Ford Mondeo & S-Max arrive with EcoBoost power
European engine development is increasingly favouring the adoption of direct injection and turbocharging. Driven by the need to meet stringent emission regulations, the partnership of direct injection and turbocharging has allowed continental car makers to lower overall emissions while maintaining strong performance levels demanded by the consumer.
Ford’s answer to this trend is their newly introduced family of EcoBoost engines, which currently consists of three members – 1.6-litre four-cylinder, 2.0-litre four-cylinder, and 3.5-litre V6 – in varying states of tune. The 2.0-litre version of the engine, with 200hp on tap, arrived in Malaysian shores last year, powering the now-discontinued Volvo XC60 2.0T.
In August, the engine will be hitting Malaysian roads wearing a Ford badge for the first time, powering a refreshed version of the Ford Mondeo, and the all-new S-Max. Finalized prices have yet to be announced, as Government approval is still pending, but local distributors, Sime Darby Auto Connexion is confident of getting the Mondeo good to go for RM180,000 – RM185,000 on-the-road with insurance. Meanwhile, the S-Max’s price under the same terms is aimed at RM185,000 – RM188,000.
Both the Mondeo and S-Max are based on Ford’s EUCD platform, which is also shared with a number of Volvo and Land Rover models. While the S-Max is new to our shores, the Mondeo has been around us since November 2009. Despite boasting what we feel is class-leading dynamics, the Mondeo has not set sales charts alight, with buyers continuing to pursue the safe and secure choices.
Driving dynamics alone are clearly not enough to win over buyers, and this time round, Ford has specified both the Mondeo and S-Max with a higher level of kit to attract customers with better value for money. From the outgoing Mondeo 2.3, the new Mondeo EcoBoost is kitted in Titanium spec, which brings features such as B-pillar mounted rear blowers, keyless ignition, Ford Convers+, Bluetooth, Voice Command, Alcantara leather trim, ESP, TCS, Hill Launch Assist, and seven airbags amongst items in a lengthy list of toys. The S-Max features a similarly high level of equipment.
Under their respective hoods, the Mondeo and S-Max have access to 200hp @ 6,000rpm and 300Nm @ 1,750 – 4,500rpm sent to the front wheels via the Getrag-developed 6-speed PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. The all-aluminium EcoBoost motor was developed by Ford as a global engine, and has been put through durability tests with various low quality fuels (low octane and/or high sulphur) before being signed off.
Present at the Mondeo & S-Max launch today was Ford Europe’s Chief Engineer of Engine Programmes, Mr David Filipe, who oversees all of Ford Europe’s engine developments, in particular the EcoBoost powertrains. Filipe’s presence at the launch is a strong show of support from Ford on the Malaysian market, and he promised that we will be seeing various members of the EcoBoost engine family entering our market in years to come.
The 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine is also available in a higher 237hp state of tune. Ford does not offer this engine here, though Malaysian buyers do have access to it via the Volvo S60 T5 and XC60 T5. There is also a smaller 1.6-litre version of the EcoBoost engine, and Filipe’s team is on the verge of signing off a new 1.0-litre 3-cylinder addition to the family.
Both the Mondeo and S-Max will be available in five colours, four of them common to both – Parkside, Midnight Sky, Moondust Silver, and Panther Black. The option for white colour differs slightly between both models – Ice White for the Mondeo and Frozen White for the S-Max. For aftersales, both vehicles are offered with a 3-year warranty and 3-year / 60,000km free service maintenance package.
