DETROIT 2012: NEW 2013 FORD MONDEO / FUSION OUT

This is the new Ford Mondeo. It’s only badged as Fusion because that’s how the Americans like it. It was revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, and Ford plans to sell it all around the world.

South Africa had Mondeos before, the last one being highly praised by the motoring media (including us) but unfortunately not finding enough buyers to justify another version. We even had the 164kW ST version. The new car, along with the fact that Hyundai’s Sonata is selling like fake bags in downtown Jozi, means Ford SA could very well look at it very closely.

From a design point of view one could mistake the front end for a high-end Aston Martin, but the grille is definitely Ford. See the new Focus and even Focus ST where the grille is not interrupted by a horizontal bar. From the side we see some Jaguar XF lines, but very sharp, pronounced and kinky too. Overall it says elegant yet not boring.

Three powertrains are being mentioned, starting with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost and a 2.0-litre EcoBoost with about 174kW. Ford EcoBoost engines are turbocharged. Then there’s a hybrid version mated to a 2.0-litre petrol engine.

If Ford in Mzansi decides to sell this car here, it would only be from 2013 onwards, not before. Comparable cars include the Sonata, Mazda6 and Suzuki Kizashi.