Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Ford
Ford Mondeo named Car of the Year by Auto Express
click above to see more high-res pics of the new Ford Mondeo
We believe it's that time of year again when every automotive media outlet and its sister (publication) begin giving out its Car of the Year (COTY) award. Auto Express in the U.K. is kicking things off by awards its respective COTY statue to the new Ford Mondeo, as well as the honor for best family car and estate car. The editor's don't mince words when they say the Mondeo is "Ford's finest ever car". We'd like to agree, except we probably won't ever get a chance to drive the new Mondeo, at least not this generation of the car. Hopefully, Ford CEO Alan Mulally will have his way and the next-gen Mondeo will merge with our Fusion sold in the U.S. Perhaps then we can corroborate the opinion of Auto Express that the Mondeo is a COTY caliber sedan. Until then, however, we'll just congratulate the car from afar.
[Source: Newspress]
Gallery: 2008 Ford Mondeo
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW FORD MONDEO NAMED CAR OF THE YEAR
TROUBLED car giant Ford has been given a welcome boost by the news that the new Mondeo has been named Car of the Year.
The Mondeo was voted the best new car by experts at Auto Express, Britain's biggest-selling weekly motoring magazine.
And it was also named best in the family car class and best estate car too in the magazine's annual New Car Honours.
"The new Mondeo is Ford's finest ever car," said Auto Express editor in chief, David Johns. "Each and every model, whether hatchback, saloon or estate, has been designed and engineered to the highest standards. The car oozes quality, especially in the cabin which has levels of equipment and comfort which sets new standards for the class."
Ford - which is struggling with huge debts and facing having to sell-off Land Rover and Jaguar from its empire - beat rivals including prestige German makes, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and Audi to the overall Car of the Year title.
Other major winners included:
Vauxhall Corsa - Best Supermini
Honda Civic - Best Compact Family Car, and Best Hot Hatch (for the Type R)
Citroen C4 Picasso - Best MPV
Kia - for its industry-leading seven-year warranty
The Auto Express New Car Honours are the result of the biggest new car assessment programme carried out by any UK motoring magazine - with over 1,100 new cars independently tested each year on a wide range of key buying criteria, including practicality, value for money, performance, handling and safety. Uniquely, Auto Express also gives every car tested a green rating for environmental impact.
This year's winners were selected in 19 classes covering every size and class of car.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
wiseman 5:38PM (7/24/2007)
Good news for the new Mazda6 which is based on the same platform!
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Mattias 4:05AM (7/25/2007)
No, it is not. The Mondeo uses Volvos new S80 platform.
Crystallas 5:55AM (7/25/2007)
the 6 is a CD3, the Mondeo is a EUCD. Consider the Mondeo closer to the Focus than the Mazda6 or Fusion.
wiseman 11:20PM (7/25/2007)
Hrm, it was my understanding that mazda was ditching the old cd3 platform in favor of the larger, more luxurious Mondeo platform. Can't remember where I read that, but I know I read it somewheres.
Johnny 5:40PM (7/24/2007)
The interior of this car reminds me of the current Mercedes SL with its dashboard angle, lighting, air vents and more. Nice Car!
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Jordan 5:45PM (7/24/2007)
We wont get the next generation of the Mondeo here in 2011. We will get this Mondeo here in 2011. When Europe moves on to even a better Mondeo in 2011, North America will get this car which would be 4 years old by then. At least that is what I think and I DO HOPE I am wrong.
I mean why the hell cant we get this car here now? Throw in the 3.0 and 3.5 in there and bring it over. The crash testing is the same in Europe or certifying is not a problem. Its will and nothing more.
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Amber 5:47PM (7/24/2007)
I would love this car here. And give it 4 engines
2.0 151hp
2.3 157hp
3.0 203hp
3.5 274hp Call it Mondeo SHO with 6sp Manual as option
Robert 7:08PM (7/24/2007)
No. We are getting the same platform as the Euro Mondeo in 2011. Not an old one. The most recent one. That's the whole goal of Fields and Mulally aligning the product development cycles.
Check your facts.
SAJ1010 8:21PM (9/09/2008)
The Mondeo and Fusion will be unified on the same program in 2011. Moving forward there will not be two versions of same platforms on any Ford cars. The current Focus situation will not be repeated.
GatorLCA 5:57PM (7/24/2007)
Get rid of the GD Taurus and give us this...I mean WTF are they thinking not selling this here
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Dave 7:08PM (7/24/2007)
This has nothing to do with the Taurus. The Taurus is a much bigger car.
This car is closer to Fusion size.
I'd like to see this as a Mercury, replacing the pointless Milan.
John P. 6:01PM (7/24/2007)
The Mondeo really is a fresh looking car, Modern throughout. If we do happen to get a 4 year old platform in 2011 and pushed as new, I'll never buy another Ford again, no matter what, and I've owned 6 Fords over the years.
Here's hoping Mulally doesn't treat us like some 3rd world country and gives us the good stuff. Wait, the 3rd world IS getting the good Fords already. Doh!!!!
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asoon 6:01PM (7/24/2007)
this looks surprisingly good for a Ford. I greatly dislike the design style on the fusion, 500 and the new taurus.
in the photo gallery: the one with the 3qtr front aerial view, the car looks like it has some volvo design cues.
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dave 6:18PM (7/24/2007)
Either Mulally brings this to the US now or he should resign!!!
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AlexP 6:21PM (7/24/2007)
Blame Bill Ford for all of this, because the next generation of European Fords is going to be sold in the US and Canada.
Only 4 years or so left, folks! :>
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Toby Robson 6:29PM (7/24/2007)
Shame. It looks better every time I see it.
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carlos 6:49PM (7/24/2007)
I saw one on the street today *drool*.
It was in gold, and quite gorgeous looking.
The base Mondeo starts at $27k so, no, I don't
think Ford could bring it over. Wow, I just realised
that Ford is selling the euro Focus in Mexico (for
$15k).
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whofan 7:16PM (7/24/2007)
What a logical 2008 Taurus this can should have been. The 500 could have been called a Galaxcy.
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Yaroukh 3:20AM (7/25/2007)
Oh jeez, Taurus is WAY BIGGER car than Mondeo; and Ford has no equivalent of Taurus here in Europe. They used to have Scorpio, which won COTY '86... but the second generation (sold after the first one was facelifted for '92-'94) looked like a joke.
whofan 7:26PM (7/24/2007)
wiseman @ Jul 24th 2007 5:38PM
"Good news for the new Mazda6 which is based on the same platform!"
All the people that have Toyota or Honda on the brain should give Mazda a try. If they can`t stomach driving an American car.
If I were to go Japanese ( which I`m not) it would definently be Mazda.
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