Q3 launch planned for diesel Mondeo wagon

Ford has announced that the long-awaited diesel Mondeo wagon will enter the Australian market during the third quarter of this year.

The imported car has been on hold while a business case has been argued for and against it -- followed subsequently by a lack of supply from the factory -- but the demise of the locally-manufactured Falcon wagon has brought the matter to a head. Beth Donovan, Ford's Vice President Marketing, Sales & Service stated in a press release today that the market has changed in recent times and is now more accepting of a car such as the Mondeo wagon.

"Over the past 12 months there has been an increasing shift in consumer preferences for this sector of the market, with growing customer expectations for improved safety features, new technologies, contemporary styling and the option for alternative fuels," she said.

"In order to meet these changing customer expectations in the long term, the Falcon wagon will cease production, while the introduction of a new diesel Mondeo wagon will present a modern alternative to fulfil the needs of both private and fleet customers."

First revealed at the Melbourne Motor Show in 2008, the diesel Mondeo wagon on display was powered by a 2.2-litre powerplant.

Doubt has remained since as to whether the Australian-delivered diesel wagon would be powered by the larger engine or the 2.0-litre that currently powers other Mondeo variants. According to Ford's press release, the wagon will feature a "new generation diesel powertrain that delivers significantly better fuel economy and improved performance".

While Ford has refused to reveal what that engine will be precisely, it seems likely to be the revised 2.0-litre engine unveiled in Geneva last month. This powerplant, according to Ford's global media site, can develop as much as 163hp (121kW), which is a substantial gain over the 103kW unit currently residing in diesel Mondeo's engine bay. The company hasn't revealed the peak torque figure for the engine, but we're tipping it will be 'adequate'.

Interestingly, the Mondeo in Geneva also debuted an LPG fuel system and a 2.0-litre (turbocharged and direct-injected) EcoBoost petrol four-cylinder engine. As well, the Mondeo is in line for the Getrag-sourced six-speed Powershift twin-clutch transmission already introduced here in the Focus.

Ford has made no secret of its aim to tackle Holden's Commodore Sportwagon with the Mondeo, but following the demise of the Falcon wagon, the five-door Mondeo must now appeal to fleet buyers as well as private buyers. That has raised the question: How will Ford sell the new (expensive) Mondeo variant to those same fleet buyers who have historically bought the Falcon wagon on price? The Carsales Network asked Ford Communications Manager Sinead McAlary for her response.

"I'm not going to go into details about our pricing strategy for our fleet customers, but we have told them about the Mondeo wagon, we've told them about the new diesel engine coming; they're aware that it will have significant improvements in fuel economy and they're looking at it from a total cost of ownership perspective. Obviously that includes pricing, but that level of information is confidential," she said.

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