Rest in peace: Ford axes iconic Mondeo

The Ford Mondeo has been a nameplate on the rocks for a few years now with the surge in SUV sales. Now, the blue oval has sadly confirmed that the Mondeo will be phased out — production finishing up in 2022.

Ford directly cites the success of its crossover and SUV platforms in Europe as reason for the Mondeo’s demise, specifically using the Kuga (sold as an Escape in New Zealand) as an example.

The move adds another chapter to Ford’s slow eradication of traditional car platforms. America’s Taurus was culled a few years ago, with local Focus and Fiesta sales following suit. This of course also came after an Australian production exodus claimed the life of the Falcon.

“As a result of this growing change in customer preference, Ford will phase out the Mondeo, its large car, at the end of March next year,” Ford’s official update said.

“Ford’s other large crossover and multi-purpose vehicles – the seven-seat Ford Galaxy and Ford S-MAX – will continue in production, with full hybrid versions of both recently launched.

“Launched in 1993, the Mondeo was the first Ford vehicle to be hailed as a ‘global’ car, intended to consolidate a number of Ford models around the world. Since its launch in Europe where it replaced the Ford Sierra, Mondeo sales have reached around five million to date.”

The Mondeo announcement was slipped into a larger release from Ford about the firm’s evolving electrification plans. In the case of the release, Ford confirmed it’s developing a new hybrid powertrain while also increasing battery pack production in Spain.

The Mondeo’s near three-decade tenure was probably best punctuated by its success during the Super Touring era. Andy Rouse’s early British Touring Car years with the Mondeo netted credible results — including dual World Touring Car Cup titles for Kiwi Paul Radisich.

With Prodrive partnering with Ford in the closing years of Super Touring, it was able to claim a last BTCC crown in 2000 with Alain Menu, the final year of Super Touring in the UK. Many of these cars, including Radisich’s World Cup winner, now reside in New Zealand.

During these halcyon years the Mondeo became a household name, particularly in Europe. This was complemented by stacks of awards the model won, including 1994 European Car of the Year, and Top Gear Car of the Year in 2001 and 2007.

It had been speculated that the Mondeo nameplate would live on as some form of jacked-up crossover, with most already tipping the badge’s sedan and wagon heritage to be on the chopping block. But, it looks like spy shots published by European press last year claiming to show a ‘Mondeo wagon’ instead show some other mystery future Ford.