Ford Mondeo News

Ford may have been forced to rename its imported Territory-replacing Edge large SUV to Equator for the Australian market

For the first time in over a year, Holden has enjoyed a positive year-on-year sales growth with its January 2017 tally hitting 7184 – a 5.3 per cent increase.

High-speed crooks may soon be harder to catch once Holden and Ford stop local production of police pursuit cars.Highway patrol forces across Australia have used Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons for more than three decades to nab speeding drivers and criminals trying to outrun the law.But the cars that will replace the Falcon and Commodore pursuit vehicles over the next two years will be slower and more expensive than the current models.The switch to imported cars has police across the country scrambling to find suitable replacements for highway patrol vehicles.They might look like family cars, but the latest generation pursuit vehicles used by NSW Police are the most capable ever put into service.It's not only their blistering acceleration that has helped stop pursuits before they start because, according to police, the bad guys know they can't get away.More importantly, say frontline officers, it's the stopping power that gives them the edge.Both Ford and Holden pursuit cars used by the NSW highway patrol have been fitted with police-only high-performance brakes ever since a series of brake failures led to a stringent test being introduced at the Police Driver Training centre in Goulburn more than 10 years ago.Other Australian states and territories do not have the same "pursuit test" braking requirement, leaving some officers concerned about a return to "the bad old days"."Before we had bigger brakes fitted to our cars, they would turn to mush after a few hard stops, the brake pads would eventually disintegrate," said one high-ranking officer with 20 years' experience."Ever since we had the better brakes fitted, it has enabled us to slow down through intersections more safely and more reliably ... and then accelerate again to catch up to the bad guys. It's a public safety issue as well as an officer-safety issue," he said.Other officers who spoke to News Corp Australia said there have been fewer pursuits since "the crooks realise their brakes run out before ours do."An officer with 12 years' highway patrol experience said vehicle performance was "not just about catching getaway cars"."Highway patrol are often the first cars at the scene of armed hold-ups, violent domestics, serious injury crashes and other life-threatening situations," the officer said. "The general duties cars are often tied up, whereas we're always roaming. If I've got to save someone from being stabbed, you want to get there as quickly and as safely as possible."The highway patrol certification test used exclusively by NSW Police involves the car accelerating and braking repeatedly for an extended period of time to simulate a pursuit or a response to an emergency.Both Ford and Holden had to upgrade their brakes on NSW highway patrol cars once the test was introduced.Cars that don't make the grade are not commissioned for highway patrol use. For example, the Toyota Aurion V6 did not pass NSW Police brake tests even though the car is used by highway patrol in other states.A national police advisory agency closed submissions for future vehicle replacements last week, with luxury brands dominating the list of tenders, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.However, these vehicles are likely to be deemed too expensive.This leaves limited options, including performance cars such as the Ford Mustang coupe, Volkswagen Golf R hatch or wagon or the Chrysler 300 SRT performance sedan, all of which are in the $50,000 to $60,000 price range.The current Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore pursuit cars cost about $48,000 -- before significant government discounts are taken into account.NSW Police said it would start to evaluate new vehicles later this year."As far as a national vehicle is concerned, that is clearly a longer term ambition (but) there is a layer of complexity around that," the statement said. "We have very specific technical requirements."NSW Police cars are more advanced than those in other states, with all 400 cars equipped with in-car video, computer terminals, and automatic number plate reading technology.Other states have just begun rolling out number plate detection cameras on a handful of cars, whereas NSW has started equipping general duties cars with the technology.Meanwhile, substitutes for future general duties vehicles are expected to be a formality, because police are already driving them.The Toyota Camry has begun replacing the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon general duties sedans, while the Hyundai SantaFe has started replacing the Ford Territory SUV.The Hyundai iLoad and Volkswagen Transporter vans have been replacing utes as prisoner vehicles for several years.What highway patrol drive nowHolden Commodore SS V8Price: $48,6900 to 100km/h: 5.0 secondsHigh performance brakes (the same used by US police)Ford Falcon XR6 TurboPrice: $45,6900 to 100km/h: 5.0 secondsHigh performance brakes (race-bred, made by Brembo)The optionsFord Mustang V8Price: $59,9900 to 100km/h: 5.0 secondsPros and cons: High performance brakes (race-bred, made by Brembo), similar acceleration to current cars. Coupe body not as practical as a sedan but could be used for certain areas (police have used coupes before, including the Valiant Charger, Ford Falcon XB and XC Coupe and Holden Monaro). The Mustang needs a special bracket to store a full size spare tyre (a police safety requirement) because an inflator kit is standard. Fortunately the boot is bigger than before and police computer equipment is getting smaller.Chrysler 300 SRT V8Price: $59,0000 to 100km/h: 5.0 secondsPros and cons: High performance brakes (race-bred, made by Brembo), similar acceleration to current cars and it has a big boot that can fit a full size spare (a police safety requirement). The Chrysler 300 SRT V8 doesn't handle corners as sharply as the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon performance sedans. Question mark over reliability, and it has higher service costs. Dealer network not as vast as Holden or Ford.Volkswagen Golf RPrice: $55,0000 to 100km/h: 5.0 secondsPros and cons: High performance brakes, similar acceleration to current cars and it has constant all-wheel-drive grip, which is ideal for tight city streets and wet or icy roads. The Golf R is available as a wagon to fit extra gear, but a full size spare would need to be accommodated (inflator kit or space saver is standard). The cheaper Golf GTI is not as suitable because it's slower, front-wheel-drive only and does not get performance brakes as standard.Holden Insignia VXRPrice: $51,9900 to 100km/h: 6.8 secondsPros and cons: The Holden Insignia VXR is a pointer to the all-wheel-drive turbo sedan that will replace the Commodore SS in 2018. But it needs to make a big leap over the current car which, according to independent tests, is slower than a Toyota Aurion V6. Holden insiders have confirmed the next generation Commodore performance sedan will not be as quick as the current V8, nor as cheap.Ford Mondeo TurboPrice: Not yet announced0 to 100km/h: Not yet announcedPros and cons: Ford of Europe is secretly working on a turbo all-wheel-drive version of the Mondeo mid-size sedan, but its performance credentials are an unknown. The car is also smaller and narrower than a Ford Falcon, and as with its Holden counterpart, unlikely to match today's fast Falcon, let alone beat it.

