01/08/2008 @ 16:19:38: ecclefechan: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
I notice the model origin of this is listed as USA. However, I think it should be "Model origin: Germany, Made for: USA". The Contour is just a European Ford Mondeo tweaked and subtly restlyed for the US market.
01/08/2008 @ 16:23:58: antp: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Wasn't it conceived by both Ford US and Ford EU? i.e. a collaborative work, more than for the Focus.
01/08/2008 @ 17:46:30: ecclefechan: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Hmmm, according to Wikipedia "The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing was shared between Ford USA in Dearborn, and Ford of Europe.[3] Its codename while under development reflected thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C & D size classes and was a "World Car""
However, I believe that the design was conceived largely by Ford of Europe and nearly all of the components are European, with just a restyled front and rear. The difference in styling became even less significant after the 1998 model of the Contour.
01/08/2008 @ 20:19:55: taxiguy: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Where was it built? (the US models) That's what I have to ask.
01/08/2008 @ 20:27:20: antp: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
In North-America I guess.
The Mondeo was (and is still) built in Belgium.
01/08/2008 @ 20:32:06: taxiguy: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Well, I think it's safe enough to say "made for US". After all, they did have completely different engines, did they not? Although I suppose all European-American sister cars have different engines, usually the American ones are bigger and more powerful, and the European ones are smaller and get better mileage. That goes for the Focus too.
01/08/2008 @ 21:19:45: ecclefechan: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
The Contour had both 2.0 Zetec I4
and 2.5 Duratec V6 engines, both developed by Ford of Europe and available on the European Mondeo, albeit on the higher spec models which aren't the most common.
The main difference is the restyled front and rear of the 95-98 Contour and just the rear of the 98-2000 Contour.
21/12/2014 @ 16:28:30: ecclefechan: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Sorry to dig up an old post but I still think this should be changed. I don't think Ford of USA had much influence on the designs of these cars as they were primarily designed for the European market and either way, it would make sense for Mondeo and Contour to have the same model origin.
24/12/2014 @ 11:42:45: antp: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
In the next version of the site we'll be able to put two country as origin, maybe it is better to wait for that and then put US+DE as origin?
25/12/2014 @ 06:29:28: ecclefechan: Model origin of Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique
Yes that is a good idea, thanks.