History of the Mk1 and Mk2 Mondeo

The Ford Mondeo hit our roads in 1993, and has consistently been a sales success. Now on its 4th incarnation, it remains a drivers favourite.
For more information, visit the Ford Mondeo forum on TalkFord.com, the definitive resource site covering all Fords from the present day to the 1970's.

---

Overview Guide
Ford Model:	Mondeo
Petrol/Diesel:	???
Estimated Cost:	???
Difficulty?	???
How long does this take?	???

The Ford Mondeo is a large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world. The name "Mondeo" is derived from the Latin word mundus, meaning "world". The initial generation of the Mondeo was developed as a "world car", along with North American models marketed as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique until 2000.

Mk I & Mk II (1993-2000)

Although an official picture was published at the end of 1992, there was also a mention in the Auto Car magazine on 2 December 1992 which showed Ford's future in the fiercely competitive large family car sector. The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993 and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback and a five-door estate, it was produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk.

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 Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mark I car only. Instigated in 1986, the design of the car cost Ford US$6 billion. It was one of the most expensive new car programs ever. The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing was shared between Ford USA in Dearborn, and Ford of Europe. Its codename while under development reflected thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C & D size classes and was a "World Car".

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 fourth generation Escort and 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 sub standard 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 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.

Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared with the Contour were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Even the interior was slightly different. The CDW27 project turned out not to be a true world car in the sense that the original Ford Focus was; one design for the world.

Design and engineering

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. Using an all-new platform, the Mondeo featured new manual and automatic transmissions and sophisticated suspension design, which Ford hope would 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.

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 ECOTY title in 1993) side-impact bars, seat belt pretensioners, and ABS (higher models) as standard features. Other features for its year included adaptive damping, self-leveling suspension (top station wagon 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, 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 Nissan Primera as the class benchmarks that the CDW27 had to beat.

Engines

Along with an all-new platform, the Mondeo also used Ford's then-new Zetec engines, first seen in 1991 in a revised version of the Ford Escort.

Three versions of the 16-valve Zetec engine were used. The 1.6 L version (rated at 90 bhp) of engine from the Escort was used, a 1.8 (115bhp) also previously found in the Escort Si (sometimes in 130bhp form), while a new 136 bhp 2.0 L version was launched.

An alternative to the Zetec engines was the Endura-D 1.8 L turbodiesel. This engine had origins in the older 1.6 L diesel design 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.

A less popular engine (for the UK and Ireland) was introduced in 1994 in the form of the 170 bhp 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 an ability to operate using only half its 24 valves at low engine speeds. Fuel economy was reasonable, with the automatic barely much worse than the manual (but far less reliable). This engine was originally branded 24v (when valve count was all important) but later on sold 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, the ST24, in 1997. The power of the engine stayed at 170 bhp, the same as other 2.5 L-engined models, but the ST featured unique cabin trim, unique 16 in alloy wheels and a full RSA (Rally Sport Appearance) bodykit as standard. The bodykit option was listed as a delete option for those that did not want it fitted as standard. This was later replaced by the ST200 in 2000, featuring a modified version of the V6 Duratec with a power output of 200 bhp.

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 90s.

Trim levels

Mk I

The 1993-1996 range had the following trim levels:

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

Mk II

The 1997-2000 range had the following trim levels:

• Aspen - 1.6 L Zetec, 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, added alloys and chrome to the LX, 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, 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, tuned engine & suspension, RSAP Kit, digital Climate Control

In South Africa, the trim levels offered were:

• LX - 1.8 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 4-door sedan
• CLX - 2.0 L Zetec, midrange trim level, 4-door sedan
• 2.0 Aspen - 2.0 L Zetec, luxury trim level version of the LX, 4-door sedan
• Si - 2.5 L V6, sports version, 5-door liftback,

MK II

Referred to as the Mk I Mondeo, a major facelifted version launched in October 1996 saw three of the Mondeo's biggest criticisms addressed, namely its bland styling, the bad performance of the headlights, and the cramped rear legroom. The lowering of specification levels around that time (e.g. air-conditioning and alloy wheels became optional on the UK Ghia models) may have indicated a desire by Ford to cut costs and recoup some of the huge sums invested in the original design. These specification levels were improved again in 1998 as the Mondeo approached replacement.

