Ford reveals ST Concept for flagship Mondeo

GENEVA, February 27, 2001 - Ford is revealing its vision for a future flagship model in the all-new Mondeo range at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show.

"The Ford Mondeo ST Concept is further evidence of Ford of Europe's product-led transformation, and how we are developing distinctive performance cars as a major and exciting part of this strategy," said Martin Leach, Ford's vice president for European product development. "Key to this is offering our customers a choice of performance vehicles, with motorsport-derived, purist vehicles like the Focus RS, and more accessible performers like the ST range."

The ST Concept provides a glimpse of the direction the Ford Mondeo team is taking in the development of a successor to the respected Mondeo ST200 that headed the previous Mondeo range.

"The Mondeo ST Concept takes all of the acknowledged strengths of the new Mondeo and magnifies them," said Leach.

ST: the right mix of power, performance and elegance

The Mondeo ST Concept is based on a four-door model, and powered by the Duratec ST V6 engine, a special performance version of the Ford Duratec V6 that serves as the Mondeo range's top engine choice. The aluminium, quad-cam, 24-valve engine is highly responsive and capable across a broad range of driver demands, including high-speed motorway driving.

To handle the targeted power output of around 220PS, the powertrain and chassis system of the new ST Concept has been tuned to incorporate the engineering detail inspired by its predecessor but with the solid underpinnings of the all-new Mondeo.

Overt performance cues - 18-inch alloy wheels, low-profile tyres, sculpted aerodynamic features and stainless-steel dual exhausts - combine with subtle signs of executive elegance - custom leather Recaro front seats, unique instrument panel treatment, a navigation system and a high level of feature content - to create the ST Concept.

"The new Mondeo ST Concept is bold, elegant and refined in just the right combination," said Chris Bird, design director for Ford of Europe. "It's not trying to be a race car, but it knows exactly what it wants to be, exuding the confidence and power of a fun-to-drive 'executive express.'"

"We're committed to bringing the excitement, emotion and customer benefits of performance motoring back into the Ford range," Leach explained. "Great cars like the Ford Mondeo are a strong base on which we will create performance derivatives, and this ST Concept clearly demonstrates Mondeo's potential."

Ground-hugging

Mondeo ST Concept's performance capabilities are clearly communicated by the bold exterior design elements created by Bird's European Ford design team.

The confident stance of the Mondeo ST Concept is more than just a visual perception. The vehicle is 20 mm lower than a production Mondeo, perched on low-profile P225/40R18 Dunlop tyres. This aggressive footprint is reinforced with ST Concept's revised front wings, which are flared slightly wider than a production Mondeo.

The design of the Ronal 16-spoke, 18-inch, polished aluminium alloy wheels highlights the balance of performance capability and elegance that is embodied in the ST Concept.

The wheel-and-tyre combination - with the Mondeo's highly capable four-wheel-disc brake calipers clearly evident beneath - contributes to ST Concept's purposeful and dynamic profile.

From the rear bumper forward, a sculpted aerodynamic bottom lip runs the entire length of the body, its edges catching the light to add emphasis to the vehicle's pronounced wheel arch flares and ground-hugging stance.

Tiny glass particles are used in the formulation of the Mondeo ST Concept's bright silver paint for appealing lustre and distinction. Front and rear bumpers blend into newly recontoured wings at the front and feature an aerodynamic splitter-style bottom section that extends the sculpted lip treatment fully around the vehicle.

The front bumper accentuates the styling of the Mondeo for performance-oriented appearance and functionality, incorporating an inverted trapezoid grille opening that is fast becoming a distinctive Ford styling signature, according to Bird.

"This inverted trapezoid shape emphasises the performance capability of the engine, and it lends itself to increased aerodynamic functionality of the frontal openings for air flow," Bird said.

Front grille inserts feature a machined diamond-mesh pattern inspired by the production Mondeo, but enhanced in scale for a feeling of sportiness and substance. The large-mesh is the background for a larger Ford oval badge, and the body-colour grille surround is bolder and more purposeful.

The lower portion of the front bumper is accentuated by high-intensity fog lamps pushed to the far edges and set in a contrasting black recessed background with machined aluminium bezels. Above the foglamp recesses, the front bumper has twin body-colour 'eyebrows' for enhanced damage resistance. A similarly elegant protective feature is incorporated in the rear bumper structure.

At the rear, large, diagonally cut, round dual exhaust outlets of stainless steel visually reinforce the image of power and purpose, emerging from a black, mesh-style, trapezoidal inset in the central lower portion of the body-colour bumper.

"The whole vehicle achieves its functional performance without losing the elegance that is so critical to the ST character," Bird said.

Bold, Distinctive, Elegant

The interior of the ST Concept is dominated by subtle ebony black leather, combined with bold red leather trim in the Recaro seats and door panels

"This appealing colour combination harks back to classic sports cars," Bird said.

The ST Concept's black instrument panel features a unique, high-gloss black centre console with a metallic black gear-lever bezel. A black leather-wrapped steering wheel features a unique centre cover with ST badging at its base. The high level of interior equipment includes a navigation system.

"The Mondeo ST Concept is our vision for a future Mondeo flagship," Bird said. "It really incorporates everything we've learned about the ST customer."

SOURCE: Ford