Ford may bring Mondeo, S-Max to U.S.
As previously reported, Ford intends to begin sharing both platforms and vehicles, originally developed for Europe, with the U.S. We've already been informed that the Transit Connect, a small commercial vehicle, is headed our way, but during an interview with Automotive News, FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally hinted at the prospect of bringing over the Mondeo sedan and S-Max people mover.
Both you and most of the Autoblog staff have been smitten by the Mondeo's style, but the question remains: where will it fit in? The sedan would directly compete with the Ford Fusion, so the possibility of moving the Mondeo up market and slapping a Mercury badge on it is one possibility.
As for the S-Max: most will agree that the people mover segment is in desperate need of a makeover. While minivan sales remain stagnant and consumers move on from the SUV-craze, there would seem to be a market for a nicely designed, well-equipped vehicle that can hold the kids and the prerequisite soccer supplies.
If and when all this would come to fruition is up in the air, but if Ford decided to make this kind of move, we wouldn't expect much before 2009.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JB 8:47AM (1/29/2007)
Could it be that this Mondeo is brought over as the "new" Fusion in the near future? I don't see it as a Mercury at all.
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Graham Lunn 9:00AM (1/29/2007)
The Mondeo is a good drive, especially with the 2.0 diesel or the bigger petrol engine. The ride and roadholding are both excellent and now that BMW have lost their design flair the Mondeo is as good as it needs to be
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Avinash machado 9:18AM (1/29/2007)
Ford should bring the Mondeo over as the new Mercury Mystique. I remember that the first generation Mondeo was sold as the Contour and Mystique and Ford could revive the Mystique name for Mercury.
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Michael Karesh 9:22AM (1/29/2007)
I'd personally like a six-speed S-Max--if the price is reasonable. That, of course, is the tought part. I'm very interested in seeing how GM prices the Astra.
Over at BlueOvalNews an insider mentions a crash program to bring nine European models over:
http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums...ost&p=13683 3
I'll post a blog entry about the whole "European products as the solution" thing later this morning.
http://www.truedelta.com/blog
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Nick 9:23AM (1/29/2007)
I could definitly see the Mondeo as the next-gen Fusion. It actually looks like the natural evolution of the Fusion...with a few design cue changes.
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Michael Karesh 9:26AM (1/29/2007)
By the way, AN provides the German prices for these models:
S-MAX
Type of vehicle: Crossover
Price range: $32,749-$41,828
Assembly plant: Genk, Belgium
MONDEO
Type of vehicle: Mid-sized car (sedan, station wagon, hatchback)
Price range: $27,821-$48,638
Assembly plant: Genk, Belgium
Let's just say I'd be much more interested in a turbo five, six-speed, leather-trimmed S-Max at $32,000 or, maybe, $35,000 than I would be at $42,000.
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Infinihertz 9:34AM (1/29/2007)
Michael, your first link in post #4 isn't working for me (with or without the last 3). Is that page still up? I'd like to read it.
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Hamud 10:14AM (1/29/2007)
I really think the Mercury badge fits well on the Mondeo, let the Fusion continue its good job on Ford side. About the S-Max, that's a great vehicle, could do very well in the US IMO.
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epp_b 10:07AM (1/29/2007)
I hate mini-vans, but that S-Max looks fantastic.
The Mondeo looks a bit, dare I say, Aston Martin-ish.
If there were ever a flagship car to save Ford, the Mondeo is it.
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FrankTheCrank 9:50AM (1/29/2007)
There is no way there going to bail on the Fusion already. There was allot of investment into that model to just bail on it two years later. No way.
This would be a cool way to bring the Taurus back and give the Taurus it's good name back.
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John P. 9:52AM (1/29/2007)
This has Mercury all over it. Someone photoshop a waterfall grill and we'll be there. This would be my next car.
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Doug 10:19AM (1/29/2007)
If they could pull this off for the 2008 model year it would be a God-send. Mr. Mulally gets it and gets the time sensitive nature of this business. He has openly shown disdain for previous Ford decisions (i.e. letting Taurus die, bland design cues, stupid names etc etc). He would make this decision in a second if it made sense. Bring them over as Mercurys and give the L-M dealers a reason to hope! DO IT NOW!
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mj 9:56AM (1/29/2007)
There's no need to chuck the Fusion. First of all, the Fusion is as large as a Camry or an Accord, and the Mondeo isn't.
Second, Toyota sells 8 large SUVs, and their profits aren't hurt by "cannibalizing" sales. "Cannibalizing" sales is what happens when you sell 2 badge-engineered cars, like Pontiac g3 or whatever and Cobalt. That's cannibalizing, because the customer can ONLY choose on PRICE. If you differentiate on size and features and styling, even if only slightly (Highlander and Rav4) then you can sell as many small cars as Toyota sells large trucks. Do the xA and xB ruin profits?
The Mondeo and Fusion are worlds apart. They should sell them both as Fords, because no one has ever heard of Mercury at this point.
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Paris Hilton is a Slut 10:23AM (1/29/2007)
Ford would have to make some serious changes. The Mondeo, using current exchange rates, would hover in the area of $29,400. The Mercury Milan V-6 runs for $21,800. There a huge discrepancy in pricing. Until Ford solves that problem, the Mondeo is a no-show for the US market.
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Steve_1 10:26AM (1/29/2007)
Don't TEASE me, Ford. Don't TEASE me!
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Mark 10:33AM (1/29/2007)
Guys, the European prices are NO INDICIATION of what they would be in the US. Cars are more expensive in Europe, period. A BMW 328xi, that cost $38,000 in the US, is almost $50,000 for a base model in Europe. You can easily chop 20-25% off the European prices to get an idea of the US prices. The European prices also include VAT, a 17-20% tax.
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John P. 10:30AM (1/29/2007)
14: The Mondeo would be a step up from the Fusion or Milan, I don't think they would step on each other's toes much at all, more complimentary for sure. I would think the profit margin on the Mondeo would be slightly higher also.
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cxvargas 10:38AM (1/29/2007)
Bring both as Mercury. I've seen the S-max in the UK and is actually better looking than the Mazda5. I think Ford should look American while Mercury more European.
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John P. 10:39AM (1/29/2007)
Mark, shhhhhhhh, the Europeans seem to hate us enough. You don't have to go remind them how much they get ripped off when buying cars. haha.
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mr.ed 10:43AM (1/29/2007)
Mercury is on its last, neglected legs. Bringing in expensive, historically unreliable European vehicles is not the answer. Only Mazda product has any chance of saving Ford, as with the popular Fusion and its obviously rebranded sisters, a cheapout mistake that will bite them.
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