The facelift saw almost every external panel replaced, leaving only the doors and roof the same as the original Mk 1 model. Even the extractor vents on the rear doors were dispensed with. The most notable change was the introduction of a version of Ford's then new corporate 'oval' grille. The saloon version also featured very distinctive rear lights which sat atop of the rear wings. Unlike the iterations seen on the heavily facelifted Scorpio and Mk 4 Fiesta during the previous year, this facelift was well-received.

The interior was also mildly revised though the basic dashboard achitecture was the same as before.

The 2.0 litre Zetec engine was thoroughly revised which, while producing less power than before, was far more refined and smoother which was something the original engine lacked at high revs.

Mixed sales success A Ford Contour, the Mondeo's American counterpart. A Ford Contour, the Mondeo's American counterpart.

In Europe, the Mondeo was instantly declared a class leader, and was elected Car of the Year in 1994.

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. The timing was not ideal though as four-wheel drive had already become synonymous with large SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery and the bottom dropped out of the four-wheel drive sedan market. People who would tolerate the knock on performance and economy preferred to graduate to a full-blown SUV rather than a sedan with good all-round traction; especially since SUVs had become fashionable at the time.

In Europe, the Mondeo is considered large, but in other markets such as the United States and Australia, it had not fared well, as there were larger models that had stronger brand loyalty and offered better value for money. Ford claimed that it was a 'world car', but in a letter to Autocar magazine in the UK, a Ford dealer retorted 'What world was it designed for?' Because of this, the Contour and Mystique proved unpopular with American buyers. While the Contour sold at an average rate, the Mystique fizzled. The Mondeo Mk 3 was much larger than the Mk 1/2 version but was not sold in North America, where Ford now offers the Fusion.

There is however, another theory advanced by some motoring journalists: that because the Contour and Mystique were not created in the United States, it suffered from a lack of enthusiasm from inside Ford's North American operations. Those same theorists point to the fact that the BMW 3 Series — arguably a "world car" in the sense one version is sold globally — does quite well in the United States and it is the same size as the Contour and Mystique.

The Mondeo fared badly in Australia, where, similarly, there was a much larger local model, the Falcon, and was dropped in 2001. Ford Australia withdrew completely from the medium-sized segment of the Australian market, arguing that it was in decline. The wagon 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 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.

By contrast, the Mondeo (like the Cortina long before it) was a success story in New Zealand, the Mk III model in particular being voted Car of the Year in 2001 by Autocar New Zealand and National Business Review. In addition, many earlier model Mondeos, imported used from Japan were also sold locally (Japan was also a good market for the Mondeo, a rare feat in a country with a high proportion of domestic automobiles).

In Australia, the 1995-2001 Ford Mondeo was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly better than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash.[1]

In its final year in China, the Ford Mondeo M2000 gained a front fascia not dissimilar from the outgoing Mercury Mystique's, but had Ford badges. Its rear end was identical to that of the European models.

Sports Variants

Mondeo MkII Sports Variants included the ST24 and the ST200. The ST24 produced 170 bhp (130 kW) from it's 2.5i litre V6 24v engine and was launched with RSAP (Rally Sport Appearance Pack) bodykit along with sports suspension and half-leather sports bucket-seats. It's standard setup saw the ST24 from standstill to 62 mph (100 km/h) in around 8 seconds, coupled with a maximum speed of 139 mph (224 km/h).

The ST200 was then launched as the Enthuasists car, with a tuned 2.5 litre V6 24v engine producing 202 bhp (151 kW). This engine made the ST200 go from standing to 62 mph (100 km/h) in around 7.7 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 141 mph (227 km/h). Tuning included a different throttle body, cams, flywheel and upper manifold to name a couple. This version of the Mondeo also had even better sports suspension than the ST24 and came with full-leather Recaro sports bucket-seats. The ST200 was only released to the public in Performance Blue colour and a limited number in white.