Just add it to the list.
In a world where the four door sedan, especially one that isn’t in the premium tier, appears far fewer times on the shortlist of most buyers, the Mondeo has been under scrutiny for quite some time. Ford has had no qualms of culling most of its passenger car line-up, with only the Mustang being immune, the larger sedan was standing on thinning ice.
However, instead of the nameplate being killed off outright, Autocar reports that the brand’s modular C2 platform - which underpins the all-new Fiesta and Focus but will soon accommodate the next-generation Edge crossover - will be stretched to fit the dimensions necessary for a larger SUV which will inherit the Mondeo badge.
However, instead of being tall and cumbersome, this new model will instead be more akin to the current Mondeo wagon on stilts, retaining its sleeker profile and low H-point seating position, which could lead it to be marketed as a sporty yet practical addition to the Ford SUV portfolio.
The British publication further states that, in addition to the usual array of petrol and diesel (Euro 6d compliant) engines, certain variants will include a 48V electrical architecture to support mild-hybrid features such as brake energy recuperation and an integrated starter generator.
Being a sportier, less high riding permutation on the SUV formula, though, it is unclear if Ford will offer this next-generation hypothetical Mondeo with all-wheel drive, a feature that adds weight, complexity, and cost at the detriment of fuel economy.
That said, it would be a little disadvantaged compared to cars such as the Subaru Outback and Volkswagen Passat Alltrack, both of which do offer all-wheel traction as standard as well as decent handling thanks to its roots as conventional saloons or wagons.
The move to rebrand the Mondeo as a more marketable SUV is one that Ford is no stranger to pulling, and there might be similar announcements to follow. Just recently, the Puma, previously a sporty small two-door, was unveiled as a new-generation crossover that’s shares much with the Fiesta hatch.
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