TheFord Mondeo is aMid-size/large (D-segment) car manufactured and marketed byFord since 1993 across five generations for model years 1993-2022. As Ford self-declaredworld car,^[4][5] the Mondeo was intended to consolidate the EuropeanSierra, theTelstar in Asia and Australia, and theTempo/Mercury Topaz in North America. The first two generations used the CDW27 platform, the third-generation model used the EUCD platform, the fourth-generation used the CD4 platform, and the fifth-generation used the C2 platform.

Ford Mondeo
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Also called	Ford Contour (North America, 1994–2000) Mercury Mystique (North America, 1994–2000) Ford Fusion (Americas except Argentina, 2012–2020) Ford Taurus (Middle East, 2022–present)[1]
Production	1992[2]– March 2022[3] 1992–present (China, Middle East)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size/large family car (D) (1992–2022) Full-size car (E) (2022–present)
Body style	4-doorsedan 5-doorliftback 5-doorestate
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1993–present) Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (1993–2000, 2007–2022)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Sierra/Ford Scorpio (Europe) Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz (North America) Ford Telstar (Asia and Australia)

Ford announced in March 2021 that it would discontinue Mondeo production in Europe and Argentina with no direct successor.^[6][7][8] Production of the Mondeo ended in Europe in March 2022.^[9]

TheMondeo nameplate derives from theLatin wordmundus, meaning "world".^[10]

The first-generation Mondeo was introduced in November 1992, with sales beginning in March 1993.^[11] Intended as aworld car, the first-generation Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing were shared between Ford USA inDearborn and Ford of Europe.^[12] It replaced theFord Sierra in Europe, theFord Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while it is also sold as theFord Contour andMercury Mystique in North America to replace theFord Tempo andMercury Topaz. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo isfront-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarerfour-wheel drive version available on the Mk I car only. Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared initially with the Contour built inKansas City Assembly inClaycomo, Missouri, andCuautitlán Assembly were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Three body styles were available, which are saloon, liftback, and estate.

The mid-cycle facelift was launched in October 1996 leaving only the doors, the roof, and the rear quarter panels on the estate the same as the original model. The extensive redesign in 1996 was known as the Mondeo Mk II.

The second-generation Mondeo was introduced in October 2000. This Mondeo was considerably larger than its predecessor, while the basic chassis and suspension design was carried over from the previous generation along with theCDW27 platform. Following the standard setting interior of theVolkswagen Passat (B5) in 1996, Ford paid a great deal of attention to the second generation Mondeo's interior and was the first major American manufacturer to react to the new standard set by Volkswagen. Ford abandoned itsNew Edge design theme for the second generation, opting to take the Prodigy concept car as a design reference. Ford dispensed with the rounded American style interior of the first generation, and developed a more sober 'Germanic' design. Saloon, liftback, and estate body styles were available.

This Mondeo came to Mexico, replacing the North American builtFord Contour, and was sold from 2001 to 2007, when theFord Fusion replaced it. The second generation Mondeo was never sold inAustralia, asFord Australia argued that the segment of the market was in decline.^[13]

The third-generation Mondeo was introduced in late 2006. Based on theEUCD platform developed withVolvo, the platform was the same as that used in the newlarge MPVsGalaxy andS-MAX. Its design theme was first^[14] shown as theFord Iosis concept at the 2005Frankfurt Motor Show, which gave an indication to the look of the Mk IV Mondeo. The new car, in estate bodystyle, was pre-launched in 'concept' form at theParis Motor Show in September 2006.^[15]

As with the previous model, the Mk IV Mondeo was not marketed in the United States or Canada because Ford sold the same-classFusion, which was launched in 2005. The 2007 Mondeo marked the return to the Australian market after a six-year absence, due to a resurgence in popularity of medium-sized cars in the last few years.^[16]

In September 2010, a mid-cycle facelifted Mk IV Mondeo was introduced with some changes, such as the new EcoBoost engines and LED daytime running lights. The front and rear of the car had minor changes, the biggest being the new design theme dubbed as the Kinetic Design. The interior was improved, with a use of better materials.

