20 years of Ford Mondeo in U.K.

"Mondeo has a rich history and a bright future. Across two decades, Mondeo has stood for great driving dynamics, surprising technologies, excellent safety and outstanding fuel efficiency," remarked Barb Samardzich, Vice President Product Development, Ford of Europe. The Mondeo was introduced two decades ago following a five-year, £3 billion (S$6.05 billion) development programme and was named Car of the Year in 1994. Since then it has continued to set standards in its class gaining awards across Europe.

Mondeo has made advanced features available and affordable for customers in the U.K. For example, the first generation provided a standard driver's airbag, traction control, adaptive damping, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and power steering as standard. In 1996, a revised, restyled and lighter Mondeo delivered optional side airbags, which were standardised two years later together with four-channel ABS.

In 2000, Ford launched the second generation Mondeo with Ford's Intelligent Protection System, which used a network of sensors to calculate the most effective safety features to deploy in an accident. This Mondeo made heated rear seats, automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers available for the first time.

The third generation Mondeo (above) arrived in 2007 following a cameo in the James Bond flick, 'Casino Royale'. The model debuted technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Interactive Vehicle Dynamic Control and Ford Easy Fuel system to prevent misfuelling. The updated 2010 model gained the remarkable Ford EcoBoost petrol engine technology along with safety and convenience features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert and Auto High Beam.

Recent powertrain enhancements to the Mondeo result in CO₂ emissions from just 119g/km and fuel consumption of 26.6km/L from the best selling 2.0-litre 160bhp diesel engine.

An all new Mondeo will arrive in the U.K. in late 2014 with power units to include Ford's award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost and a petrol Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrain. Like its predecessors, it will be decked with segment first novelties like an adaptive full LED headlamps and Ford's rear inflatable seatbelts designed to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seating passengers.