A clearer picture of the future Holden versus Ford battle has emerged after two significant cars were unveiled in Detroit this week.

In June, Australians bought more new cars than in any single month in history, yet Ford sales were down by 17 per cent. Year-to-date, the slide is even worse.There isn't a major brand that is losing market share at the same rate. Or one that has slipped in share for as long as Ford. Sales have been in decline for more than a decade.In 2004, more than 135,000 Australians bought new Fords. This year, it's on track to be roughly half that number.And that's only half the story. Look more closely at the figures and the picture is bleak for the brand that twenty years ago topped the sales charts.How will sales improve when the brand has trimmed its line-up in the biggest segment of the market?Everybody assumes the sales slump is tied to the impending death of the locally-made Falcon and Territory, but the company's local products aren't the biggest problem.Sales of locally-made Fords are down 9.5 per cent year-to-date. Compare that with the imported Mondeo (down by almost 60 per cent), Focus (down 54 per cent) and Fiesta (down 32 per cent).Which makes this week's decision to drop the cheapest model from the Focus line-up all the more puzzling. How will sales improve when the brand has trimmed its line-up in the biggest segment of the market?There are promising products on the horizon, with Everest and Mustang due this year, but products aren't Ford's problem. Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo are all cars most brands would love in their line-up, but the Ranger is the only one that sells.Ford used to be labelled the Falcon car company. It's now in danger of becoming the Ranger car company.Ford says market share isn't everything and it is building a profitable business. But surely there's a point when the showroom traffic slows to a level where profit suffers?

