Ford mondeo btcc

Ford has been patting itself on the back this week, as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Mondeo. Since the original went on sale in , Ford has shifted an incredible million of the things across Europe. Not bad going, but it's never really been a car to capture the hearts of us petrolheads. But are we missing something? Here's why the Mondeo deserves a little more kudos.

1. The BTCC Mondeo Was Awesome

During the Supertouring golden era of the British Touring Car Championship - recreated in the awesome TOCA series - Ford's race spec Mondeo was one of the coolest entries. F1 Champion Nigel Mansell was among the racing greats that competed in the car. Towards the end of the Supertouring regs it was pretty damned dominant too: in the championship touring car legends Alain Menu, Anthony Reid and Rickard Rydell bagged 1st, 2nd and 3rd aboard the BTCC Mondeo. To cap it all off, Ford Team Mondeo won the constructors' championship by a massive points. Credit: Matt Edwards

2. They're All Great To Drive

One thing that set the original Mondeo apart from its rivals was the way it drove. This was a particularly important area for Ford to get right, as its Orion predecessor had been criticised for its shoddy ride and handling. Fortunately, the Blue Oval delivered, and every Mondeo since the original has been a mighty fine steer.

3. James Bond Drove One

While the Mondeo's appearance in Casino Royale is little more than a slightly cynical product-placement, there's no getting away from the fact that James Bond once drove one of these cars. And surely being driven by the world's most famous spy has to earn it some cool points, right?

4. The Mondeo ST

If you're on a budget and what a swift, but spacious car that's good to drive, the Mondeo ST takes some beating. The hairy-chested litre V6 under the bonnet kicks out bhp, shifting this third-gen Mondeo from mph in a smidgin under 7 seconds. It's also good for a top speed of mph.   Like all Mondeos it was a corker to drive, and even Clarkson was a fan. Not bad considering that prices start at under two grand.

5. Ian Callum Penned The Original

Car design legend Ian Callum - famed for sketching gorgeous Astons and Jags - worked at Ford once upon a time. In addition to working on motoring legends like the RS and Escort Cosworth, Callum also contributed to the design work of something a little more ordinary; the first Mondeo.

6. You Can Buy A Luxury One Soon

There's no denying that the prospect of a £40k Mondeomight not be the best idea, but there has to be something cool and a bit leftfield about going for one of these over the more obvious BMW, Merc or Audi. Plus, it's highly likely that the resale value of the Mondeo Vignale will drop like a stone, so give it a few years and you'll be able to pick up an interesting luxury car for peanuts.