The first Ford car to be created digitally, the new-edge styling and aerodynamic design of the Ford Mondeo assert elegance, precision and strength. The distinctive design is the mastermind of leading European designer Chris Bird. Sophisticated design tools have been used by Bird and team to optimise the Ford Mondeo for a wide range of human shapes.

Top-class interiors The interiors of the car are designed to enhance the driving quality. The new Ford Mondeos spacious interior package offers an extended wheelbase that results in class-leading rear seat spaciousness. The interiors of the car boast an ultramodern finish with its metal-trim accents. High quality materials, softer mouldings, metallic finishes and chromed detailing assert superior interior craftsmanship, enhancing the luxurious feel of the car. The interior design reflects intensive ergonomic study, down to the feeling of each control and switch. For further driving enjoyment, the Ford Mondeo offers an innovative new in-dash six-CD player with six speakers that eliminate the need for a remote unit under the seat or in the boot.

Meticulous attention has been given to the driver and riders comfort in the new Ford Mondeo. This is reflected in the host of features offered by the new Ford Mondeo, including aspheric driver side mirror, headlamp washer jet, cup holders, theatre dimming, eight-way power seat adjustment, rear compartment heat-ducts, head lamps-on chime, illuminated glove compartment, over-head sun-glass holder and adjustable steering column among others.

Class-leading safety

The Ford Mondeo comes with a class-leading safety package, combined with latest technology security features and a strong basic structure. The new intelligent protection system of the car features adaptive dual-stage front-air bags for front-seat occupants, with an advanced detection system that analyses frontal crash severity, driver position plus passenger-seat occupancy.

Other unmatched safety features include side airbags, front-deploying head restraints, retractable pedal box, three-point seat belts in all seating positions, variable rate-power steering, safety cell construction, anti submarine seats.

The front-seat airbags of the Ford Mondeo are matched with side-curtain airbags for a complete airbag safety system. Side curtain airbags, installed in the vehicles headlining, help to provide the occupant protection from side impacts along the whole length of the passenger compartment, increasing safety for rear-seat passengers.

The comprehensive standard safety package also includes emergency brake assist (EBA), an option designed to help drivers in panic-stop situations. The result is a shorter stopping distance - up to 21 metres shorter from 200 kmph under test conditions - and, possibly, reduced accident risk. The car has a precisely tuned steering for a no surprises neutral to slightly understeering characteristic, providing continuous driver feedback when the vehicle is approaching its limits of adhesion.

Setting benchmarks in exterior style and durability

Sleek, distinctive lines mark a crisp, poised and modern exterior appearance of the Ford Mondeo, embodying the perfect blend of performance capability and elegance.

The highly rigid structure, designed for crashworthiness with extensive use of high-strength steels, in addition to enhancing the safety of the world-beater, also provides customers with long-term durability and minimised ownership costs.

The new Ford Mondeo''s high-strength body shell is the basis for durable and reliable life of the whole vehicle. The body structure was developed to high level of precision and strength exclusively with Fords array of powerful computer tools called C3P. C3P is Fords design, engineering, production and product information management process that achieves higher levels of quality and shortens vehicle development periods. C3P is a combination of computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering, computer-aided manufacturing and product information management (PIM).

Mondeo makes extensive use of high-strength steels - including their use in 43 per cent of Mondeo''s front-end structure. Tailored blanks customise body shell strength in rear-wheel arches, B-pillar and inner door panels, supplemented by ultra-high-strength-steel side impact door beams.

The 24-stage paint and body protection system used in the production of the new Ford Mondeo includes zinc galvanising of all body panels except the roof, dip pre-treating and phosphate coating, electrophoretic dip painting, special priming for stone-chip resistance, comprehensive sealing of body gaps and flanges, liquid-wax coating of cavities in supporting beams, doors and bonnet and protective underbody coating.

Superb driving quality

The Ford Mondeo incorporates a highly refined chassis and suspension system, reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), all contributing to the world-beaters superb driving quality. A dedicated team of acoustic engineers have developed highly technical approaches to reduce the NVH, thereby ensuring high levels of smoothness and quietness to enhance the Ford Mondeos driving quality.

Optimum ownership value

The new Ford Mondeos stiffer, lighter and smoother new Duratec HE petrol and Duratorq DI turbodiesels were built for longer life. They incorporate friction- and wear-resistant components engineered to last the life of the engine without requiring maintenance.

Ford believes that a luxurious experience need not be a costly affair. Giving attention to reducing cost of ownership, the Ford Mondeo development team has incorporated several smart features in this breakthrough car. The clever yet simple new fully incinerable oil filter insert make maintenance easier, quicker and cheaper. Reduced service time for the top 22 most frequently occurring, non-routine repairs in the range of 16 to 18 per cent depending on model. A headlight bulb replacement takes just seconds.

The Ford Mondeo winner

Ford Mondeo lives up to its name derived from the words Mundus - Latin for World; and Mon Dieu - My God! in French. The Ford Mondeos driver-friendly features, contemporary styling and safety features make it the acknowledged favourite of auto experts. The numerous prestigious awards won by this world-beater include the Pan-European award from Auto 1 magazine, Car of the Year award from Britains leading auto journal What Car?, the Golden Steering Wheel award from Germanys Bild an Sonntag magazine, Car of the Year 2001 by BBC Top Gear and Car of the Year award from Auto Express magazine.

also see : Fords Mondeo to challenge Mercedes on Indian roads