The all-new 2023 Ford Mondeo was revealed recently after months of spy photos, rumors, and speculation, ushering in a new era of design for the Chinese market. One of those unique design features, as it turns out, is a pair of fake exhaust outlets present in the lower portion of the rear bumper. This design quirk is nothing new in the automotive world, but it is unique in terms of Blue Oval vehicles, as the 2023 Ford Mondeo might be the first FoMoCo product to sport these non-functional body components.
Meanwhile, General Motors has been incorporating fake rear exhaust outlets into a couple of its models for some time now. That includes, most recently, the 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Envision, both of which feature fake exhaust outlets in the rear bumpers that lend a sportier look, though the actual exhaust is emitted from pipes mounted below the vehicle – not through the faux vents themselves.
GM and Ford aren’t alone in this practice either, as various models from a variety of automakers – including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen – have been utilizing fake exhaust outlets for some time now. This is clearly a trend, and one that Ford is eager to jump on with the new Mondeo, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the styling quirk land on future models, either.
Aside from the fake exhaust outlets, the 2023 Mondeo borrows heavily from the recently-revealed Ford Evos and Lincoln Zephyr in the styling department, with an overall aesthetic that Ford calls its “Progressive Energy in Strength” design philosophy, which was developed specifically by the automaker for China based on customers’ “aesthetic sensibility and preferences.”
The all-new Ford Mondeo sedan will be built by Changan Ford – a 50:50 joint venture between Ford and Changan Auto – and is expected to launch later this year. Meanwhile, the automaker seems to be leaving the door open for some sort of version of the Mondeo to launch in other markets, though that may apply only to a more rugged Active variant, as Ford Authority previously reported.
We’ll have more on the 2023 Ford Mondeo sedan soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Fusion/Mondeo news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
I would simply ask the question: why do we need fake anything on a car? If it is not functional, get rid of it!
This is a car I would buy. An SUV or a crossover, never. It´s absurd that in order to have an american sedan, you need to import it from China. I really hope the actual SUV cancer ends asap.
Why? It “looks” sporty? This is nothing than a way to bilk the consumer out of a few more $$$. Next this you’ll be putting fake dual exhaust on EVs. It’s just nonsense.
New Mondeo looks nice, very much like the Polestar 2 EV. Which begs the question, why isn’t it electric? They then won’t even need exhausts! Legacy auto just cannot let go of big oil.
Incorrect. The Australian Ford Territory of 2011 (SZ) had chromed fake exhaust outlets.
Very nice mondeo
Slow news day, eh?
You do realize that to be a “fake exhaust”, it has to be OPEN, so as to allow exhaust gases to pass through said opening if the pipes were actually there? Not a cover plate that may as well be a design element?
I wanna see this thing in the U.S!!!
It looks to me like they copied the KIA K5 and just made it a 2 door. I love my K5 and it was built in Georgia, USA. My KIA K5 has fake exhaust ports too, coincidence?
False, this has NO visible exhaust, fake or otherwise, and the Explorer already has a ridiculous fake exhaust set up.
Bring back the Sierra