So here it is – our overall champion of 2007... the Number One car in the UK. The new Mondeo is the most crucial model for some time from Britain’s biggest car maker. And we are delighted to report it proves conclusively that the family car’s obituary, written with the rise of the compact executive sector, is premature.

With its third-generation model, Ford has come bursting back, injecting vitality and desirability into what had become a stagnant breed. Glitzy and brimming with self-confidence, it’s not as brave as the Iosis concept from which it drew inspiration, but it’s crisply styled yet practical and eye-catching, without being ostentatious.