In March 1993, the Ford Motor Company introduced the Ford Mondeo, a middle-range family car for the global market. Already by 1994, the car was wildly popular and held a leading market position in Europe, receiving numerous awards including European Car of the Year 1994, a fact duly noted in the very first issue of Evolution.

As Evolution celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the Ford Mondeo is still celebrated for its popularity. The car was re-introduced in 2000 with a wide array of new features and each succeeding year has included improvements while still sticking to the original successful concept. According to Chris Bird, director of design for Ford of Europe, “It celebrates what came before it and builds on the strengths it inherited.”

For example, the 2004 model has more than 1,500 new parts, including climate-controlled front seats, heated rear seats, a choice between two navigation systems, power-folding mirrors and rain-sensing wipers, a direct-injection petrol engine and a comprehensive range of powertrain options, among other features.

One of the interesting factors in the launch of the Ford Mondeo was the concept of “simultaneous engineering,” meaning that the car was developed under an integrated cooperation among Ford experts in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany working in concert with suppliers. “Continuous improvement is the basis for the cooperation between Ford and its suppliers,” said Birgit Paschen in 1994 in Evolution. Paschen was then lead buyer and global coordinating buyer for Mondeo Bearings at Ford-Werke AG.

This kind of cooperation to make continuous improvements to the Ford Mondeo is still important, and Ford has worked closely with its suppliers on continuously improving the family car, which has been warmly received by customers and over the years has become a best seller.

The Mondeo also has continued to win prizes, including Car of the Year awards from countless magazines, including Auto Express Magazine, What Car, The Sun, Wheels Asia and the TV programme “Top Gear.”