'Ford has a great range of cars even without a Mondeo in its line-up'

I can remember back in the eighties the furore when Ford decided to can the Cortina and replace it with the ‘jelly mould’ Sierra. It was out with the old family-favourite, three-box saloon and in with the new, aerodynamic five-door hatch.

Now it’s the turn of the Mondeo to make way, although Ford says it has no plans to directly replace it. So it’s not only farewell to a big-selling and much-loved nameplate, but it’s also farewell to a whole breed of car – one that can trace its roots back to the good old Cortina.

Today’s families and fleet managers don’t want low-riding hatchbacks and saloons – it’s all about SUVs. And Ford’s excellent Kuga is doing a fine job of offering those who might have bought a Mondeo exactly what they now want and need.

I’m not sure this will quite be making it onto News at Ten as it did in the eighties, but it’s a sign of a new, confident Ford that – even without a Mondeo in its line-up – is in much better shape than it has been for a while with a range of great cars and a revitalised dealer network.

Ford isn’t the only company going through a transformation right now.

Auto Express and its sister titles (Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, evo, Octane, Vantage and Car Throttle) are now part of Autovia – along with the UK’s longest-established online used car retailer, BuyaCar. We’ve been spun off from Dennis Publishing to create a new, standalone, specialist automotive business that’s dedicated to producing the very best content for you.

We’re hugely excited by the opportunity this gives us as the automotive industry goes through the biggest period of change in its history. Names may come and go, but our love of cars and the car business will always remain.

Check out the best cars to look forward to over 2021...