For example, a Euro poster in another thread here, the poster said they had a " ford mondeo mk4 ". I believe that means it is the 4th major design update for the mondeo , and mk4 might apply to 3 or more model years. mondeo owners would presumably know exactly what model years are in the mk4 design update. The “mk” terminology isn’t common in the USA, cars are referred to by model year only for the most part, and was wondering why that is?
Because they are 2 different places.
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What does your question have to with the repair and/or maintenance of a vehicle?
Shouldn’t your question be posted in the General Discussion forum?
Tester
I really wonder why you keep starting goofy threads like this.
Hang around Corvette people and all you will hear C1 to C8 rather than the year model.
Go to that Toyota brand Forum and you will see them referenced as Generation numbers.
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If posters referred to their cars by its “mk” number, the basic configuration would (in theory) be easier to find. For example the mk 1 generation of a car might use batch-mode injection and a speed density map for the mixture, but the mk 2 generation might use synchronized injection and an maf for the mixture, while a mk3 generation might use direct injection, etc.
However, I have no complaint if you ask the moderators to move this thread to “General Discussion”. If you can convince them to remove it as “spam”, I have no objection to that either. After all I did mention the term “modeo” which is a brand name.
No. The Mondeo Mk4 is its NAME for the 3rd generation of tne Mondeo.
Calling a car model generation can be called a 3rd Gen, like the 82 to 92 Camaro.
A Subaru WRX might be called a VA or VB for the 1st and 2nd generation.
It depends on the car owner’s culture more than location.
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I believe George is speaking in general. Not very often you hear people speak in mk1 mk2 and mk3.
It took me some time, however, to figure out the bmw owners language when they talk about their B58.
I initially know them to be 340.
Moderators?
What moderators?
Tester
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That’s good info for us to know. So mk4 may or may not be the 4th generation. My research says the Mondeo began in 1993, and the 4th generation production was halted (in Valencia, Spain presumably) in 2022. Production was then moved to China , and the name was changed to the “Ford Taurus”, but only sold in Asia. I believe a 96 mondeo is mk 2. The main improvements found in the mk2 vs the prior mk1: better headlights, more interior space, and panel changes.
I would not reject a Lincoln Continental Mark III if someone gave it to me.
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Don’t forget about the Lincoln MK line of vehicles…
MKX
MKC
MKS
MKZ
MKT
Yeah took me a minute to figure out that 3GT stood for 3rd gen Tacoma’s (2016-2023) on the Tacoma Forums…
Yes, generation numbers. I think my Ford Coyote engine is a first generation, plus tuned different in my truck vs those tuned for car use.
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Gen 1 Coyote V8 is 2011 to 2014. The truck engine has slightly lower compression ratio and an intake manifold and cams tuned for more torque. Plus cast iron exhaust manifolds.
Yes, that describes mine.
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Not just cars, Britain uses Mk nomenclature for aircraft: Spitfires went from Mk I to Mk 24, for example. US uses letters, P-51A, D, H, for example, as did Germany.
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UK at least refers to the year first registered on the plate, not the date of build or model year as we do in the US. Changes every 6mo with a 24 plate from March-August and a 74 plate from Sept -Feb 2025.
Forums will refer to a particular generation while also showing model years for the US audience, My brother’s VW GTI is a MK 5 but was delivered as an early 2009 model year by the time the car arrived in the fall of 2008.
I don’t recall the VW Rabbit/Golf line (here in the USA) ever having an “mk” designation in the vehicle’s name. The same line in Europe , the cars are often described by their “mk” designation. It seems like that info would be quite helpful in a maintenance/repair forum like this.
In Euro cars that have an “mk” , does it appear on an emblem on the outside of the car? Like does a mk 3 Golf say “mk3” on it somewhere that’s visible ? It seems like it would have to, if “mk” is part of the car’s name.
Those are typically internal corporate names, like those used for various BMW and Mercedes models, with the Golf/Rabbit Mk 1 (the photo I use) designation even more complex, as listed in Wikipedia:
“First generation (Mk1/A1, Typ 17; 1974)”
Enthusiasts adopt those schemes so they know which model each other is referring to. An individual ‘Mk’ can have different engines, etc. It’s the chassis and body that’s a relative constant.
Another example is the intermediate Benz, the ‘E Class’. The latest is the W214, and perhaps the most well known is the W124:
Here’s an article listing all of them:
Mercedes-Benz E-Class - Wikipedia
The use of model types hasn’t been well received on this forum. But give it a try: instead of “early '90’s” you could say “sixth generation” Corolla or “E90”.
VW Vortex is one of the forums where it helps to know which generation you have. They also list the model years. Europe most always gets the latest generation first then we get it 1-2yrs later.