New Ford Mondeo

The new Ford Mondeo has been revealed in the shape of the American Ford Fusion and it will offer petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

Ford claims that each will deliver top fuel economy and an engaging driving experience.

Revealed in North America as the Ford Fusion, this all-new car signals the next-generation Ford Mondeo for world markets. While it goes on sale in North America this year, the new Mondeo version is due in Europe in the first quarter of 2013.

The new Fusion is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy across petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid sub-segments, delivering on Ford's commitment to be the fuel-efficiency leader – or among the leaders – with each new model brought to market.

The Fusion brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the mid-size car segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost^™ four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.

The 1.6-litre EcoBoost is expected to deliver best-in-class four-cylinder non-hybrid fuel efficiency of 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway (according to US standards).

The 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine – paired with a paddle-shifted six-speed SelectShift Automatic^™ transmission, available with 19-inch wheels and tyres and all-wheel drive with the ability to send additional torque to the rear – is the Fusion performance option.

The Fusion Hybrid – 2010 North American Car of the Year – has all-new lithium-ion batteries that save weight and generate more power than previous nickel-metal hydride batteries, while raising maximum speed under electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph.

The Fusion Hybrid also features an all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, significantly downsized from the previous 2.5-litre unit while maintaining performance standards. This powertrain is anticipated to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 47 mpg in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway (again, according to US standards).

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid aims to be the most fuel-efficient mid-size car in the world. Arriving in the US in Autumn 2012, the Fusion Energi is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles. This is 8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.

The next-generation Fusion 1.6-litre is the first automatic-transmission Ford product offered with an automatic start-stop system. It shuts off engine power when the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts as the driver releases the brake pedal, helping the Fusion to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 3.5 percent.

The all-new Fusion also offers a wide range of driver assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable the car to see and respond.

The car can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help park, even aiding drivers backing out of parking space where visibility is obstructed.

Read our review of the new Ford Focus