Leaked documents indicate the launch of new Ford Mondeo next year

Ford is gearing up to launch a new Mondeo in the second half of 2021, as per the leaked parts tooling catalog obtained by Autocar. The document made its first appearance at Ford Europe's official site and hinted towards a vehicle described as "2022 model year Mondeo CD542."

Earlier this year, a facelifted Mondeo made its debut at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. The car sported some design changes including a reshaped radiator grille, LED lights and a new C-shaped profile intersected by a full-width chrome bar. The facelift marked the introduction of the first-ever hybrid wagon from the company.   

Previously, the specific model code, 'CD542' was assigned for the successor of Ford Fusion in North America before the company decided to cancel its development. A detailed look into the tooling catalog represents a unique tool designed to omit the rear leaf spring from the Mondeo CD542.

The leaf spring in a car provides support to the vehicle and ensures a smoother ride by absorbing shocks over all forms of terrains. Interestingly, Ford does not use leaf springs in its European models, and the current generation of Mondeo uses a typical coil spring setup.

The specially designed tool strongly hints towards a chassis design, featuring a transverse leaf spring rear axle similar to models as the Volvo XC90. Such a chassis design also indicates a potential space-saving new hybrid alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the upcoming model. 

A similar setup was noticed in the recent offering from Ford, the Kuga PHEV SUV which is powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle petrol engine and a 10.3 kWh battery pack along with an electric motor. The total output generated by the setup stands at 225 hp and a pure electric range of 34 miles.

The upcoming Mondeo is expected to adopt crossover styling cues. Sources suggest that the 2022 CD542 will continue featuring its hatchback and estate body styles. However, recent spy shots of a development mule, which represented some similarities with the Mondeo, resembled the stance of an SUV.

Lastly, It is believed that the "2022 model year Mondeo CD542" will be based on the C2 modular platform, underpinning the new Focus with European specifications. 

Also read: Ford plans to introduce its best-selling MPVs with a new powertrain