According to research conducted by Warranty Direct in the UK, the Ford Mondeo is the most-driven car on average in Britain. The top ten most driven autos list is filled with relatively large and luxurious vehicles. In contrast, the top ten least driven vehicles list is made up mostly of small, fuel efficient models. This makes sense, really, considering that many of those small vehicles are sold to people who live in urban environments, where destinations are closer together. Still, the difference is a bit alarming, with the least-driven car, the Daewoo Matiz (which is now badged as a Chevy), being driven less than half as many miles as the most-driven, the Ford Mondeo. Perhaps these statistics will be altered a bit as smaller vehicles become less of a penalty box than they have been in the past. Small and fuel efficient vehicles are selling in higher numbers now than ever before. See both top ten lists after the break.

Click the S-Max for a high-res gallery

Ford has already sold 3000 Euro-market Focus ECOnetic models prior to the vehicle's official on-sale date. Many of these units are headed to businesses interested in lowering their fleets' carbon footprints. Because of the low added cost, the vehicles are proving to be more popular than expected; popular enough that Ford is rethinking how many ECOnetic Mondeos that they need to make. The Focus ECOnetic emits just 114 g/km of CO₂, and the new Mondeo is rated at less than 140g/km.

In other related news, Roelant de Waard, head of Ford U.K., says that an ECOnetic S-Max is a possibility, but don't expect any hybrids from Ford's outpost in Blighty. Instead, the EurOval is looking at stop/start technology and low-emission diesels, which have a proven track record of selling well in Europe.

[Source: Business Car]

As we found out yesterday, one of the pushes that Ford is doing in Geneva is beefing up its ethanol-capable vehicle line in Europe. This might be considered a Bold Move, as ethanol is not exactly common in the EU, although there are expected to be over 60 ethanol plants in Europe by the end of next year.

Ford of Europe will bring out three flexifuel models by early next year: the New Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX,. Currently, the Focus and C-MAX (pictured) are available with flexifuel engines. The S-MAX was selected Car of the Year 2007, so the addition of ethanol capability might prompt more ethanol production (or importation) in Europe. Ford of Europe has sold 28,500 Ford flexifuel units in Sweden since introducing them there six years ago. Read more after the break.

Ford also announced yesterday that the C-MAX would sell for between £12,995 to £19,045 starting in April.



Related:

• Geneva Motor Show: Ford's Mondeo and the flexifuel C-MAX

[Source: Ford]

Ford's Geneva offerings include the new C-MAX and the Mondeo. The C-MAX is the greener of the two, with options to have gas, diesel, flexifuel and in "selected markets" the C-MAX can come with engines that run on liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas. Another option for the 2007 C-MAX is a large panoramic glass roof with internal blinds and the interior features ambient lighting, like the new Mondeo. The redesigned front end emphasizes a "kinetic design."

Ford calls cars like the C-MAX Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MAVs), and sees this segment as a high-growth segment that may "outpace sedans in Europe by approximately 20 percent before the end of the decade."

Read more on the C-MAX and the Mondeo



[Source: Ford]