Ford's flagship Mondeo, the Executive, has just had its appeal greatly enhanced - by a diesel engine. It isn't any ordinary diesel either, but the latest highly-acclaimed Duratorq TDCi common-rail unit which made its debut in the Focus, and in 2.0 litre 130 bhp form gives both lively performance and satisfying economy.
Top speed is 125 mph and it should go from 0 to 62 mph (or 100 kph) in less than 10 seconds. More important, perhaps, is overall fuel consumption - on a recent test it stayed at over 40 mpg, with our best figure (according to the trip computer) being 48 mpg.
The refinement of the diesel engine and its growing acceptability, especially in the upper reaches of the market, has to be one of the biggest changes so far in the industry in the 21st century. There's little or no harshness or clatter and the responsiveness is very like the petrol unit. Like most classy diesels, the Mondeo Executive has a wide torque spread which means effortless overtaking at all speeds.
Although Focus was this diesel engine's launch pad, Ford sees it doing much bigger business under the Mondeo's bonnet. Last year diesel cars accounted for 35 per cent of sales in the family and fleet sector.
Eddie Murphy, Ford's chairman and managing director thinks the diesel's growing European appeal will affect us here. He admits there are also many drivers who have an in-built hostility to diesel. "The problem is getting them to test this powertrain or that of the Focus TDCi in the first place. I would be confident they would see diesel in a new light," he says.
Available in four-door, five-door and estate versions, the Mondeo Executive TDCi retails from €34,346 (or £27,050), ex- Cork. There's a high level of specification including automatic air conditioning, leather upholstery, a trip computer, electric mirrors and windows throughout and a four-speaker remote radio/CD player.
Mondeo has been the best-selling car in its class over the past six months. Nearly 5,000 have been sold on the Irish market since January of last year.