New Ford Mondeo Renderings.

[JohnBM01]

Gran Turismo 2 introduced me to the Ford Mondeo. Either that or one of the earlier ToCA Touring Car games. Regardless, it is a very nice styled auto. These renderings sort of has Aston Martin meets the Mazda RX-8. Those cues are certanly there. If you ask me, the cues are pretty nice. Maybe I'm not used to European styling like here in America, but many cars I've seen are styled very nice, some even exotic. Surely this Mondeo rendering looks sporty and maybe exotic as well. I know America and Europe are different in terms of styling, but I sometimes wish some designs here weren't so boxy. Only thing I'd likely change up on this Mondeo deal would be the headlights. I'd make the headlights flow better with the grill up front.

Other than that, out of 100% approval, I'll give this a high number. How about 91 or 92 percent? Those are my numbers on this hot number. I wonder how this would look in British Racing Green...

 

[Dave A]

The Mondeo was in the first two Toca games can't remember about the third but possible in that too, but it was also in GT2 and could be modified to look lioke the BTCC race car.

 

[Danny]

Yeah, it was in World Touring Cars (ToCa 3), in a rather fetching purple fictional paintjob.

 

[JCE]

Why does ford always sell the junk in America? I kind of like the euro fords.

I don't consider the Focus (Mazda3), Fusion (Mazda6), Mustang GT, and Five Hundred (Volvo XC90) as "junk". I think Ford is by far off to a great decade far ahead of GM and pathetic Dodge. If more Japanese and European influence are injected into American autmaker's new vehicles that would basically solve the problem of "boring American slush mobiles" as Clarkson put it in my eyes.

 

[a6m5]

I don't consider the Focus (Mazda3), Fusion (Mazda6), Mustang GT, and Five Hundred (Volvo XC90) as "junk".

I'd agree on the first three, but I thought 500 sucked really bad. I didn't care for the interior. It's not comfortable, but handles like crap. I wish it did at one thing well.

 

[JohnBM01]

Thanks for the Mondeo refresher, Live4speed buddy. Pretty lady, isn't she? I just think these renderings look more like a Mazda RX-8 meets Aston Martin. The RX-8 is Mazda's best masterpiece since the 1990s RX-7s. If all this holds up, Ford's going to have a pretty nice ride selling in Europe.

Probably something I think about in terms of European styles in America is about the car being up to code. Nobody wants an unsafe car. I can recall when an American company called Ameritech decided to bring the McLaren F1 to America, the modifications done to the car killed this otherwise aweaome British beast (which also happens to be one of my all-time favorite cars). The McLaren F1 has three seats, but Ameritech's US variant has only one seat. Underneath the McLaren F1's headlights are tall bumpers that extend out to the nose of the car. It's like I thought about the Chevrolet Epica and the Chevrolet Captiva. I haven't seen too many normal European cars to know exactly how European designs differ from American ones. In America, I'm used to stuff like the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Cobalt, and the un-exciting Pontiac G6 that Oprah just HAD to give away to 276 dopes in her audience sucking up to Pontiac. As I stated once, it seemed like what I thought was unattractive-looking sells. For example, I don't really like the Corvette C6's styling, but it's still revered by American auto types. I don't like the latest looks up front of the Subaru Impreza, but... to be honest, I don't know HOW that is doing. I absoultely loathe the Pontiac G6 and all its variations... and people praise it like it was the hottest car to ever come out of any factory. On a lovelier side... I think the Scion tC looks pretty nice, but not too much credit is given for it. I think the GTO looked better than the G6 or Asstek, but people said it looked plain after GM looked to Australia for guidance. If you ask me, there's sort of a reverse polarity going on. I know I prefer being different, but I want to be the same at times.

Having said this, if this Mondeo came to America in its current form, people will likely say it lacks character or doesn't look attractive enough. Maybe most of us American types are VERY PICKY about our cars and of others. Sometimes, some people are like... "if it isn't American, I couldn't care less." Let's say that Ford of America hires a handful of Ford European designers to design a car as slick as European designs, but still legal with all the American safety requirements, it would be a big success to Europe and to America. I will love the design for its elegance and mean accents like the overfender up front. Mean, but pretty elegant while at it. I'll love the design despite the fact that I don't really know more than I actually want to about European car designs.

I like these renderings. I don't know ahout you.

 

[JCE]

I'd agree on the first three, but I thought 500 sucked really bad. I didn't care for the interior. It's not comfortable, but handles like crap. I wish it did at one thing well.

There are a few PROs and CONs for the Five Hundred...to me they are...

PROs:
1. Comfy seats--along with huge legroom in the back. I'm a larger guy (6ft 235lbs currently) and I find the car in the front or back very comfortable.
2. AWD is a plus--especially for safety. And let's face it, AWD > FWD.
3. 6spd automatic (*see #2 on the CONs list)
4. It's not ugly...it's light years ahead of the Taurus and Crown Victoria on looks, build quality, with good fit and finish.

CONs:
1. 203bhp? The Fusion has 20bhp more and hundreds of lbs less (maybe I'm exaggerating )...hmmm...going backwards?
2. While the 6spd automatic is a good thing--mated with the underpowered engine it doesn't really benefit.
3. Would like a more luxury oriented radio (head unit).
4. Did I mention the lack of power?

If this car had say 240+bhp it would be much MUCH better. I mean, if Ford put a huge powerplant in that thing (give me the XC90 engine!) and had a slightly better radio head unit I could even consider it on my list of cars I'd like to have...but the Fusion is a better buy in my opinion...and when I priced my Five Hundred even with my D-plan discount it wasn't worth the extra money.

 

[a6m5]

double post. sorry.

 

[a6m5]

There are a few PROs and CONs for the Five Hundred...to me they are...

PROs:
1. Comfy seats--along with huge legroom in the back. I'm a larger guy (6ft 235lbs currently) and I find the car in the front or back very comfortable.
2. AWD is a plus--especially for safety. And let's face it, AWD > FWD.
3. 6spd automatic (*see #2 on the CONs list)
4. It's not ugly...it's light years ahead of the Taurus and Crown Victoria on looks, build quality, with good fit and finish.

CONs:
1. 203bhp? The Fusion has 20bhp more and hundreds of lbs less (maybe I'm exaggerating )...hmmm...going backwards?
2. While the 6spd automatic is a good thing--mated with the underpowered engine it doesn't really benefit.
3. Would like a more luxury oriented radio (head unit).
4. Did I mention the lack of power?

If this car had say 240+bhp it would be much MUCH better. I mean, if Ford put a huge powerplant in that thing (give me the XC90 engine!) and had a slightly better radio head unit I could even consider it on my list of cars I'd like to have...but the Fusion is a better buy in my opinion...and when I priced my Five Hundred even with my D-plan discount it wasn't worth the extra money.

I get a D-Plan too, but it's not that great, is it? I would agree on the looks. It is a very nice looking car. I used to hate it, but it really grew on me.

 

[Sniffs]

those american "boring slush jobs" are probably the safest thing to drive in winter weather, because your not spending most of your time ripping your tires off in first gear trying to get through an inch of light, drifted snow