Ford gains as Brits dash for diesel cars

Ford of Britain is on the crest of a sustained wave of demand in Britain for diesel vehicles. Its car volumes in this sector have shot up by almost 250 per cent in four years.

In 2000 Ford sold 41,177 diesel cars. By the end of 2004 the tally had reached 100,343 units. Today the Ford Mondeo is Britain's best selling diesel car year-to-date.

Such is the demand that Ford continues to find ways to expand its diesel offering in the UK. A price leading Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre TDCi (Euro stage IV) costs from £16,300. Latest to join the range is the new Ford Mondeo Zetec, with premium Dagenham-built 155 PS 2.2-litre engine, on sale earlier this month.

Britain's diesel market is on track to post its 60th successive monthly increase in September 2005. Diesel car registration figures were up almost 11 per cent last month.

Kevin Griffin, Ford Britain fleet director, said: "Ford has benefited from this non stop five-year surge in diesel sales thanks to the increased refinement of its clean common-rail TDCi engine range. Our latest engines are characterised by frugal fuel consumption and CO2 emissions around 25 per cent less than the equivalent petrol engines."