficiency and economies of scale, instead of making regional models.

As with the previous generation, the Mondeo incorporates Ford’s Kinetic global design language, which is additionally featured on the Mk3 Focus and the Mk3 Escape/Kuga. The Mondeo was spied as a development mule in 2011, and had started production in June 2013 for China, while starting in August 2014 for Spain. Furthermore, the Mondeo was introduced to Australia and New Zealand in April 2015 and May 2015, respectively, while it was introduced to the Chinese vehicle market in August 2013. This model is  longer,  narrower,  lower, and has retains its  wheelbase.

According the brand, the Mondeo was the first automobile to benefit from hydro-formed high strength steel, with this steel being used for the A-pillars, B-pillars and roof rails. The hydro-forming uses high-pressure hydraulic fluid to press metal into more complex shapes, which was seen as more efficient than using traditional stamping methods, while providing improved strength-to-weight ratios and bending rigidity. About 61 per cent of the CD391 Mondeo’s body structure consisted these high strength steels. Because of this, the Mondeo’s overall body is  lighter than the previous model. The Mondeo’s architecture features front MacPherson struts, while multi-link suspension at the rear, and additionally, the Mondeo features electric power steering. With the Mondeo’s overall weight saving at only , Ford states that  has been put into improving safety, comfort and convenience. The model was designed by British Chief Exterior Designer Chris Hamilton, Bosnian-German designer Kemal Curić, and David Dillon. Hamilton was the designer of the vehicle's primary parts, which was designed to the tastes of Aston Martin's shape and body sculpting, while detailing was inspired by the concept Evos, which was revealed at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011. Hamilton’s design was said to incorporate significant engineering changes to the vehicle's platform, like a lower seating position to accommodate the low roofline, a lower boot floor for an appropriate amount of luggage, and narrower A-pillars to improve front visibility.

Design and specifications

Bodywork
This model adds Ford’s new integral link rear suspension configuration. Ford states the platform and body structure is 10 per cent stiffer, and additionally adds electric power-assisted steering for the first time. A torque-vectoring system is featured for better handling, and new anti-roll bars. This model features a revised lower grille design finished in gloss black, a newly-styled Ford badge, countersunk into the nose of the car placed above the upper grille, a highly sculpted bonnet with a striking power dome, slimmer headlamps, lower roofline, side mirrors, which are aerodynamically optimised to maximise visibility, a new bumper fascia with a more pronounced lower lip spoiler, and two-piece wrap-around LED tail lamps. For the first time on a mid-size car, the Mondeo introduces sequentially-illuminated turn signals. Like the Fusion, the Mondeo’s claimed drag coefficient is rated at 0.27 Cd.

Interior

The liftback's boot stands at  with seats up, which expands to  with seats down. The station wagon and sedan model offer slightly less room at  with seats up, while the station wagon has a capacity of  with seats down, which is about 170 litres more than the liftback. The hybrid liftback model offers significantly less boot space than the base liftback at . Due to its battery pack, the hybrid's rear seats are not available to be folded. While the diesel Mondeos and the hybrid estate model feature a hatchback tailgate, the hybrid sedan's boot opening hinges from below the rear window. Because of this, it has a narrower boot opening than the liftback and estate versions, which makes it harder to fit larger objects. Mat Watson from British magazine carwow has stated that "quality is good but the infotainment can't match a VW Passat". The Mondeo's seats fold in a 60:40 split.

Intially, the SYNC2 infotainment setup was available, which had offered navigation, traffic alert, in-car climate controls were available, allowing the driver and passenger to select temperature and heated seat level, and an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot that was available by setup. The Ford SYNC3 infotainment system was fitted onto all Mondeo models after Q2 2017. This setup includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Applink connectivity, meaning it allows smartphones can hook into it via the USB socket. It allows buyers to control the smartphone via the 8.0-inch touchscreen without having to pick the device up. The Vignale trim, available in specific countries, allows an active noise-cancelling technology system.

Safety equipment

The Mondeo has been rated as one of the safest family vehicles by European New Car Assessment Programme, receiving a maximum five-star rating. In 2014, the variant tested by Euro NCAP was a , 2.0-litre diesel "Trend" estate model. This model they had tested had featured driver, passenger, and rear airbags, belt pretensioners and load limiters for the driver and front passenger, knee airbags for the driver and rear, side head and chest airbags, as well as a seatbelt reminder. The facelifted model was tested in 2019, as a , 2.0-litre diesel "Titanium" estate model. This model featured front airbags for driver and passenger, belt load limiters and pretensioners for driver, passenger and rear, knee airbags for the driver, side head airbags for driver, passenger and rear, side chest airbags for driver and passenger, as well as a seatbelt reminder. Both models tested had received a five out of five-star rating. On the pre-facelift model, the Titanium trim level had offered active systems such as lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition, which would show the current speed limit on the digital display. With the facelift, these features are standard across the range, as well as a mandatory kit like tyre pressure monitors, cruise control, additional airbags, and electronic stability control. Front and rear parking sensors are also added to all models. Ford additionally adds an option pack which adds electronic hand control system on the shoulder. The Driver Assistance Pack adds an automatic parking aid that will autonomously park, blind spot monitors, and a rear-view camera. All models feature Ford’s Auto Start-Stop system, which will automatically turn the engine off while the car is stationary to save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions.

