The Ford family sedan with the same technology as a $400,000 Mercedes limousine

THIS is the car that is set to make the Falcon obsolete. Its extensive tech offerings include rear seatbelt airbags as standard on every model, an Australian first.

2013 Ford Fusion: Sleek design will differentiate Fusion from other sedans in the midsize segment, with class-leading fuel economy in gasoline (37 mpg on the highway with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine), hybrid (at least 47 mpg in the city) and an all-new plug-in hybrid (with more than 100 MPGe). (01/09/12)

THE car that will replace the iconic Ford Falcon goes on sale across Australia today.

The European Ford Mondeo will sell alongside the Broadmeadows-built Falcon until the last one rolls off the production line in October next year, and then fill the void once it’s gone.

Next big thing ... the new Mondeo will be priced between $36,000 and $50,000 drive-away.

Ford fans will be saddened by the passing of the former family and fleet favourite, but the car that replaces it is armed with so much technology it has, in effect, made the Falcon extinct.

The new Mondeo, priced between $36,000 and $50,000 drive-away, is the first car sold in Australia to have rear seatbelt airbags standard on every model.

Breaking ground ... the new Mondeo will be the first car sold in Australia with rear seatbelt airbags standard on every model.

The only other cars with inflatable seatbelts are a pair of $400,000-plus Mercedes-Benz S-Class V12 limousines and the $750,000 Lexus LF-A supercar.

Nice perk if you can get it ... the $400,000-plus Mercedes-Benz S-Class V12 limousine.

Airbag seatbelts are a $2700 option on the $200,000-plus versions of the mega Mercedes.

New offer ... Ford says the technology-packed Mondeo is “our way of saying ‘we’re not the Ford you think we are’.”

Created from Ford’s global development budget, the new Mondeo has every piece of technology the company has available, including radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking, the ability to detect and brake for pedestrians, and a system that keeps the car from wandering outside its lane.

“The Mondeo is a technology showcase for Ford … it’s our way of saying ‘we’re not the Ford you think we are’,” said Ford Australia marketing manager David Katic.

Tons of features ... the new Mondeo has every piece of technology the company has available, including radar cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

But the Mondeo arrives as the sedan market continues to dive.

Last year, sales of medium-sized family sedans dropped by 15 per cent.

With the new model, Ford wants to take on the Toyota Camry which has been Australia’s top-selling car in its class for 21 years.

Market manoeuvre ... Ford wants to take on the Toyota Camry with its new Mondeo.

Ford has some catching up to do. It has sold fewer than 50,000 Mondeos, compared to Toyota’s tally of more than 850,000 Camrys.

Timing is everything ... as safe as the Mondeo is, it arrives as the sedan market continues to dive.

“The (medium-sized car) segment isn’t booming but it’s a good opportunity for us,” said Mr Katic. “The Camry chases fleet buyers, the Mondeo is designed to appeal to private buyers.”

What the Mondeo has and the Falcon lacks:

* Radar cruise control: a sensor in the bumper scans the road ahead and maintains a gap with the car in front.

* Automatic emergency braking: tiny cameras at the top of the windscreen and a radar in the bumper scan for pedestrians crossing the road, or cars that stop suddenly. Up to 40km/h it automatically slams the brakes and brings the car to a complete stop if the driver is distracted.

* Lane wander warning: tiny cameras in the windscreen spot the lane markings. If you wander without indicating the car will gently correct the steering and warn the driver.

* Automatic parking: sensors front and rear measure the size of a car space and guide the car into position — in parallel or perpendicular parking spots. The driver only needs to apply the brake and accelerator, the car steers itself.

* Forward collision alert: before it slams the brakes it will flash a warning light onto the windscreen if you’re too close to the car ahead.

* Rear seatbelt airbags: the outer seating positions have airbags in the belts and will inflate to five times the width of a regular seatbelt.

Safety first ... belts on the outer seating positions will inflate to five times the width of a regular seatbelt.

* Driver’s knee airbag: extra protection under the steering wheel, brings the total airbag count to nine.

* A bigger boot: it might be slightly shorter and narrower than a Falcon but the new Mondeo has a bigger boot.

* LED headlights: crystal clear lights use less energy and shine a brighter beam, and illuminate corners when the steering wheel is turned.

* Panoramic sunroof: the glass extends over front and rear passengers, not just the front row seats.

* Blindspot warning: sensors in the rear bumper alert the driver when someone is slightly behind them in the adjacent lane.

* Driver fatigue monitor: uses the cameras watching the lane markings, the steering input of the driver, and the on-board trip computer to detect if you’re drowsy.

* Electric park brake: apply the park brake with the press of a button rather than the pull of a lever.

Packed with kit ... the Mondeo has the ability to detect and brake for pedestrians, and a system that keeps the car from wandering outside its lane.

What the Falcon has and the Mondeo lacks:

* The four-cylinder Falcon (consuming an average 8.0L/100km) is more fuel-efficient than the four-cylinder Mondeo (8.2-8.5L/100km) even though they use the same engine and the Mondeo is about 100kg lighter.

* The Ford Falcon can tow up to 2300kg, while the Ford Mondeo can tow between 1200kg (petrol) and 1600kg (diesel).

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

Originally published as The Ford family sedan with the same technology as a $400,000 Mercedes limousine