The article was originally produced on May 18, 2016, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Ford Mondeo Hybrid Vignale

Environment and luxury meet in a colorful mix that should attract premium customers. 

The new design language at Ford has really hit the spot. Some would like to remind that, above all, the front, and then the grill, resembles the ancient British car brand Aston Martin. That may be the case, but what does it do when Aston Martin has produced some of the most beautiful car models in the world. In addition, Aston Martin was owned by Ford from 1990 - 2007. So it's not surprising that they "borrowed" some design elements. The Mondeo is now in its sixth generation and was launched in 1993 when it replaced the Sierra model. The model is a cornerstone in the Ford model range and competes with cars such as the Volvo V70 and Volkswagen Passat, among others. In 2009 Mondeo had a market share of 5 % in the segment but due to a sluggish economy this figure dropped to 1% in 2014. The current Mondeo model was introduced back in 2012 under the name Fusion but did not start rolling out on the roads until last year, also due to the recession and then especially in southern Europe where the factory in Belgium had to close, the same factory that was to build the new Mondeo. The model is now being built in Valencia, Spain, and production is in full swing. 

The drivetrain that sits in this particular car is a hybrid version. Something that is hard to miss because there is a Hybrid emblem all around the car. However, it is not a plug-in hybrid, but the battery is charged by the car while driving through recovered power from brakes and a generator. Similar technology used by Toyota, among others. On the infotainment screen, you can follow the hybrid operation and see how the power flow moves in the car. What really stands out about the hybrid drive is that when you start from a standstill, the car glides away smoothly and completely noiselessly. Incredibly comfortable to say the least. Once the engine comes to life, power is transferred via a so-called CVT automatic transmission. Simply explained, it is a stepless gearbox. During strong acceleration, the engine noise is loud and monotonous. But when the selected speed is reached, the engine is almost completely silent and the cabin is filled with silence. This is partly due to having an Active Noise Cancellation system. The system has built-in microphones that pick up noises and then invert them and send them back out through the speakers in the car. The result is that disturbing noise is almost completely eliminated. 

In the Vignale version of the Mondeo, literally nothing is missing in terms of equipment. But it's not just about equipment when you buy a Vignale, you also place great emphasis on service. Like, for example, that it includes free washing and vacuuming of your Mondeo Vignale throughout its lifetime. With the new Mondeo Vignale Hybrid, Ford shows that it is definitely in the game again and also in the premium segment.

Presumably Ford's founder, Henry Ford, would have been pleased with this new model as he was a highly innovative engineer and business leader.