30-07-2007

Bij de verkiezing van de Auto van het jaar 2007 door het Engelse autoweekblad
de Auto Express is de hagel nieuwe Ford Mondeo verkozen tot:

Car of The Year 2007.

The Mighty Mondeo is back – and has gone straight to the top of the class.
After years of the ultra-refined Volkswagen Passat, Ford’s family favourite has been completely reinvented with a new look, bigger cabin and an even more polished driving experience. Having been criticised for the bland styling of its predecessor, Ford has clearly worked hard on the new Mondeo. Striking without being controversial, the big Ford is packed with clever details that emphasise its solidity. The cabin carries on the good work, with plenty of metallic finishes and some of the best trim quality around. Ford claims to have benchmarked the newcomer against the likes of the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series in an effort to generate a premium feel, and the approach has worked. Everything from the dashboard material to the noise of the indicators has been honed to create a refined, sooting driving experience. Then there’s the sheer amount of room on board. Because it retains its trademark hatchback rear end, the Mondeo is considerably more flexible than the booted Passat.
And every passenger gets in increased space, plus seats that offer greater comfort than before. Refinement on the move is another strong point. No rival cruises as comfortably at high speeds, or deals with coarse surfaces so well. It even delivers a cosseting ride around town. And thanks to a body that’s now 130 per cent stiffer, it handles beautifully, too. Factor in the incredible 75-car range, and you can see why the bog Ford is a worthy winner of this year’s Family Car crown.

Best estate car 2007.

If you’re going to do a job, it’s worth doing it properly. Not only has Ford managed to launch a brilliant new Mondeo hatch, it has somehow found the time to develop a class-leading estate version – a remarkable achievement.
Although Ford made public its intentions to make the Mondeo an object of desire, its designers didn’t fall into the trap of putting form ahead of function. Quite simply, the new Mondeo Estate is what all good load-luggers should be – big, practical and superb at carrying stuff. From its hangar-like luggage bay to clever options such as the sliding floor, the Ford feels like a car which is designed tot work for a living.
But the Mondeo also impresses in other key areas. For starters, it’s more distinctive than before, and while style is always a matter of taste, you can’t deny that the blue oval has been more adventurous this time around.
Then there’s the cabin, which is now improved in terms of both space and refinement. The plastics are softer, the equipment is more sophisticated and the amount of room for passengers is a tremendous driving experience.
Although the old car was one of the best in the sector for ride en handling, the new version has moved the game on again with great balance, a hushed ride an sporty responses. It all adds up to a truly deserving winner.

Ford Mondeo.

So here it is – our overall champion of 2007…the Number One Car in the UK. The new Mondeo is the most crucial model for some time from Britain’s biggest car maker. And we are delighted to report it proves conclusively that the family car’s obituary, written with the rise of the compact executive sector, is premature.
With its third-generation model, Ford has com bursting back, injecting vitality and desirability into what had become a stagnant breed. Glitzy and brimming with self-confidence, it’s not as brace as the Iosis concept from which it drew inspiration, but it’s crisply styled yet practical and eye-catching, without being ostentatious. And don’t forget that building a car in this class is one of the most challenging tasks in the entire motoring industry. Make a coupe look good and you have a hit on your hands, but here the brief is far more complex. The Mondeo has to be all things to all men. A commuting hack one minute, a family hauler the next, able to cut it in the company car park and the multi-storey, plus on every road from traffic-choked urban streets to remote rural routes. The Mondeo delivers effortlessly, performing with aplomb everywhere. It steers beautifully, rides with a composure and smoothness that’s absent from even the best German executives, handles tautly and has a great range of engines. It’s also vast inside, rivals VW’s Passat for quality, is clearly laid out and with its great refinement and comfort levels takes the sting out of everyday driving. Its sheer adaptability, and all-round excellence, have won it this award. The Ford Mondeo represents a new breed of family car.

Bron: Auto Express

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