All-New Ford Mondeo Offers Advanced Active Park Assist and New Suspension

All-new Ford Mondeo gets global public reveal at 2012 Paris Motor Show

• Offered in five-door, wagon and four-door versions, all-new Mondeo, will feature the  European debut of Advanced Active Park Assist – Ford’s first system to support perpendicular parking
• Ford also debuts integral link rear suspension in Europe on all-new Mondeo, the first model built on Ford’s new global CD-segment platform, to deliver superior refinement. Massage function-equipped multi-contour seats also raise the quality bar
• All-new Mondeo delivers segment-first adaptive full LED headlamps, power tailgate and retractable panoramic roof
• Ford will equip all-new Mondeo with award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and also offer a 1.6-litre diesel ECOnetic Technology variant, both expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy. Mondeo to offer first-in-class four-door petrol hybrid electric vehicle and, for the first time, all-wheel drive diesel powertrain
• Segment-first Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch equips all-new Mondeo with an eight-inch colour touchscreen, more voice-control, more connectivity features and a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices
• Ford’s Paris Show media site at http://paris2012.fordmedia.eu goes live from 08.30 UK time on September 27

PARIS, Sept. 26, 2012 – Ford Motor Company today announced the all-new Mondeo will be equipped for European customers with a raft of innovative technologies including Advanced Active Park Assist – Ford’s first system to support perpendicular parking – ahead of its global public debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

It will also be the first Ford model for Europe to feature a new integral link rear suspension configuration that helps all-new Mondeo, the first vehicle built on Ford’s new global CD-segment platform, to deliver greater refinement and more dynamic performance.

“These features underline the sophisticated quality, technology and driving experience that all-new Mondeo delivers,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president Product Development.

“The Mondeo has always been at the forefront of Ford’s European passenger car range, but the all-new model is a watershed moment for large car customers and a new benchmark for features in this competitive sector.”

Ford first revealed the all-new Mondeo at its “Go Further” brand event held in Amsterdam, earlier this month. Today, Ford provided further details on its flagship model, including the Advanced Active Park Assist system.

Simplified parking in a wide range of scenarios will be made possible by Advanced Active Park Assist, Ford’s first automated parking system to support parallel and perpendicular reverse parking.

The all-new Mondeo chassis will feature a fully advanced suspension arrangement alongside Electronic Power Assisted Steering for optimised handling and driving dynamics. The chassis incorporates a new integral link suspension configuration that will improve ride comfort and noise reduction, in particular for rear-seat passengers.

All-new Mondeo will be available as a five-door and wagon – uniquely developed for Europe – as well as a four-door that will be offered as a segment-first petrol hybrid electric vehicle, combining a specially-developed 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 35kW lithium-ion battery to provide optimised fuel economy and low CO2 emissions.

It will be the first car in its segment in Europe to be equipped with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, the 2012 “International Engine of the Year” 1.0-litre EcoBoost. An ECOnetic Technology model will also be available powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine. Both are expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy.

In addition, customers will have the choice of efficient yet powerful turbocharged 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines, and 2.0-litre TDCi diesel. For the first time on Mondeo, a diesel all-wheel drive variant will be offered, delivering superior traction, performance and handling.

Ford’s new global design language informs the all-new Mondeo’s refined, elegant, sporty and highly expressive exterior. The low roofline enhances the sports coupe profile while retaining a spacious and practical interior, and incorporates a retractable panoramic glass roof for the wagon bodystyle.  Also new to Mondeo is a power tailgate.

The lean side-profile is sculpted to convey “visual lightness”, while the sophisticated and technical front end design features Ford’s new, more prominent trapezoidal grille, a power-dome bonnet and segment-first adaptive, full LED headlamps.

The interior delivers unprecedented levels of ergonomics and comfort, with superior craftsmanship throughout the driver-focused cockpit. Soft-touch materials, premium finishes and equipment contribute to the most premium Mondeo experience ever.

Mondeo will also offer segment-first SYNC with MyFord Touch an in-car connectivity system that delivers an eight-inch colour touchscreen and the ability to act as a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices.

SYNC with MyFord Touch will enable drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while controlling phone and media player functions from connected devices, as well as the vehicle’s climate control, radio and CD-player, and navigation system, using voice commands.

All new Mondeo also delivers the European debut of Ford’s rear inflatable seatbelts. These are designed to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear-seat passengers. In the event of an accident the belt rapidly expands to disperse crash forces across a body area five times greater than that achieved by a conventional seatbelt.

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Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 168,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.