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So we have designed our world car, now to build it…
Well not quite ! A further four designs were sculpted, five if you count the marriage of two of them, six if you throw in a Californian wildcard !
Between July 1987 and June 1988 the input from the design conference and data from previous market research clinics fermented into three proposals from Merkenich (Cologne) and a solitary Dunton design. Each first cut from clay bucks, then moulded in glass-fibre on rolling chassis, for presentation.
4A had been constructed to maximise interior space, with a large glazed area and well balanced proportions allied to a Taurus-esq nose cone. However considered bland yet family appealing car.
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4B’s roots laid in the original Cologne proposal, but with a sweeping belt line level with the rear window via a sixth glass light. It had a thinner rear tail light treatment giving a higher sweeping rear, when viewed from that angle.
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The 4C design was praised for its fresh dynamic look and expressive bonnet line, however concerns were raised it was “too” sporty and its panelling may be complex to manufacture. Note the Honda esq nose, the BMW hoffmeister kink and the tail which seems to have cropped up wholesale on the 3rd generation Golf cabriolet
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Dunton produced the fourth variation - 4D. Highly thought of featuring good interior space, helped by the six glass light design. Seemingly influenced again by American fashions, it featured a similar nose treatment to what would appear on the Mustang’s and Thunderbirds of the late 1980’s.
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The Californian 4F prototype was unusual when presented in that there was a homage to the Renault 5 - the wheelbase was longer on one side than the other ! With a small frontal overhang, and a short and even shorter rear overhang dependant on which side was viewed. Overall it is very recognisable as a enlarged 1990 Escort from the front quarter view, notably its lighting and swage line level with the door handles. Ultimately it was deemed just too radical.
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Estate with standard saloon doors proposal.
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The second generation of these prototypes began with the 4G, which if given a quick cursory glance shouts Mondeo, even though when examined more closely really doesn’t quite have much in common ! It seems visually a smaller classed car too when viewed from the rear.
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4E and 5E (due to their respective doors) appeared early in 1989 the design nearly finalised, and other than the handsome swage lines down each flank were close to the Mondeo’s final form. One wonders whether the launch of Alfa-Romeo’s 164 scuppered this fine detail as the resemblance is quick striking, though strangely the 1990 Escort/Orion to 164 comparison falls flat.
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Note the differing rear treatments both featuring a “Sixth” light ultimately not present on the production model.
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Come march 1989 and the final (well nearly…) signed off model. The 4H was a development of the 4E but with a 50mm/2” increase in wheelbase (at the expense of the front and rear overhangs). The grill and lights would be tweaked however, as would the flanks becoming more organic. Manfred Lampe later declared there wasn’t a Japanese influence, more a coincidence resulting in the softer styled appearance. Ultimately (bar the diesel models) the grill became a stylised oval with a thin bar bearing the ford oval. By May 1990 we had the Mondeo as we recognise it today. An estate model was created too, ultimately bearing bespoke rear door frames to carry off its considerable bulk handsomely.
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Final production model 5H, note the softer curved sides between the above.
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Estate with standard saloon doors proposal.
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