iosis X shades Mondeo's debut

Ford of Europe showed off its new Mondeo flagship at Paris as expected. What wasn't expected was the car unveiled alongside it -- a bold five-door offroad/crossover coupe the company has dubbed iosis X.

Based on the Focus platform, the iosis X shares its look (and name) with the car which kicked off Ford's "kinetic” styling direction last year. Only this time, instead of a svelte road car, the iosis X is an offroader.

According to Ford, the X's surprise appearance in Paris is to prepare the public for the introduction of a future Ford of Europe niche model.

"There's been a lot of speculation about Ford producing a compact crossover or Sport Utility vehicle," said John Fleming, President and CEO, Ford of Europe. "The iosis X is intended to send a very strong message that we will be entering this market in around 18 months from now, and that our new model will be both stylish and individual."

Though at pains to point out the iosis X is purely a concept, Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Design Director told Paris showgoers: "Customers will be able to get a feel for the design direction our production model will take, and when we do reveal that model next year, the relationship between it and the iosis X will be immediately apparent."

The iosis X is the work of a team headed by Stefan Lamm, Ford of Europe's chief exterior designer. It features Ford of Europe's new 'face' in a form that suits the car's offroad bent and impending crash and pedestrian safety legislation says the car maker.

Like the iosis road concept, the X has no B-pillar and paired 'rebated' doors for easy access to rear seats. There's big wheels, big brakes and bold surfacing including skid plates that appear to float. Ford says these elements are reminiscent of the aero aids on open-wheel racecars.

The car's footprint is close to that of the current Focus says Ford. No details on the mechanicals of the showcar were announced at Paris. That said it's no stretch to assume (given the vehicle's donor platform) that it could be built using the Haldex-equipped drivetrain of Volvo's all-wheel drive S40/V50 T5 twins. It's these vehicles from which the Focus XR5 (nee ST) gets its five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

The new Mondeo too shares some running gear with the Ovlov and its Focus stablemate. Ford says a wide range of both diesel and petrol powertrains will be offered on the production car with the base engines a 1.6-litre petrol and 1.8-litre diesel. Top of the line powerplants will likely include the above mentioned inline five though most mechanical details are yet to be announced.

Though unveiled in wagon form only, spy shots of the attractive Mondeo sedan are already hitting UK websites. Clearly production ready, the five-door's interior will be toned down for production, but largely, what you see is what you'll get when the car is launched across Europe from the second quarter of 2007.

In terms of local (Aussie) Ford fans, the question will be whether Ford Australia chooses to import the Mondeo.

Unlike the derivative mid-sizer of old, the new Mondeo is both bigger and bolder -- almost half a class larger than the likes of the Mazda6 and Accord Euro current top sellers in the local medium car segment.

Ironically, this extra space could mean that the car does not make it onto the Aussie bill (Ford) of fare. Planners could deem the car too close to Falcon. That said the ability to offer fuel efficient petrol and turbodiesel options would be a positive.