First Drive: Ford Mondeo facelift and Titanium Sport X

Officially, this is the Mondeo facelift, but "engine-lift" would be a more accurate description. There are two new engines: a 2.2 TDCI diesel with a more-than-respectable 200bhp and an unfeasibly powerful 2.0 Ecoboost petrol with 240bhp.

The strange thing about these two engines is how similar they are, despite being powered by different fuels. The diesel is the most petrol-like unit ever seen in a Ford or indeed in any car. Unlike many highly-tuned diesels that have little power below 1,800rpm and then suddenly explode, the Mondeo 2.2 is pretty-well linear in its response. The torque (pulling power) builds smoothly and rapidly until it hits a plateau at around 2,000rpm. The proof of its responsiveness is the excellent 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds – diesels usually struggle off the line until the boost kicks in, but not this one.