New Kid On The Block?

[Bibsy]

Specs and prices for the new Ford Mondeo Hybrid announced. Looks to be just under £25k retail, lots of toys, apparently, some of which Toyota don't offer at all, Prius, Lexus or anything else, and to quote from one review:

The new Ford Mondeo will come with the option of two different petrol-electric powertrains: one a traditional hybrid and the other a plug-in hybrid. The latter is known as the Ford Mondeo Energi, while the other will be badged simply Mondeo Hybrid.

The plug-in Energi and Hybrid both share a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but the Energi boasts a larger Battery pack, and will be able to travel on electric power for around 20 miles. The standard Hybrid will only be able to manage a couple of miles, however.

Both systems will produce 185bhp, allowing for 0-62mph in around 8.5 seconds. Expect to see fuel economy of around 60mpg for the Hybrid and well over 100mpg for the Energi.

Toys listed here:

www.whatcar.com/car-news/all-new-2015-ford-mondeo-full-story/1313699

[cootuk]

I think the Prius is going to have some stiff competiton.

The Mitsubishi PHEV is getting a good following, the Mondeo should become a staple company car (green without the Prius do-gooder associations), and Tesla for the upmarket.

[Chris Dance]

I agree Toyota are going to have greater competition as other companies bring out hybrid models.

I wonder how long it will be for the Nissan Hybrid I viewed in USA last week to be on sale here. Click link below:

http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/altima-hybrid/

The Prius is very popular in the states and they have a wider choice of colours. Perhaps the new Toyota Gen 4 Prius will hold off the competition.!!!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I do hope Ford push their hybrid and plug in hybrid Mondeos more than they pushed their Focus EV. You'd never have guessed that they have had a Ford Focus EV for sale in the UK for a year now. In that time they've sold 12! 12! and that includes until June this year. They sold 7 last year and 5 this.

You'll be hard pushed to find the car on their website, though it is there if you look hard enough (it's not under 'Focus' in their new car section. You'll find the link in the small print at the bottom of their main page).

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/ford_focus_electric#!tax

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Focus-Electric/test-drive

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/focus/first-drives/ford-focus-electric-first-drive-review

So whilst the Mondeo hybrids sound good and whilst they're popular in the US, they're unlikely to be any threat to Toyota UK. Ford UK just don't want anything connected to hybrids or BEVs. Prove me wrong :)

[PeteB]

Frankly, after my one and only (ever) experience with Ford, I wouldn't buy a tricycle from them, never mind something that may need expert attention!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I've had two and the last one had 290,000 miles on the clock. It was a 2.0 petrol manual taxi and whilst a bit 'loose' it still ran ok, started first time without fail and returned low 40's to the gallon.

And it never let me down at the side of the road like the Prius has - 3 times! Hmmm.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The 'new' Mondeo isn't new at all - Ford have been selling the same car in the US, badged as the Fusion since the end of 2012 (including the 2.0 litre hybrid). For their own reasons, Ford have delayed and delayed the launch of the new model in Europe. The 2015 version will be built in Span.

[Nina]

I will wait for new Prius.

I read on this source that the fuel consumption will be around 57 mpg.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Nina, you've made the first biggest mistake of the internet. The US gallon is much smaller than the UK gallon. The US gallon is 3.7 litres and the UK one is 4.54. As such, 57 mpg on a US article is actually 68 mpg UK. That sounds much better.

And then you have to be aware of the differences between the US official mpg ratings and the European ones. The US version reflects real life more and the European version is more a 'best you'll ever get' rating. 68 mpg UK on the US test method will probably mean the UK Prius rating will be in the mid 80's mpg.

Clear as mud? :)

[Nina]

Thanks Grumpy Cabbie!!!

I completely forgot the difference between usa and uk gallon.

[RK123456]

As said earlier, it's a ford and I too have not had good experiences with my local dealer. Their attitude when I last dealt with them in 1990 was "Customer is a mug and we're doing him a favour."

I tested a prius plug in in February 2013 and hated it, partly due to being unused to driving an automatic. When my company car is due for renewal in March 2017, I will look at hybrids but I will take one or two lessons in an automatic so that I am better prepared for the test drive. I currently drive an Avensis tourer and need a big car because the equipment I need to carry around for work fills my avensis boot up to the load cover. No doubt, in 2 years time, there will be a lot more hybrids and lower emission (low company car tax liability) vehicles to choose from, there may even be an avensis sized hybrid estate. The new VW Golf TDE looks good on paper, due for launch next year, I wonder if they will do an estate version.

[valmiki]

...there may even be an avensis sized hybrid estate...

Passat plug-in hybrid, due 2015.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/passat-2015/

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/passat/88746/volkswagen-passat-gte-plug-in-hybrid-gets-141mpg

Toyota had better get their skates on!

[JSHarris]

I think the key point will be whether Ford invest in their dealer network or make the major error Vauxhall did in restricting Ampera sales and servicing to only a few dealers. I think that TGB invested a great deal in ensuring that as many dealers as possible were hybrid trained on the sales side and had hybrid servicing facilities at the time the Prius was launched here, or at least by the time the Gen 2 went on sale. My view is that made a big difference, as, together with Toyota's reputation for reliability and the long warranty it took a lot of the hassle and risk out of buying in to a new technology for many.

When my Gen 3 Prius was written off a few months ago I went to look at an Ampera. There were some good reasons I didn't go for it, mainly the awkward load area and the fact that it's strictly four seats only. The clincher was a comment from the dealer selling this 6 month old car, when I asked what the price of a new one would be. Despite being a big dealership he told me they weren't authorised to sell or service the Ampera, and could only sell second-hand stock. I went and double checked and he was right. The nearest Vauxhall dealer to me that could service the car was around 50 miles away!

As a Prius owner since 2005, I've never had a problem finding a Toyota service place; all of them seem able to deal with hybrids. It'll be interesting to see what Ford do.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Don't hold your breath Jeremy.

The Ford Focus EV can only be purchased from Dagenham Motors, Edgeware Road, London and Brunel Ford, Hayes Way, Bristol.

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Focus-Electric/test-drive

No wonder they've only sold 12 cars. I'm hardly likely to buy one if I have to drive 200 miles to get it serviced and guess the same would be true for anyone living in Scotland who'd have at least a 400 mile drive.

I fear the same will be true for their plug in versions too. They just seem to be treating these cars as compliance cars.

[johalareewi]

there may even be an avensis sized hybrid estate.

Prius+ ?

[Dutchguy]

@RK123456

There's an Auris touring sport (estate) with HSD similar size to VW Golf

[RK123456]

IT's a long time until March 2017 when my company car is due for renewal but, in answer to some suggestions gratefully received:

The Auris Touring Sport Estate, looks nice and swallows a load comparable to the Avensis Tourer I now drive, but emissions are 85 g/km?

The Prius+ again swallows a load, I'm not that keen on the looks of the Prius or Prius+ and the emissions of the Prius + are 96 g/km.

As a company car driver, a big motivator is financial, the amount a company car is taxed is 5% of the list price for the car if the emissions are sub 50 g/km, that makes a strong case for going for a plug in hybrid to get below the magic 50 g/km figure.

I have 2 years to wait before I start seriously looking and a lot can happen in 2 years.