What is it about Ford, whereby they can take a ‘real life’ family car such as the Focus, add two letters and create a fire breathing monster? The Focus ST has been a mainstay of the Focus range since the original back in the midst of time and remains incredibly popular today with a large cross section of fast Ford fans. And let’s not forget the original Mark 2 facelift Mondeo ST200 and ST24, both of which offered the family man/woman something fantastically sporting whilst remaining eminently practical at the same time. A rare trick to be able to pull off quite so successfully.
It was therefore very exciting, but no real surprise, to receive the news up here in MotorMartin Towers that Ford have revealed their sporty new Ford Mondeo ST‑Line at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed and doesn’t it just look superb?
The Mondeo ST-Line we are told, is the newest addition to Ford’s recently unveiled ST-Line model range that delivers bold styling inspired by Ford Performance models and features sport suspension and body styling; unique alloy wheel designs; and sport seats, perforated leather steering wheel and alloy pedals for the interior. Everything you’d expect from an ST.
Ford have informed MotorMartin that the new model joins the Fiesta ST-Line and Focus ST-Line on display at Goodwood, where Ford is showing a range of performance vehicles from the Ford GT Le Mans race car to the new Fiesta ST200 hot hatch. If you’re at Goodwood you really haven’t an excuse not to go along and have a look.
Fiesta ST-Line and Focus ST-Line are both available to order since earlier this month and are designed for customers who aspire to the sporty image of the Ford Performance Fiesta ST and Focus ST hot-hatch models – but do not require the full performance delivered by optimised ST engines and chassis with sports technologies.
“The new Mondeo ST-Line is our sportiest Mondeo since we introduced the Mondeo ST220 model in 2002,” shared Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe with MotorMartin.
“Mondeo ST-Line adds another dimension to the broad Mondeo line-up that offers options from the fuel-efficient Mondeo ECOnetic and Mondeo Hybrid models, to the exclusive and upscale Mondeo Vignale.”
The new Mondeo ST-Line is available in five-door and estate bodystyles and delivers Ford Performance-inspired styling that includes:
- A honeycomb design for the upper and lower front grilles in high-gloss black;
- LED daytime running lamps with light tube styling and new rectangular fog lamps
- Front bumper lip spoiler and sculptured side-skirts in body colour; a sports rear bumper with high-gloss black diffuser-style insert; silver tailpipe surrounds*
- A black beltline beneath the windows and ST-Line exterior badging on the front fenders
- A choice of unique new 18-inch alloys wheels with bright machined surface or 19-inch alloy wheels in Rock Metallic Grey
- Sport seats with unique red stitching; a perforated leather ST-style steering wheel; and black interior door appliques
- Sports gear knob for manual transmissions and ST-Line scuff plates
- Standard rear roof spoiler for the estate, and an optional rear roof spoiler for the five-door
As expected and as with all models in the new Ford ST-Line range, the Mondeo ST-Line is available only with high-power engine derivatives that complement the enhanced driving dynamics delivered by sport suspension – lowered by 10mm.
Diesel engine options include:
- 150PS 2.0-litre TDCi with six-speed manual or six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission offering from 112g/km CO2 and 65.7mpg
- 180PS and 180PS 2.0-litre TDCi with six-speed manual or six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission offering from 117g/km CO2 and 62.8mpg
And to add that extra sporting flavour, the Mondeo ST-Line will feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters when Ford’s six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission is specified, and also is offered with Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive as shown below on the short film kindly share by Ford from their own YouTube Channel.
Ford are proud of the fact that this technology gives a seamless transition of torque between all four wheels to provide a more secure footing on the road especially in slippery conditions and can adjust torque delivery up to 50/50 between the front and rear wheels in under 20 milliseconds – twenty times quicker than it takes to blink.
“With our new ST-Line range even more customers can experience sporty style and driving dynamics inspired by our most exciting Ford Performance line-up ever, that includes models such as the Focus RS, new Fiesta ST200 and Ford GT supercar” de Waard said.
“This year we expect to sell 40,000 performance cars in Europe, a 50 per cent increase compared with 2015, which in turn saw performance car sales rise by 61 per cent compared with 2014.”
So there you have it, the already superb Mondeo now gives that extra special something for the enthusiast. Have your cake and eat it? Ford clearly think that you can and who are we to argue? I’m ready for mine whenever you are Ford.
Where will you go?