A MAJOR facelift has turned the Mondeo into one of the most technically advanced Ford's yet made.

New engines include a 200bhp diesel - the most powerful oil burner Ford has produced - putting performance in the same league as BMW and Audi.

There's also a 240bhp petrol engine which uses Ford's EcoBoost system to deliver plenty of performance with above average economy.

Hitting back against great rival Vauxhall - whose Insignia grabbed the Car of the Year title in 2009 - Ford has pegged back prices for the new Mondeo which sees the range starting at £17,295.

It's a bold move but almost guaranteed to pay off with increasingly savvy fleet operators.

The latest Ford features an array of high tech systems including lane departure warning, a device to monitor driver fatigue and an automatic lighting system which uses a forward facing camera to select high or low beam.

Other gadgets include blind spot alerts and a rear view parking camera.

Inside, the instrument panel gets a new look including a more contemporary matt black finish in the centre.

: Vauxhall Insignia