Ford Trademarks 'Stormtrak' Name, Rumors of Fusion/Mondeo Successor Swell

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Ford covertly patented the Stormtrak name in Europe at the tail end of 2019, potentially foreshadowing a new model that will undoubtedly bring all-wheel drive and some unnecessary body cladding. Our extended family over at AutoGuide noticed that the filing coincided with U.S. spy shots of a new midsize wagon with an abundance of ground clearance.

Could this be the aggressively-named lifestyle and activity vehicle Ford devotees have been waiting for?

The prototype spotted in Michigan certainly fits the bill for something named Stormtrak. Roughly the size of a Fusion, the wagon was first seen in October wearing the hacked-apart face of a Ford Focus — Hannibal Lecter style. The same was also true for the rear bodywork. While some were under the impression it was actually a stretched and lifted overseas Focus, rumors were already circulating in July that Ford was considering replacing the Mondeo/Fusion with something more outdoorsy and trunkless.

From AutoGuide:

The next-generation Mondeo — as the Fusion is known in Europe — will likely use a stretched version of the Focus’ platform, which also underpins the new 2020 Escape. A Stormtrak version could use a lifted wagon body style, possibly with some additional plastic cladding for extra visual toughness. We’d expect the Mondeo to also borrow the new Escape’s engines, which includes a 1.5-liter three-pot turbo, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, and a hybrid model. All-wheel drive seems like a necessity, though lower trims could come in front-drive form.

Alternately this could just be a trim, for something like the Ranger. Ford showed off a Ranger Storm concept in Brazil in 2018, after all. Either way, with the trademark filing suggests we’ll see the Stormtrak name on the back of a Ford soon enough.

With the Mondeo’s popularity starting to decline in Europe, plenty have speculated that the prototype mystery machine wearing the Focus’ face would serve as its replacement. However, considering the success of Subaru’s Outback, such a model could be fit rather nicely into the North American landscape (where the Mondeo name has limited appeal). Nobody should rule out this becoming a global product, especially considering Ford is undoubtedly losing a few sales since effectively abandoning regular passenger cars in the United States.

While there’s nothing definitive to report at the moment, the most likely scenarios involves the hypothetical Stormtrak becoming the next-generation Fusion’s answer to the Focus Active — that crossover-ized hatchback we were supposed to get, but then didn’t — if not something a bit more hardcore. Technically, Ford plans to discontinue the Fusion next year, but said that it could keep the model name around for its successor. That would make Stormtrak a variant of the new Ford Fusion, arriving after 2021.

[Image: Ford Motor Co.]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Mike-NB2 Mike-NB2 on Jan 14, 2020

    I've actually spent my own dollars on wagons so I hope I've earned some credibility on this. Back in 2017 I was planning to buy a Fusion Sport when they became available. That got sidetracked by the 3.0L TT MKZ. But... if the Fusion/Mondeo wagon had been available there would have been no contest. If the wagon was available in Sport trim with the 325HP 2.7L that's be better, but to get a wagon I'd still be happy with the 2.0L engine. I think the Mondeo wagon's lines are about perfect.

    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Jan 14, 2020

      2.0T in a midsize sedan is fine. I actually look more closely at 0-60 and 1/4 mile. 0-60 under 7 sec and 1/4 mile under 15 and I'm a very happy camper. hp/torque on the 2.0T should be right about 250 hp and close to 300 lb ft. Those numbers make me happy for commuting and family duties.

  • OMG Ford made up a name for a vehicle! *RABBLERABBLERABBLERABBLE*

  • Cprescott Fisker is another brand that Heir Yutz has killed.
  • Dwford Every country is allowed to have trade restrictions except the US.
  • 1995 SC Are there any mitigation systems that would have prevented this though? We had a ship hit a bridge in Jacksonville a few years back and it was basically dumb luck it didn't collapse. This looked like a direct hit.
  • Cprescott Oh, well.
  • 28-Cars-Later "The Chinese Ministry of Commerce claimed the Inflation Reduction Act is “discriminatory”"This what your mainstream social communism has wrought: a foreign power, major geopolitical rival and the #1 global industrial competitor cries "racism" when an act of Congress in any way presents a challenge - and the saddest part is there are Americans who will process this claim and agree if only in their own minds. To be clear, Wo xihuan Zhongguoren but the under 40yo PRC raised Mainlanders I've interacted with do believe they are a master race - but that's fine right?
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