Ford upgrades its Mondeo range
Ford Australia has given its Mondeo mid-size range a minor update for the 2017 model year, ushering in new larger alloy wheels for all variants, a new paint colour option and price increases for the Trend and Titanium.
The wheel size for each Mondeo variant has increased an inch – up to 19 inch for Titanium, 18 inch for Trend and 17 inch for the Ambiente, while the flagship Titanium has switched to lower profile 235-40 tyres for a more athletic look.
The Trend also gets lower profile tyres, 235-45, while the Ambiente – which previously only offered 17-inch wheels on wagon variants – benefits from wider tyres.
A new paint colour dubbed ‘Metalicious’ has also been added to the range, a clear-coat silver colour that brings the total palette to nine.
Trend and Titanium variants have been hit with a price rise of $500 across all body styles and powertrains, while the range-opening Ambiente retains the same price.
The range kicks off with the Ambiente Ecoboost hatch, powered by a 149kw-345nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder and priced from $33,190 before on-roads.
Topping the range is the 132kw400nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Titanium wagon, which retails for $49,840.
No changes have been made to the powertrains, with both petrol and diesel engines mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Ford Australia president and chief executive Graeme Whickman said the Mondeo was a particularly important model in the Blue Oval’s portfolio. “The Mondeo is crucial to our lineup,” he said.
“The changes for 2017 give consumers even greater choice and style for what’s a technologically advanced package, with Ecoboost engines, smart diesel as well as Sync3 technology.”
Last year Ford sold 3122 examples of the Mondeo, placing it fourth in mid-size passenger vehicle sales behind the Toyota Camry with 26,485 sales, the Mazda6 with 4369 sales and Subaru Liberty with 3495 sales. So far in 2017 it has recorded 846 sales, a 43 percent year-on-year increase that places it third behind the Camry with 4389 sales and Mazda6 with 898 sales.