When you walk into a Ford or Holden showroom in 2018, one thing will be certain: everything you see will have arrived on a boat.Holden stops building the Commodore late in 2017 and Ford calls time on the Falcon at the end of next year. What is not known is whether buyers will be tempted by what replaces them.Ford was first to declare its intentions with the Mondeo, which was launched in April as the nominated Falcon successor.A global model sold in the US as the Fusion, Australian cars are being shipped from a factory in Spain. The Mondeo comes as a wagon or hatchback and starts at $32,790, or $3610 below the price of the cheapest Falcon.It's early days for Mondeo but it's the most technically advanced car we offerThat buys a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder 149kW turbocharged petrol engine with six-speed automatic gearbox, with a more powerful petrol or frugal diesel also in the range. A performance model could be added later, but unlike the Falcon, there's no six-cylinder or V8, and power goes to the front wheels rather than the rears.Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald said fleets had cornered first deliveries but Mondeo's strong equipment list would lure private buyers too."It's early days for Mondeo but it's the most technically advanced car we offer so it's sure to attract new customers and some Falcon buyers who change over," he said.When pensioner Alan Chalker decided it was time to move out of his five-year-old Falcon XR6 he opted for a Mondeo Trend Ecoboost, which starts at $37,290.Sophisticated equipment — including a lane-departure warning system and smart cruise control — helped win him over."If you move off your lane without putting the blinkers on the wheel shakes — there are marvellous tricks like that. If I had these in the XR6 I wouldn't have changed," Mr Chalker said.Another plus was the Mondeo's cargo space. "The luggage compartment is brilliant — the hatchback lifts up so you don't have to bend and there's more room than the XR6. It hasn't got the grunt of the XR6, but it's plenty fast enough."Mr McDonald said other enthusiasts would switch to the US-built Mustang two-door, with the company already holding 2000 deposits. Prices start at $44,990 and run to $63,990 for a V8 convertible, with first Mustang deliveries due in December.Ford's other local model, the Territory, will live on as a rebadged SUV import. That will almost certainly be the Edge, which has been built in Canada since 2006. With four or six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and front or all-wheel drive, it's shorter than a Territory but includes a seven-seat version.Holden also plans to rebadge an import with the Commodore name and has decided which car it will be. However, with more than two years left to run, it wants to maximise the locally built Commodore's potential in a market where large sedans now attract fewer than 4 per cent of buyers.The next Commodore will absolutely live up to its namePrime candidate for rebadging is the German-built Insignia, a large sedan just launched here in performance guise. With all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 239kW petrol V6, the Insignia VXR starts at $51,990 — $9000 more than the most affordable Commodore SS V8.Spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale said "the next Commodore will absolutely live up to its name" as a value-for-money family car with a performance edge.Holden and Ford have seen their market shares cut in half with the decline in demand for large sedans, with fewer than one in 10 buyers opting for a Holden and Ford's slice plummeting to 7 per cent.

Ford's groundbreaking inflatable rear seatbelt makes its Australian debut in the all-new Mondeo.

Ford has confirmed local pricing for the fourth-generation Mondeo, with the new mid-sizer priced from $32,790 for the five-door hatch and $34,640 for the wagon.Ford's drip-feed of Mondeo details kicked off in November last year, with the model grades and feature levels detailed in December.The $32,790 starting price for the entry-level petrol Ambiente hatch makes the Mondeo more expensive than rivals Mazda6 ($32,620), Subaru Liberty and Hyundai Sonata (both $29,990), as well as top-selling Toyota Camry ($30,490).The mid-spec Trend hatch is priced from $37,290, while the top of the range Titanium comes in at $44,290.Stepping up from petrol to turbodiesel power attracts a $4000 premium for the Ambiente, while the Trend and Titanium diesels add $3200.For the wagon bodystyle, only the Ambiente model is available with petrol power, and is priced from $34,640. Like the hatch, putting a diesel engine in the Ambiente wagon will add $4000.Rounding out the wagon range are the diesel-only $42,340 Trend and $49,340 Titanium.

