My name is Brian. This is the News Desk.
Ford tests forbidden fruit on U.S. soil, sells it elsewhere.
The all-new 2023 Ford Mondeo, also once known as the Ford Fusion here in the U.S., has just been revealed for the Chinese market. Ford decided to banish all cars not named “Mustang” from its lineup here, with the departure of the Fusion serving the final blow last year.
As unfortunate as that decision was, it is even more triggering to see Ford develop cool cars like this on U.S. land. For the last year, they have been testing the Mondeo and its crossover sister, the Evos, on Michigan roads. Recent sightings of the all-new Everest, a body-on-frame SUV sold in Oceania, Asia and other regions, has people in a tizzy over whether it could be coming here to replace the Edge. While it is unlikely, the Everest does give us a good preview of the design elements we should see on the next Ranger, as they are related.
If you are a fan of that new Mondeo, there is a sliver of hope on the horizon. Ford has suggested the possibility of an ‘Active’ version of the Fusion debuting here in the U.S. in the future. Before the new Mondeo was revealed, a quasi-crossover version known as the Evos made its debut last year. It disguises its cargo-carrying abilities well with a low, raked roofline and a squat stance.
Both models share an impressive interior with a horizontal infotainment display that sweeps across the entire width of the dashboard. If that is what the Fusion Active could turn out to be, color me excited (but not too excited). Ford has made promises to bring certain models stateside in the past, only to back track completely. Remember the Focus Active?