Mondeo wins Car of the Year (+photos)

The Ford Mondeo is the NZ Herald's 2007 Car of the Year.

Ford came up with a whole new set of automotive buzz words to describe the design and technology that went into its new mid-range Mondeo, the overall New Zealand Herald 2007 Car of the Year.

The Mondeo's body panels are no longer "laser welded." Instead, they are "laser brazed". Brazing sounds more internet cafe, with clean work surfaces. Welding is all sparks and grubby overalls and rubbish on the floor.

The wheel arches on the Mondeo are no longer wheel arches either. They are called "lips." Calling them lips makes the car go better. Lips means "energy in motion," in Ford's dictionary of "kinetic design." It's a language all its own, set in corporate stone a few years ago.

The two grooves in the Mondeo's bonnet also fall under the kinetic spell. They create a "power bulge, hinting at the dynamic qualities of the car," says Ford.

But the grooves are purely aesthetic, there to soften the look of a bonnet that sits higher to meet European pedestrian safety legislation.

Carmakers have been forced by upcoming laws to design more space between the bonnet and the top of the engine to help cushion the impact of an unfortunate pedestrian.

Some carmakers are sitting the engine lower and retaining a swoopier bonnet. Others, like Ford with the Mondeo, are hiking up the bonnet line.

Ford likes its explanation best. Mondeo's "distinctive and dynamic kinetic design styling language expresses energy in motion, creates a sleek and dynamic profile and delivers a design presence that signals power and grace".

But the car itself doesn't need the flowery language. It's a straight-shooter. What you see is what you get. If it could talk it would call a shovel a shovel. The Ford kinetic language dictionary might call a shovel an "implement used for manual labour, crafted using an ancient but simple design process".

Mondeo isn't as confused. It is a refined, roomy, comfortable, and economical mid-range front-driver with one of the best chassis in the business. Build quality is sharp, too. It's bigger inside and out than the outgoing model and gets a wider track, revised suspension and improved rack and pinion steering.

The extra bulk hasn't dampened the excellent dynamics either. Indeed, the new look and higher bonnet line move the car upmarket.

"The team at Ford New Zealand are thrilled to receive the NZ Herald Car of the Year award for the new Mondeo" said managing director Richard Matheson.

"We look forward to letting the design and engineering teams back in Europe know that the third-generation Mondeo is following in the footsteps of its predecessor with a cluster of NZ awards beginning to build. We knew that with the new Mondeo we had a very strong product proposition for the medium car customer in New Zealand and with the diesel and sporty XR5 derivatives due to be added to the range in 2008, we predict the appeal of Mondeo will grow significantly."