Test drive Ford Mondeo sedan since 2007 sedan

Russian mondeo. The first test

On July 9, 2002, a sign of a milestone in the history of the Russian automotive industry. It was then that, 24 kilometers from St. Petersburg in the city of Vsevozsk, the first car factory belonging to a foreign company in Russia opened. This, of course, is Ford. At first, 400 people worked there, who produced the first -generation Focus in one shift, then Focus II replaced it, the staff grew to 2826 employees, and now there was an occasion to visit the Northern capital again.
A reason is the beginning of production in St. Petersburg Mondeo. Moreover, the birth was entrusted with the new head of the plant, Canadian Gray Greenway, who was appointed to this post on December 2. As Grinwei himself said, he had long suggested for this position, although, of course, he did not expect that he would have to work in such a difficult economic situation. And he already has something to be proud of.
In a short time, the plant increased significantly not only added a new workshop for welding Mondeo bodies, but also a modernized assembly workshop. Great difficulties caused the issue of logistics, because the nomenclature of parts has grown greatly, which not only entailed the creation of new warehouses, but also demanded to solve the problem of operational delivery to the conveyor.
The factory workers changed and the paint shop added new robots for painting and lengthened the quality control area. By the way, the capacity of the enterprise for almost seven years increased three times in 2008, it amounted to 65 thousand cars, and in total 295 thousand forms were already produced here. Investments at the same time increased from $ 150 million to $ 350 million.
It is a pity that this year it is unlikely that the forecast of 125 thousand would come true due to the crisis, and since June, the plant will completely switch to a reduced working week to avoid overstocking. But the dismissal is not planned to be aware of the value of its employees, whose training has been spent considerable money.
However, back to Mondeo. It is curious that only 32 days have passed since the production of the first machines according to pre -production technology to full production. But there were still some difficulties. The main problem of the Mondeo roof is welded using a completely different technology than that of the focus. The factory workers had to master the laser soldering method. At the same time, another equipment was installed in Vsevolozhsk than at the factory in the Belgian Genka, where Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max are produced.
So far, 280 Mondeo bodies are welded per day, which is about one and a half times smaller than Focus volumes. By the way, this is the only factory where Focus is made in four versions of the sedan, both hatchback and station wagon. But for Mondeo, only a sedan is provided. The reasons are dictated by demand. But the gamut of flowers is identical to the focus 10 basic and two accessible orders (for example, yellow for a taxi).
As for modifications, Vsevolozhsk has established the production of all Mondeo performances except Sport. The engines are also available almost everything. These are gasoline with a volume of 1.6, 2.3 and 2.5 liters with turbocharged and two -liter diesel. Automatic boxes are available for a diesel engine and a 2.3-liter four.
Interestingly, the welding and paint workshops are fully automated, but manual labor is very widely used in the assembly workshop. And so that we are personally convinced that the workers of the plant have hands in its place, we were offered to ride on the Mondeo collected here. Naturally, we did not refuse!
The main part of the route I drove behind the wheel of diesel Mondeo. The choice was not random Ford decided not to refuse the production of this version in Russia. The reason for the growing demand for the eaters of diesel fuel. So, what will please Mondeo Titanium X, equipped with a two-liter 140-horsepower turbodiesel?
First of all, great traction! 320 Nm of the torque easily cope with the 1600-kilogram carcass 4.84 meters long. And the six -band machine gun came to the court with such a margin of the moment, you can completely do not only without manual, but also without the sports regime of the box.
In its dynamic characteristics, a diesel car is very similar to a Mondeo with a 2.3 liter gasoline engine - 10.2 C to 100 km/h against 10.5 s. But in fact, the chadyk surpasses her fellow in accelerations from medium speeds and is generally perceived by much more Shustro version. You can only complain about the tasteless sound of the engine, and the tractor song is clearly audible on the outside on the outside.
In favor of the diesel, not only good traction speaks, but also efficiency of the average consumption did not exceed 8.5 liters per 100 km. As for the testing of the qualities inherent in any Mondeo, the organizers were not in vain slipped to us the roads in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. First of all, to experience the happened to the smoothness.
And then Mondeo did not disappoint. Despite the 17-inch wheels with the 45th profile of the tires, it does not shake the internal organs from the riders even on the washing board. And if you increase the speed, then there will be no discomfort at all. More than the stroke less pits! At the same time, no screaming even 120 km/h. In order and noise insulation, the interior details do not rumble, the suspension also does not thump.
I was pleased with Mondeo and handling. But this is already a family trait. He confidently goes in high-speed arcs, stands tightly on a straight line and is not too hard to roll in steep turns. Well -tuned and steering the driver is always aware of what is happening with the front wheels.
Surprisingly, on the go, Mondeo is by no means perceived by the awkward even with its considerable dimensions and mass and easily follows the wheel. But when attacking steep turns, the tires immediately recall this - the Goodyear Excellence tires give up too early and begin to scresh godlessly. How can I not recall the optional 18-inch wheels with Continental SportContact 2 rubber
As for the salon, the uninitiated in the first place can surprise the scope. Places that are in front, that the back was stammered. But if you look into technical data, you can find out that the Mondeo wheelbase is 7 millimeters exceeds the distance between the axes of the Audi A6! A huge trunk, albeit with an uncomfortable narrow opening, complements the picture.
On the final segment, I got Mondeo with a 2.5-liter 220-horsepower turbo engine and 6-speed mechanics. At first, anger in his character does not feel the gearbox is strongly stretched, which slightly dulls the sensations, and the long -term clutch beats the hunt quickly switching. But after 100 km/h, Mondeo wakes up, and the speedometer hand easily goes back to indecent marks. Fortunately, the relatively new part of the St. Petersburg room has very good coating and favorable conditions for such exercises.
However, the most interesting chip in this Mondeo was not a motor. And the unused interior of the GHIA version, where the inserts under the tree finally found a normal, not Korean shade. The main thing is MonroROE electronic controlled shock absorbers, which have three operating modes Comfort, Normal and Sport.
On the highway is preferable, of course, Sport. The shock absorbers become significantly tougher, and the rolls decrease. But it is worth getting to the Little and Malian Layers of the guard! The spine asks for mercy, and inside it was turned on the vibration light. No, better in Normal.
Paradoxically, I liked the most comfortable algorithm most of all. The smoothness of the move is much better. But in the turns, Mondeo does not pass by at all, delighting with familiar quick reactions and amazing lightness at the entrance to the turn.
And now the most important thing. Naturally, in such a short time the shortcomings of the Russian assembly could not be found. But it is not at all the fact that they will emerge during long -term operation. In the end, the plant has long been producing tricks, which in quality are in no way inferior to European. And the Russian mondeo sedans have a trump card. This, of course, is the price. How do you save in 76,500 rubles. Compared to the Belgian hechtbek and 91,500 rubles. The difference with the station wagon?
 

 
 
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru