All-New Ford Mondeo Awarded Five Star Crash Test Safety Rating By Euro NCAP

The independent automotive crash test organization, Euro NCAP, has rated the new Ford Mondeo a maximum five stars for its performance during a crash.

The body structure of the all-new Mondeo is comprised of 61 percent high strength steel. It makes use of an industry-first application of hydro-formed high strength steel to produce the forward window pillars and the roof rails, reducing side impact intrusion by up to a rather impressive 64 mm (2.51 inches).

Other structural elements build on that solid foundation, including a unique anti-roll bar and rocker panels made of martensitic boron still. The anti-roll bar was uniquely designed to limit transmission travel in a frontal impact, thereby minimizing steering rack movement, while the martensitic boron steel sill rocker panels provide improved side impact protection.

“This is the most technologically advanced Ford vehicle ever introduced in Europe. Through features like Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, and Inflatable Rear Seatbelt, we’ve delivered safety features that provide exceptional protection for drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike,” said Ulrich Koesters, vehicle line director, Ford of Europe.

In addition, the new Mondeo offers several noteworthy safety technologies, including:

• Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection: the Mondeo is the first Ford vehicle ever to offer the technology, which is designed to detect people in the road ahead, or that could cross the vehicle’s path, and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings.
• Inflatable Rear Seatbelt: during the event of an accident, the seatbelt can expand to disperse crash forces across a body area five times greater than that achieved by a conventional seatbelt. The technology is a segment-first for the Mondeo.
• Dynamic LED headlights: offer the daylight-mimicking light clarity of full-LED headlamps combined with Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System.
• Ford MyKey: enables owners to program a key — usually for younger drivers — that can inhibit incoming phone calls, and restrict the top speed of the vehicle.
• Active City Stop: designed to help drivers avoid low speed collisions.
• SYNC 2 with Emergency Assistance: a voice-activated technology that enables drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel, and can directly connect vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident.

“Euro NCAP’s five-star standard is getting higher and higher and cars now have to combine outstanding occupant crash protection with sophisticated driver assistance systems in order to make the grade. The Mondeo delivers on both counts and is amongst the first to offer pedestrian detection technology,” said Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP general secretary. “We encourage car buyers to take full advantage of the safety on offer and to prioritise safety options over others that are offered.”

Currently launching across Europe, the all-new Mondeo is available as a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and five-door wagon. The four-door Mondeo Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle to be built and sold by Ford in Europe. The Mondeo is sold under the Fusion nameplate in North America, albeit with differences in specific equipment and features. The Mondeo-Fusion is built on Ford’s global CD4 vehicle architecture.