Models

United Kingdom
The Mondeo is available in six trim levels for the UK. The Style model features an 8-inch colour touchscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB radio, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning and cruise control. The Zetec model adds power-folding door mirrors, a heated front windscreen and height and lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat. Satellite navigation is available. The sporty ST-Line trim adds a sporty body kit, a black honeycomb grille, a black beltline positioned below the windows, and a choice of 18 or 19-inch alloys. The ST-Line model also features leather seats with red stitching, a leather steering wheel and black interior trims. Titanium models add 17-inch alloy wheels, sporty seats, standard satellite navigation, automatic headlights and wipers, as well as safety systems consisting of traffic-sign recognition and lane-keeping assistance. Active parking assistance is available. The Titanium X trim adds LED headlights, leather trim, electrically adjustable heated front seats, and tinted glass. Memory function for the steering wheel is available. Ford had introduced the Vignale, to compete with the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It features large alloy wheels, chrome door handles, a new grille, a redesigned front bumper and new fog lamps. Inside, it features quilted leather seats, luxurious floor mats and leather on the dashboard and steering wheel. The Mondeo is available in ten colours.

Australasia
In Australia and New Zealand, the Mondeo is offered in three grades: the Ambiente, Trend and Titanium. The Mondeo is exclusively available in liftback and station wagon body styles. The Ambiente model features 17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, heated mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, 8-inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth with audio streaming. Upgrading from the Ambiente model, the mid-range Trend model adds dual exhausts, automatically folding exterior mirrors, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, memory driver seats, heated front seats, automatic headlamps and high beams, rain sensing wipers, multi-colour ambient lighting, rear-view camera, blind spot detection, and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection. Adding to both the Ambiente and the Trend models, the range-topping Titanium adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a body kit (front and rear side skirts), a power tailgate for the station wagon, adaptive suspension and adaptive LED headlamps, panoramic sunroof, an interior dedicated to sportiness, and a choice of eight vibrant exterior colours.

Due to its upcoming discontinuation in mid-2020 for the Australasian market, the Mondeo line-up for 2020 has been reduced to only the base Ambiente, with added active safety features from prior high-grade variants, and larger alloy wheels.

Hybrid
Sales in Europe and Asia were planned to start in 2013. Ford began taking orders of the Mondeo Hybrid in Germany in August 2014. Production of the Mondeo Hybrid began at Ford's Valencia, Spain, plant in November 2014. The first hybrid Ford vehicle to be built and sold in Europe, the model features the same 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery found in the Ford Fusion Hybrid. The Mondeo features a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine producing  and , paired with a permanent-magnet AC synchronous electric motor developing , for an overall output of  and . The Mondeo’s regenerative braking recaptures wasted energy, used when brakes are applied, which it uses to charge the battery. 90 per cent of the which would have been lost during braking, is instead used to charge its battery. The electric system additionally features an engine-powered generator that sends energy back to battery. This allows the Mondeo to switch to electric power when efficiency is highly necessary.

The Hybrid model features an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The model features Ford’s SmartGauge system with EcoGuide, Ford’s technology to assist the driver with driving efficiently. The high-quality LCD screen on the dashboard displays the Mondeo’s real-time driving information, which includes fuel and battery power levels. Additionally, an on-screen animation lets the driver know when they’re driving most efficiently. CO2 emissions and combined fuel economy are rated at 103g/km and 50.4mpg (49.6mpg for the estate) respectively. Sedan models offer a  boot,  smaller than the ICE models due to the battery pack, while estate models offer a ,  smaller than the ICE model.

After its facelift, the only petrol Mondeo was exclusively available in a hybrid configuration. The hybrid estate Mondeo was also introduced in 2020.

Drivetrain

Facelifts

China

In 2016, Ford had previewed some of the facelifted Mondeo's exterior and interior for the 2017 model year. The facelift's exterior is identical to the facelifted Fusion, meaning it features a 6-point grille, restyled LED headlamps and taillamps, as well as a revised front bumper. The side profile remains the same. Additionally, the Chinese-market facelifted Mondeo adds Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. This model was later discontinued for China in 2021, due to the fifth generation model releasing exclusively for the market.

