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]

Click the S-Max for a high-res gallery

Ford just announced a brand new diesel engine option for its larger passenger vehicles in the European market. Set to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the 2.2L four cylinder was co-developed with Peugeot and has an output of 175hp and 295lb-ft of torque at just 1,750rpm. The diesel is Euro-IV compliant and uses a particulate filter. The third-generation common rail injection system uses Bosch piezoelectric injectors that can provide up to five fuel pulses per ignition stroke. The new engine will available in the Mondeo, the S-Max medium van and the Galaxy large van. On those vehicles, the emissions are rated at 165, 176 and 179 g/km of CO₂, respectively. This will be the first Ford engine equipped with intelligent oil monitoring system that will track driver behavior and ambient conditions and inform the driver when an oil change is needed. Depending on conditions, the engine may be able to go as far as 12,000 miles between oil changes.



[Source: Ford]

At this time of year when everyone (except us it seems) it trying to grab a little bit the spotlight by giving out awards, Ford has just picked up two of them. The UK's What Car? magazine has chosen the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi for honors in both the Family car and Estate car categories. For all you non-English, non-estate owning Americans, an estate car is more commonly referred to as a station wagon. The 2.0 TDCi is, like the Mondeo, a fabulous Ford that American drivers can't get. The 2.0L diesel, when paired up with a 6-speed manual transmission, is rated at 31/48/41 mpg (U.S.) on the EU city/highway/combined cycles. Not bad for an attractive and roomy mid-sized sedan.

[Source: Ford]