Ford Mondeo set to overtake Mercedes

Mumbai: Come December 2001, the car that has been zipping across Europes Autobahn, competing with the likes of BMW X5, Mercedes C Class, Alfa Romeo 147, and the Audi A4, will be seen on the Indian roads.

The 2000cc Ford Mondeo, the best-selling car in Europe, will be imported to India straight from the Fords plant in Genk, Germany. With 11 car of the year titles awarded to it in Europe, Mondeo is for top-business executives, industrialists and professionals who are accustomed to a five star lifestyle.

Customers will love it. Experts will praise it. Industry will respect it, said Ford India managing director David Friedman about the Ford Mondeo car, which was displayed before media persons here on 1 November. The trail-blazing international records set by the Ford Mondeo will continue in India. We are also confident that this breakthrough car will occupy a place of pride in the Indian automobile industry.

The Ford Mondeo will be launched in India with petrol- and diesel-power trains, in three colours - Panther Black, Stardust Silver and Oyster. The car will be available to customers from mid-December from Ford dealer outlets in 13 cities across the country: Delhi, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.

The Ford Mondeo is undoubtedly the next big success story from Ford India after the Ford Ikon. We are happy to bring one of our most successful products to India and are confident that the new Ford Mondeos outstanding combination of new-edge design, class-leading safety and driving dynamics will make it a best seller in the country, said Ford India vice-president (marketing, sales and service) Randy Shockley.

The Ford Mondeo has won rave reviews from international auto experts and critics with BBC Top Gear, Autocar and Automonitor from the UK awarding a five-star rating to the Ford Mondeo, placing it ahead of competitors like the BMW X5, Merc C Class, Alfa Romeo 147, and the Audi A4.