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"Vehicle Spotlight"

Celebrating the 29 year production run for the much-loved Ford Mondeo
By Martyn Morgan

The Ford Mondeo rapidly became the stalwart motorway mile muncher for 'sales reps’ in the UK for many years. It is synonymous with perhaps the not so kind tags of the ‘Mondeo-Man’ and ‘Dagenham Dustbin’. Ironically, it has never been built in Dagenham or even in the UK for that matter. Assembly was historically in Genk in Belgium from 1992 to 2013 and latterly in Vsevolozhsk in Russia from 2009 to present and Valencia in Spain from 2014 to present.

With over five million Ford Mondeos sold world-wide, we take a look at how this car has played its part in automotive history and how we fell in and out of love with it over its 29 years of evolution, not revolution. According to Ford, there is no successor planned in Europe as they shift their focus to meet surges in demand of SUVs and low emission vehicles instead.

The Ford Mondeo rapidly became the stalwart motorway mile muncher for 'sales reps’ in the UK for many years. It is synonymous with perhaps the not so kind tags of the ‘Mondeo-Man’ and ‘Dagenham Dustbin’. Ironically, it has never been built in Dagenham or even in the UK for that matter. Assembly was historically in Genk in Belgium from 1992 to 2013 and latterly in Vsevolozhsk in Russia from 2009 to present and Valencia in Spain from 2014 to present.

With over five million Ford Mondeos sold world-wide, we take a look at how this car has played its part in automotive history and how we fell in and out of love with it over its 29 years of evolution, not revolution. According to Ford, there is no successor planned in Europe as they shift their focus to meet surges in demand of SUVs and low emission vehicles instead.

Winner, Winner...
The car competed very successfully in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) between 1993 and 2000, winning the FIA World Touring Car Cup in both 1993 and 1994. The team backed by Ford, dominated the season in 2000, finishing first-second-third in the drivers' standings Menu–Reid–Rydell and winning the manufacturers' championship by 104 points. Sadly after this, Ford withdrew from the BTCC prior to 2001 after rule changes were implemented to reduce entrant costs.

In its lifetime, the Ford Mondeo has won many awards, about 38 in total. Some of its more prominent wins include; ‘What Car? Car of the Year’ twice in 1993 and 2001, the 'European Car of the Year' in 1994 and ‘What Car? Best Estate Car' and 'What Car? Best Family Car' in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 but significantly no awards for the Mark V since 2016.
The car competed very successfully in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) between 1993 and 2000, winning the FIA World Touring Car Cup in both 1993 and 1994. The team backed by Ford, dominated the season in 2000, finishing first-second-third in the drivers' standings Menu–Reid–Rydell and winning the manufacturers' championship by 104 points. Sadly after this, Ford withdrew from the BTCC prior to 2001 after rule changes were implemented to reduce entrant costs.

In its lifetime, the Ford Mondeo has won many awards, about 38 in total. Some of its more prominent wins include; ‘What Car? Car of the Year’ twice in 1993 and 2001, the 'European Car of the Year' in 1994 and ‘What Car? Best Estate Car' and 'What Car? Best Family Car' in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 but significantly no awards for the Mark V since 2016.
The car competed very successfully in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) between 1993 and 2000, winning the FIA World Touring Car Cup in both 1993 and 1994. The team backed by Ford, dominated the season in 2000, finishing first-second-third in the drivers' standings Menu–Reid–Rydell and winning the manufacturers' championship by 104 points. Sadly after this, Ford withdrew from the BTCC prior to 2001 after rule changes were implemented to reduce entrant costs.

In its lifetime, the Ford Mondeo has won many awards, about 38 in total. Some of its more prominent wins include; ‘What Car? Car of the Year’ twice in 1993 and 2001, the 'European Car of the Year' in 1994 and ‘What Car? Best Estate Car' and 'What Car? Best Family Car' in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 but significantly no awards for the Mark V since 2016.
The world changed, but the world car did not
Good or bad, love it or loath it, the Ford Mondeo has sold in its millions across Europe, 3,351,300 vehicles to be precise but has been in steady decline from 2001. Portrayed against the backdrop of the BMW 3 Series, which consistently sells more but is also in a similar decline.

However, the decline of the big mile munching Ford Mondeo can be attributed to the popular uptake of crossover vehicles sold by Ford and BMW that have largely replaced them, with the mid-size and premium SUV sector consistently growing over the past decade.
Good or bad, love it or loath it, the Ford Mondeo has sold in its millions across Europe, 3,351,300 vehicles to be precise but has been in steady decline from 2001. Portrayed against the backdrop of the BMW 3 Series, which consistently sells more but is also in a similar decline.

However, the decline of the big mile munching Ford Mondeo can be attributed to the popular uptake of crossover vehicles sold by Ford and BMW that have largely replaced them, with the mid-size and premium SUV sector consistently growing over the past decade.
Good or bad, love it or loath it, the Ford Mondeo has sold in its millions across Europe, 3,351,300 vehicles to be precise but has been in steady decline from 2001. Portrayed against the backdrop of the BMW 3 Series, which consistently sells more but is also in a similar decline.

However, the decline of the big mile munching Ford Mondeo can be attributed to the popular uptake of crossover vehicles sold by Ford and BMW that have largely replaced them, with the mid-size and premium SUV sector consistently growing over the past decade.
5 Generations of the Ford Mondeo
 
Mk I
1993 to 1996		 Mk II
1996 to 2000		 Mk III
2001 to 2007		 Mk IV
2007 to 2014
Mk V
2014 to 2021
Ford Mondeo MK I
MK
1993 to 1996
Ford Mondeo MK II
MK II
1996 to 2000
Ford Mondeo MK III
MK III
2001 to 2007
Ford Mondeo MK IV
MK IV
2007 to 2014
Ford Mondeo MK V
Mk V
2014 to 2021
A car sector that began for Ford with the Cortina and the Sierra, the Mondeo was its first ‘World Car’ and even its name hinted at this. Ford produced five versions of the Mondeo across four generations and is now pulling the plug on the family saloon.

However, it seems the name may live on but not in the UK and maybe not for long. There have been numerous rumours about a new 2022 model of the Mondeo, perhaps it will be just in name only and not in Europe.
 
Ford has suggested it is due to 'changes in customer preferences' as Ford and many other OEMs move to an all-electric future combined with the move to SUV and Crossover vehicle types, there is a much reduced demand for larger saloons, hatchbacks or estates in Europe. In 2020, 39% of all European Ford models sold were SUVs and Crossovers including models like the Ford, Kuga, Puma and Mustang with an 8% increase on the previous year, a trend that looks likely to continue.

Will you miss the Ford Mondeo?
A car sector that began for Ford with the Cortina and the Sierra, the Mondeo was its first ‘World Car’ and even its name hinted at this. Ford produced five versions of the Mondeo across four generations and is now pulling the plug on the family saloon.

However, it seems the name may live on but not in the UK and maybe not for long. There have been numerous rumours about a new 2022 model of the Mondeo, perhaps it will be just in name only and not in Europe.
 
Ford has suggested it is due to 'changes in customer preferences' as Ford and many other OEMs move to an all-electric future combined with the move to SUV and Crossover vehicle types, there is a much reduced demand for larger saloons, hatchbacks or estates in Europe. In 2020, 39% of all European Ford models sold were SUVs and Crossovers including models like the Ford, Kuga, Puma and Mustang with an 8% increase on the previous year, a trend that looks likely to continue.

Will you miss the Ford Mondeo?
- + Disclaimers