Ford Motor Company will unveil its updated Mondeo at this years Moscow Auto Salon on August 25th

Why we care

So Ford plans on officially introducing the mildly refreshed Mondeo at the Moscow Auto Salon later on this month. Big deal. Since there’s probably a snowball’s chance in you-know-where that we’ll ever see it stateside, what’s the big deal?

At this point in time, it really isn’t a big deal. But in a few years, it will be. Here’s why: Ford’s “One Ford” plan calls for the company to share in the engineering and development costs with all its units – both North American as well as overseas. Design and engineering in North America will be responsible for full-size trucks and sport utility vehicles, while Europe will be responsible for small and mid-size vehicles.

The first European model to come to our shores is already here – the 2011 Ford Fiesta. This will be followed next year by the 2012 Ford Focus. So where does the Mondeo fit in?

New Lincoln

The Ford Fiesta is a B-segment vehicle, while the Ford Focus is a C-segment car. The next logical step, it would seem, is for Ford to bring over a model from the European D-segment which happens to be, voilà, either the actual Mondeo or one based upon the same platform.

According to some rumors floating around, it seems that that’s exactly what Ford plans on doing – except that the next-gen Mondeo will actually be arriving here as a Lincoln – a marque desperately in need of an infusion of new product.

2011 Ford Mondeo

For 2011, Ford of Europe has tweaked the fourth generation Mondeo with some key exterior changes. Up front, the lower trapezoidal air intake has been enlarged and the upper grill has been slimmed down. The new front bumper now includes LED daytime running lights and the hood has been re-shaped.

In back, the deck lid has been re-shaped and the taillights also now employ LED technology. Side marker lights have been slimmed down and the lower valance now emphasizes the exhaust pipes.

Under the hood, a new high performance version of Ford’s 200 horsepower 4-cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged gas engine produces 237 horsepower while maintaining equivalent CO2 emissions.

Complimenting these two engines is a revised 2.2-liter Ford Duratorq TDCi engine, boasting a 12 percent power increase to 197 horsepower, as well as a 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel that is available in 113, 138, and 161 horsepower variants.

Putting this power to the ground is the latest six-speed Ford double wet-clutch transmission that is standard on all EcoBoost gas engines and available as an option for the 138 and 161 horsepower 2.0-liter diesel engines.

What we think

Note to Ford: the Mondeo is one of the company's best looking sedans ever and Lincoln needs something like this ASAP.