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  To simplify the fresh new Mondeo lineup, Ford has dropped the sedan relying on the hatch and wagon to drive volume sales.

High-class safety is the new Ford Mondeo marketing mantra.

Ford launches a refreshed mid-size lineup later this month with some segment-leading safety technology, including the addition of a forward collision warning system and adaptive cruise control on the XR5 and new Titanium models.

The Titanium also gets active headlights while the XR5 gets bi-xenon headlights. Apart from the added safety gear, the Titanium shares its 2.3-litre four cylinder engine with the LX and Zetec. However, it gets all the Zetec safety and create comforts while adding 18-inch alloys, body kit, sports suspension, leather and sunroof.

To simplify the lineup, the sedan has been dropped with Ford relying on the hatch and wagon to drive volume sales. The revamped range now consists of the entry LX hatch and wagon, Zetec hatch and wagon, Titanium hatch and XR5 hatch. Buyers looking for a little extra can now opt for the premium Titanium hatch, which will sit alongside the turbocharged XR5.

But unlike the 162kW/320Nm 2.5-litre turbo XR5 hatch, Titanium buyers get the choice of either the 110kW/208Nm 2.3-litre four cylinder petrol or 110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre TDCi turbo diesel. There is no turbo-diesel available in either LX or Zetec wagon, but the Zetec hatch is available with either a petrol or TDCi powerplant.

Pricing remains largely unchanged. The petrol LX hatch is $31,990, petrol Zetec $36,990 and diesel Zetec $39,990. The newly added petrol wagons add just $1000 to the price. Prices for the XR5 turbo petrol have risen by $1000 to $44,990 while the petrol Titanium at $42,990, slides in under the turbo. The diesel Titanium, which matches the XR5's 320Nm torque figure, is $45,990.

Ford expects the Mondeo wagon to be a popular seller, which has more luggage room than a Holden Sportwagon. The Sportwagon has 895 litres of luggage room with the rear seats up and 2000 litres of space with the seats folded. By comparison the Mondeo has 1005 litres of luggage room, growing to 2163 litres with the rear seats folded.

After a lacklustre sales start when the Mondeo was launched in 2007, Ford has signaled its intention to push its updated range into the mainstream to tackle the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord Euro and Mazda6. Ford sold just 4872 Mondeos last year and is aiming to significantly lift the current sales rate of around 350 cars a month.