Europe

The facelifted Mondeo was revealed on 18 January 2019 as a 2020 model, making its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. All models receive a revised front bumper, which visually joins together the lower air intake and fog light pods for a sportier exterior look. Depending on the trim, the Mondeo adds new grille inserts and alloy wheel designs. All body styles receive a chrome bar linking and bisecting the pair of taillamps. The Mondeo now features the company's in-house developed 8-speed sequential automatic transmission, known internally as the 8F40. Unlike the Fusion, the Mondeo retains its headlight design from the previous model. Now, the Mondeo features adaptive cruise control with a start-stop system functionality, as well as an traffic sign reader system. Ford has dropped conventional petrol models from the lineup, leaving the full-hybrid model as its only gasoline model. Ford had introduced a hybrid variant of the estate model to expand the Mondeo’s lineup, brand was expecting these models to account for about 50 per cent of its sales. Ford has also introduced their EcoBlue engines onto their Mondeos, allowing for , , and  configurations. The model had went on sale for the European market in March 2019, and was planned to come to Australia in the second half of 2020, however these plans were cancelled due to the discontinuation of the Ford Mondeo in 2020.

Reviews and faults

Reception
The Mondeo had received primarily positive reviews, praising its driving experience, exterior, interior design, with some sources comparing it to luxury vehicles such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. Mat Watson from British magazine Carwow states that the Mondeo is "good to drive and cheap to run" and is additionally "a great purchase". Watson also states that "the Mondeo is a very practical car, and whether you're carting around kids or carpet samples, it'll do the job", and he additionally recommends the 2.0-litre diesel for its driving experience, while advising going for the 1.5-litre diesel for its relatively low fuel economy of 70.6mpg. Australian magazine Which Car? rates the Mondeo an 8.8 out of 10 score, praising its good handling, comfort, value, and space, while criticizing its interior finish and the significant use of petrol. Which Car? states that the mid-sized Ford Mondeo steers very nicely, rides very comfortably, and makes a superbly accomplished touring car. British magazine Top Gear rates the a six out of ten score, rivaling it with the Vauxhall Insignia, Mazda6, and the Volkswagen Passat, which all have a similar rating. Top Gear states that the Mondeo "looks a bit like the old one but brings solid gains in comfort and tech." They additionally state that the Mondeo is "very well insulated from big and small bumps, and the tyres’ passage is quiet." Pete Gibson from British magazine Auto Express states "I'm a bit disappointed with some of the build quality, too. The parcel shelf, for example, is already broken – poor on a car of this price." They also state that "while the panoramic roof makes the cabin feel wonderfully airy, it also means so much light streams in that the touchscreen displays every single fingermark. It’s horribly unsightly.". Auto Express rates the Mondeo a three out of five stars.

Recalls
In October 2016, a recall was issued for Mondeos manufactured between 16 October 2014 to 22 December 2015. This was because of an error in the Headlight Control Module, which could possibly cause vehicles with Adaptive LED headlamps to experience an incident which would cause the headlamps to abruptly switch off. If this had happened, the ignition would have to be cycled on and off to enable the headlamps to reactivate. In Australia, 582 units were affected, while in the United Kingdom, 9,705 vehicles were affected. In October 2018, a recall was issued for Mondeos manufactured between 6 October 2014 and 21 March 2017. The driver's side front airbag inflator in these vehicles had contained propellant wafers that could absorb moisture over time. When the airbags activate, excessive internal pressure would cause the metal airbag inflator housing to explode/rupture and send the metal fragments through the airbag and into the cabin; the fragments created a risk of serious injury or death. In the UK, 219,738 units were affected. In late 2019, a recall was issued for Mondeos for sale in between 6 October 2014 and 6 September 2018. In these vehicles, battery acid could possibly leak around the negative battery terminal. If copper sulphate accumulated over time, this would provide a low-resistance conductive layer below the Battery Monitoring Sensor, which would cause the surround to overheat and ignite. In the UK, 56,154 Mondeos were affected by this. The Mondeo had received a number of other faults, such as the oil sump cracking due to the engine overheating, clutch pressure plate fracturing, and numerous other recalls.

Awards
In January 2015, after being on sale for only a month, the Mondeo was given the 2015 What Car? Award in January 2015. The Mondeo was later crowned Car Of The Year and Most Popular Large Family Car at the 2015 Honest John awards. The Mondeo was named 'Best Family Car' at the UK Car of the Year Awards, two months after being on sale. This model had won due to its advanced technologies such as Active Park Assist and the Dynamic LED headlights. The Mondeo was awarded Continental Irish Car of the Year on 20 November 2016.

Discontinuation
Ford initially denied rumours of ending production of the Mondeo and the closely related S-Max and Galaxy MPVs in Europe, but in March 2021 the company announced that it will discontinue the production of the Mondeo in Europe and Argentina with no direct successor. Production of the Mondeo ended in Europe with the final car that was completed on 30 March 2022. The car was painted grey and it rolled off the production line at the Valencia plant on 4 April 2022. This model represented the final Mondeo ever produced in Europe.

References

External links

 Ford Mondeo (Britain) (archived)
 Ford Fusion (USA) (archived)

4th
Euro NCAP large family cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Hybrid electric vehicles
Hatchbacks
Sedans
Station wagons
Mid-size cars
Cars introduced in 2013
Cars discontinued in 2022
2010s cars
2020s cars