But the start of 2015 is gearing up for more hot deals than usual because new car sales stalled last year for the first time since the Global Financial Crisis.It means dealers are overstocked and they're even more eager to make way for fresh metal.Adding to the pressure - and putting buyers in the driver's seat - is the uncertainty around Australia's currency, which has taken a hit in recent months. Buying a new car now could mean a double-saving; get the discount on end-of-year bargains and beat possible price rises.Record low interest rates and favourable exchange rates saw new car prices fall to 20-year lows in 2014 as affordability hit a 38-year high in 2014.But once the cars imported at last year's exchange rates are cleared, the chances are new models won't be discounted as heavily, or prices may even rise.Most cars sold in Australia are sourced from Japan (30 per cent), Thailand (20 per cent) and South Korea (12 per cent) - rather than the US (5 per cent) - but most car companies buy in US dollars as it has historically been more stable.The prices of Japanese branded cars are likely to remain steady because the Japanese Government artificially devalues the yen to boost exports. But the value of the Australian dollar against the currencies of Thailand, South Korea and the US is less stable.It means price rises are likely on almost every ute sold in Australia because most are made in Thailand, including the top-selling Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and Holden Colorado, among others.South Korean brands Hyundai and Kia, two of the industry's biggest discounters, may also lose some of their bargaining power if the Australian dollar continues to head south.But one brand you may not be expecting to go backwards due to a shift in currency is Holden, which sources eight of its 12 models from South Korea and two from Thailand.With that in mind we have assembled the 10 cars we reckon are worth waiting for. Remember to always judge a car by its build date (the day it went down the production line and how its age will be measured when it comes time to sell), rather than the compliance plate (in effect, when the car cleared Australian customs).Be warned: there are still some 2013-built cars out there (Nissan, we're looking at you), so be sure to haggle hard and make sure the factory warranty starts the day you take delivery.Sometimes it's worth waiting for an all-new model, or at least knowing if you have more bargaining power if the dealer is trying to clear not only last year's model but one that is about to be superseded.The successor to Australia's cheapest car from a mainstream brand is just around the corner with a new look and a new name. The Suzuki Celerio is bigger than the Alto and the 1.0-litre three-cylinder has been tuned to run on regular unleaded (rather than premium like its predecessor), making it one of the cheapest cars to own and operate. Expect a super-sharp $13,990 drive-away starting price when it goes on sale in February.Australia is going to be crawling with pint-sized SUVs next year but the Mazda CX-3 is likely to take most of the spotlight. Available with a 1.5-litre turbo diesel or a 2.0-litre petrol engine it is expected to start between $20,000 and $25,000 when it goes on sale in March. It will join the Honda HR-V (February), Renault Captur (February), the next generation Suzuki Vitara (June), the unusually named Citroen Cactus (June), and the cutesy Fiat 500X (November).The city-sized soft-roader market is so huge globally even off-road brand Jeep has joined the fray. The Jeep Renegade may look like a scaled-down Tonka Truck but it is based on the same underbody as the Fiat Punto, Alfa Romeo Mito and the Fiat 500X. Powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel matched to a segment-leading nine-speed automatic transmission, the Renegade is due in showrooms in October priced between $20,000 and $30,000.The first new Nissan Navara in 10 years arrives in showrooms in April with two new 2.3-litre turbo diesel engines (one with a single turbo, the other with twin turbos). The outputs are almost the same as the previous 2.5-litre turbo diesel, despite being smaller in capacity (a 118kW/403Nm version and a 140kW/450Nm version). Payload and towing capacity are yet to be confirmed but bank on a one-tonne cargo rating and a 3500kg towing limit (bringing the Navara into line with class leaders). The 550Nm Navara with the Renault 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 has been dropped. It will be a big year for utes, with a rebodied Mitsubishi Triton due in May, significant updates due for the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 in July, an all-new Toyota HiLux in October.Take a close look at the new Ford Mondeo due on sale in April. This is a pointer to the vehicle that will eventually replace the Falcon. Available in sedan and wagon body styles, likely with a choice of 2.0-litre turbo petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines, prices are expected to range from $30,000 to $50,000. It will also be loaded with technology including LED headlights, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and industry-leading rear seatbelt airbags. A hybrid version will join the Mondeo line-up later in the year.Jaguar is making a second attempt at the lucrative mid-size luxury sedan market dominated by the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class. After learning from the ill-conceived 2002 X-Type based on the Ford Mondeo, Jaguar has started with a cleansheet design and aluminium construction. It will be available with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel said to sip 4.0L/100km, less than the Audi A4 (4.8L/100km) and BMW 320d (4.5L/100km) aided by an eight-speed auto. At the other end of the scale: a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with a 0 to 100km/h time of 5.1 seconds. Due on sale in September, it's likely to start about $60,000.The first new Volvo XC90 in 12 years is also the first all-new model developed since Volvo was bought by China's Geely motor company in 2010. Promising to the world's safest SUV it will automatically slam on the brakes if you're about to turn in front of an oncoming car, and can also spot cyclists and pedestrians at night. It even has eyes in the back of its head: a radar system can detect if you're about to be hit from behind, and will prepare the seatbelts and headrests for the sudden impact. It will be available with a choice of four-cylinder petrol or diesel power, and a plug-in hybrid that can travel up to 40km on battery power alone (before switching to petrol power), the first seven-seater of its type in the world. Due in showrooms in July priced about $90,000.Mazda has gone back to basics – in every sense of the word – and wound back the clock with the new MX-5 sports-car. The first all-new MX-5 since the original was launched 25 years ago goes back to its lightweight, low cost roots (each wheel only has four locating nuts instead of five, for example) and promises a soft-top roof and a sub-1000kg mass for the first time since last century. Since 2006 the Mazda MX-5 has had a folding metal roof to help it weather storms and thwart thieves, but this has added weight, complexity and cost. The new model is expected to be available with a choice of two engines – a 1.5- and a 2.0-litre – when it goes on sale in September priced below $40,000.The Ford Mustang returns to Australia in October for the first time since 2003, but it will be the first time in the nameplate's 50-year history that it will be made in right-hand-drive on a Ford production line (Flat Rock, Michigan). All models before this one were converted to right-hand-drive locally. It will be available with a choice of 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo or 5.0-litre V8 power in coupe and convertible body styles. Prices will range from $50,000 to $70,000.Mercedes-Benz's answer to the Porsche 911 arrives in July priced about $270,000. Powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that will also power the upcoming AMG C63 sedan, it can complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in just 3.8 seconds. Fun fact for the tech heads: it has a better weight distribution (47/53 front to rear) than either the Porsche 911 (39/61) or Cayman (46/54). Game on.

