Motoring: Mondeo Man gets hybrid version & more
FORD has officially started production on one of its most significant new cars for some time, the all-new Ford Mondeo Hybrid. The car is the first hybrid electric car built and sold by Ford in Europe.
The Mondeo Hybrid combines a specially-developed 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. It is claimed to deliver 67.3 mpg (combined), reaching 100.9 mpg for urban driving and with 99g/km CO2 emissions.
The enthusiasm Ford has for the car suggests how important it is for the company’s overall EV and hybrid market strategy.
First launched in 1993 as the replacement for the Sierra, the Mondeo has found homes with more than 1.4m customers across the UK. The all-new model is produced at Ford’s state-of-the-art plant in Valencia.
The widest-ever range of powertrains for the Mondeo includes Ford’s new 1.5 litre EcoBoost petrol and enhanced 2.0-litre TDCi diesel. The Mondeo Hybrid is said to offer pricing competitive with its diesel powertrain variants; something Ford hopes will enable it to deliver on a promise to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers a broader choice.
In the US Ford is the second largest manufacturer of hybrids, having already produced in excess of 400,000 vehicles. The all-new Ford Mondeo Hybrid is available in the UK from December, with the four-door saloon starting at £24,995 – the same as its 2.0-litre diesel Mondeo Titanium Powershift five-door equivalent.
The new Mondeo is also one of the safest cars on the road, having secured the maximum five-star safety rating by independent crash test authority Euro NCAP.
The new car is also the first Ford worldwide to offer Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection. This technology is designed to detect people in the road ahead – or that could cross the vehicle’s path – and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings.
Also introduced for the first time in Europe is Ford’s Inflatable Rear Seatbelt technology – a segment-first for Mondeo. In the event of an accident, the seatbelt can expand to disperse crash forces across a body area five times greater than that achieved by a conventional seatbelt.
Available as a five-door hatch, estate plus the new four-door hybrid, the new Mondeo is priced from £20,795, with first customer deliveries from December onwards.
Vauxhall takes the wraps off new Viva
EARLIER this year Vauxhall released a teaser image to mark the return of a British motoring icon, the Viva, whicvh was first produced at Ellesmere Port in 1964.
Now the company has unveiled the new car in all its glory, although it bears little resemblance to the popular family run-around which was such a familiar sight on the driveways of new housing estates during the Sixties and Seventies.
The new car is a five-door entry-level model, set to arrive in the UK next spring. It will form an important addition to Vauxhall’s small car range, joining the fashionable ADAM and the popular Corsa supermini.
Announcing the new model, Vauxhall said the car was intended to pay homage to the original Viva, which was produced from 1963 to 1979.
Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director, said: “On sale next year at an extremely attractive price point, Viva joins new Corsa and ADAM in a compelling small car portfolio, giving Vauxhall an unrivalled position in the small car market.”
If it’s half as popular as the original model then Vauxhall will be delighted because latest figures show the brand is close to surrendering its second-placed market share to Volkswagen.
However, the small car sector is now much more keenly contested than when the original model was launched. Then it was a straight choice between the Viva and the Escort (if you’re unsure about this, ask your dad).
Porsche outlines its festive offerings
STUCK for what to treat the motoring enthusiast in your life to this Christmas, Porsche has come up with festive offerings.
Starting out from the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone is the Taste of Porsche, which for £150 allows you to indulge in 20 minutes’ driving the latest 911 Carrera, 20 minutes’ driving the new Cayman GTS, an off-road demonstration in the new Cayenne, an exhilarating passenger ride in the latest Panamera and lunch for two in the Porsche Restaurant. As well as the three-course lunch your guest will be able to join the action in both the Cayenne and Panamera activities.
In addition, Porsche Driver’s Selection has added a range of new products to its collection, with everything from watches and jackets to children’s toys and lifestyle accessories all vying for a place on Santa’s sleigh.
At the pinnacle of the range is the Steve McQueen collection, with the Porsche Driver’s Selection showing a range of new lines for both men and women.
However, my favourite has to be the 911 Carrera 4S children’s buggy, which comes in red or turquoise for £107 – just the thing for that first Porsche driving experience!