The fourth-generation Mondeo was presented byFord at the2012 North American International Auto Show inDetroit, Michigan.^[17] Due to the merge of both models, the vehicle was marketed as theFusion in the Americas. With a design team based in Detroit for the planning and global launch phase,^[18] the new model took styling cues from the previous generation Ford Mondeo, and previous generation American Ford Fusion. Like then current redesigns of theFocus andFiesta before it, the new Mondeo used a global platform shared with the now-identicalFusion marketed in North America.^[19]

The range does not includefive- orsix-cylinder engines, and on launch had a complete range ofFord EcoBoost engines.

Ford ended Mondeo production at their Valencia Plant in March 2022 as buyer interest shifted tocrossovers andSUVs.^[20]

The fifth-generation Mondeo saloon was released in China in January 2022. Ford confirmed that the model would not be marketed in Europe and North America.^[21] It is marketed in the Middle East as theFord Taurus.^[22]

The Mondeo competed in theBritish Touring Car Championship (BTCC) between 1993 and 2000. The cars, prepared by former series championAndy Rouse, did not enter the1993 season until the eighth round, atPembrey, in Wales. Rouse andPaul Radisich were the drivers in the Mondeo's first season. Radisich went on to win theFIA World Touring Car Cup in both 1993 and 1994 driving a Mondeo.

Ford ran a factory-sponsored team, called Ford Team Mondeo, for eight seasons.Andy Rouse Engineering ran the cars from 1993 to 1995, whenWest Surrey Racing ran the works team from 1996 to 1998, withProdrive taking over beginning 1999.

In 2000, the team expanded from two cars to three when driversAlain Menu andAnthony Reid were joined by 1998 series championRickard Rydell, recruited from the disbandedVolvo team. The team dominated the season of2000, finishing 1–2–3 (Menu–Reid–Rydell) in the drivers' standings and winning the manufacturers' championship by 104 points.

A complete overhaul of the BTCC following the season of 2000 had theSuper Touring regulations scrapped as the series moved towards less expensive, but slower race cars. Ford withdrew from BTCC competition prior to 2001.

The touring cars, after their withdrawal, went on sale to the public and are now in the hands of other drivers. Two of the 2000 series Mondeos have been spotted in the BRSCC series of LMA Euro saloons; drivers known to own them at present are Bernard Hogarth and Alvin Powell.

The Mk I and Mk II Mondeo have followed many other previous Ford models into the world ofbanger racing in the United Kingdom, and with plenty of older cars being available for very little money, the Mondeo is now a popular and relatively easy car to race. The Zetec engines are converted to run off a carb set up^{[clarification needed]} and the Mondeo bodyshell is fairly tough, but they are proving rather rigid, with many drivers getting injured in high-speed impacts. Mondeos are proving more popular than the Sierra and Mk III Granada.

In Argentina, the Mondeo is one of several cars to compete in the localTop Race racing category; its body is handcrafted in reinforced fiberglass. The Mondeo is so far the most successful car in the category, with three championship titles in the TRV6 class and two championship titles in the Top Race series (formerly Top Race Junior).

The winning drivers in the TRV6 class were Omar Martínez (2006), José María López (2009), and Guido Falaschi (Copa América 2010) with the Mondeo II (based on the MkIII Mondeo), and in the TR Junior category, the championship was won by Gonzalo Perlo in 2008 and Humberto Krujoski in 2010. In 2009, the Mondeo III (based on the MkIV Mondeo) bodystyle was approved and presented as an option within the category; however, the Mondeo II bodywork is still being used.

Similarly, in the United States, the Fusion/Mondeo Mk 5 bodywork began use for the sixth-generation body in theNASCARSprint Cup Series starting in 2013, replacing the currentMazda6-based Fusion.

• Mondeo Man, stereotypical figure in the 1990s England

• Ford Mondeo UK (archived)
• Ford Mondeo Australia (archived)
• Ford Mondeo Sport Club - biggest fan club at Taiwan