Spy Shots: Ford Mondeo exits the building
The next generation Mondeo has been spied in alluring black tarps and completely in the buff, now we get a shot of Ford's Euro-only sedan at one of the automaker's production centers in Genk, Belgium.
We're unsure as to when these shots were taken and without that knowledge we're not certain if it's the same vehicle we saw strutting its stuff on the Bond movie shoot or a new model that's production-ready. Judging by the similarities to the previous pics we've seen, not much has been lost in translation, including the Lambo-esque wheels. Which is good thing.
Naturally, no spy shot gallery would be complete without the obligatory pissed-off employee giving the one-fingered salute to the shooter. Right back at ya, buddy.
More pics, including a lackluster interior shot, are after the jump.
[Source: Motor Authority]
Related Posts:
- The perks of product placement: Mondeo at with 007
- Ford Mondeo pics officially released
- Paris Motor Show: Ford Mondeo Wagon
- Who needs Paris? 2007 Ford Mondeo spied in the buff!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
BOB 2:27PM (11/04/2006)
NOTICE A US -TYPE PLATE ON THE SHOW CAR_IF THEY SHOCKED US AND MADE IT HERE, NOT THE 5 DOOR HATCH FOR US-- BUT I DREAM, SINCE THERE WOULD BE PRESS STORIES ABOUT FACTORY PREP IF MAKING IT HERE, OR OF US-SPEC VERSION TESTING IF THERE WERE IMPORT PLANS_______ AND WHY IS THIS CAR A GENERATION AHEAD IN LOOKS FROM THE AUSSIE CARS SO OFTEN SEEN HERE? BECAUSE ITS DESIGNERS AND DEVELOPERS, ETC, LIVE IN EUROPE, WHERE THE CAR ENVIRONMENT IS MORE EXCITING. SIMILARLY, THE CALIFORNIA STUDIOS HELP THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE PRODUCERS GET WITH IT.
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Kevin 2:28PM (11/04/2006)
Actually its not a bad looking Ford. I'm not a fan of most Fords, but this is one I wouldn't mind driving around. Its still a far fetch from Astons I'm used to seeing 007 in, but I guess money might be a bit tight around the 007 office these days.
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A 2:30PM (11/04/2006)
First the 5/7 series, next the Honda Civic, now this... The outside especially the front look awesome. The roads in the UK need a bit of spicing up and this will be good to see on the road.. Shame about the appalingly crap looking interior
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mike fresh 2:45PM (11/04/2006)
its Gent, belgium. where the factory is, not genk...
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auto specifications 2:44PM (11/04/2006)
From the front side it looks like an Volvo.
http://www.auto-specifications.com/
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mike fresh 2:52PM (11/04/2006)
this could be the 2008 ford taurus!!
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 2:56PM (11/04/2006)
No Volvo has ever looked that sharp.
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Yaroukh 3:14PM (11/04/2006)
#5 I think you're wrong
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Herb 3:17PM (11/04/2006)
Has a mazda 6/CX7 feeling upfront i think
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C'est Raoul 3:24PM (11/04/2006)
Can't someone tell those guys giving the finger is useless and do not really serve the image brand...
If you see the camera, too late, you are screwed, live with it with a little damage as possible.
Nice looking car, except the moron driver.
Ford Euro has some nice stuff. Too bad they think their home market does not deserve it....
I looked at a Fusion today. I think it's a nice looking car. Not sure if it's a Taurus replacement, but it should do well. Not sure the other 1.5 has a good equivalent. It's a big market.
The Taurus always suffered from the rental. Wouldn't it be worth it to create a different model at minimum cost for the rental company? (same car, different grill, and eventually a "rental handy package").
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Barry 3:27PM (11/04/2006)
#8, actually, it is Gent (or Gant in French, or Ghent in proper english)
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Sam 3:39PM (11/04/2006)
It definitely is Ford GENK, I know cause my uncle works over there.
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iQuack 3:42PM (11/04/2006)
Nice looking car--especially from Ford.
If typical, something horrible will have happened to that Ford between the time it was a great design on paper (or computer) and the time it became a POS on the factory floor.
That the Ford employee driver is giving the finger is worth noting--seems that car buyers are giving the same finger to the Ford Motor Company these days. Well deserved, too!
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Chris 3:46PM (11/04/2006)
I see this as an update to the soon to be outdated Mazda6. Ford would never produce something this good looking in the States and put it's own blue oval on the grill.
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RDL 3:48PM (11/04/2006)
Nice looking car.
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Vega 3:49PM (11/04/2006)
Yup, it's Genk. Just Google it, guys. And by the way, keeping the Lambo styled wheels was no surprise, as these have already been used on other Ford Europe products, e.g. the Focus ST.
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David 5:49PM (11/04/2006)
SO FORD....when can we expect to see a European built version here?
I say that because, if they build it here, it will be watered down and softened.
Again...as I pleaded before...there are many of us in the US that would really appreciate getting a hold of Fords that are not designed and built here in the states.
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FrankDaCrank 4:07PM (11/04/2006)
#6...your right.
It could have easily been the NEW Ford Taurus...
But Ford dropped the ball. The Taurus being one of their most successfull cars, could have easily been redesigned and relaunched. I'll never understand why they decided to launch the Five Hundred then the Fusion. Both seem like OK cars, but they don't have the cache that the Taurus had. I'm not saying the Taurus was all that, the Accord/Camry easily pounced it during it's later years..but Ford should have done something to shake up that segment.
And they still don't have a decent B car...Honda's got the Fit, Toyota's got the Scion....Ford has nothing but an aging Focus....
Wow...no wonder their losing money hand over fist.
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BOB 5:46PM (11/04/2006)
This is a smaller car-- NOT a Taurus replacement -- competitor to the Fusion (and Mercury and Lincoln versions). We don't need two different cars this size here, but we DID need the Taurus sized car to also replace the Crown Vic for personal use-- the problem is that the 500 was their answer to that.
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Brocktoon 8:09PM (11/04/2006)
I saw a Ford Galaxy Giha (euro minivan) with those same wheels in Gibraltar last month and almost got run over by someone else! A minivan I would certainly drive.
Yet another Ford product we will never see in Canada, even though it is more suitable for us than the American market offerings.
The dealers up here will die on the vine without a minivan, we can only hope.....
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