Ford confirms features and drivetrains for the upcoming Mondeo hatch and wagon.After boasting in November that the new Mondeo would challenge the class-leading Toyota Camry in both engine performance and features, Ford has confirmed further details ahead of its arrival early next year.The entry-level Ambiente variant will be available with either a 149kW/345Nm 'low-output' version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, or a 132kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.Mid-spec Trend and top tier Titanium models will feature either a tweaked 'high-output' version of the petrol engine - which boosts power to 177kW - or the turbodiesel.Both petrol and turbodiesel engines across all three feature levels come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with sports paddle shifters.The Mondeo's turbodiesel engine is more fuel efficient than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, however that only applies to hatchback variants of the new Ford.The 2.0-litre turbodieisel of the new Mondeo has a fuel efficiency figure of 5.1L/100km, which betters the Camry Hybrid by 0.1L/100km. However, when the turbodiesel is placed in the Mondeo wagon the efficiency figure becomes 5.3L/100km.The 'low-output' petrol engine is rated at 8.2L/100km, while the 'high-output' version gets 8.5L/100km.Safety features across the Mondeo range will include traction control, stability control, emergency brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, inflatable rear seatbelts and Ford's MyKey technology.Feature-wise, the Ambiente kicks off the Mondeo range including 16-inch alloys, Sync2 voice-activated multimedia system with 8-inch touchscreen, satnav, daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control, leather steering wheel, powered and heated mirrors, cruise control and 60/40 split rear seats.The mid-level Trend adds in 17-inch alloys, autonomous emergency braking, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights and high beam, heated and powered front seats, automatic wipers, puddle lamps, automatically folding mirrors and keyless entry.Like much of Ford’s current passenger vehicle lineup, the 2015 Mondeo range tops out with the Titanium trim level. Building on the Ambiente and Trend, the Titanium  adds 18-inch alloys, blind spot detection, lane monitoring and departure warning, driver fatigue monitoring, unique lower-body extensions, adaptive suspension, adaptive LED headlights, leather sports seats and heated rear seats.Titanium Mondeos in the five-door hatchback body style will also receive a panoramic glass roof, while the wagon gets a powered sunroof and tailgate.Pricing for the all-new Mondeo range is yet to be confirmed, with Ford saying an announcement will be made closer to the showroom arrival.