DAVID says: I had a perfect dose of Mondeo Man motorway misery to coincide with my time at the wheel of Ford's new Mondeo ST TDCi.

Two days of negotiating the horrendous M25 and a rush-hour run back home from Weybridge were meat and drink to this ultimate repmobile.

I say ultimate, for the ST TDCi is the most powerful diesel from Ford yet. There was little opportunity to experience that power as I crawled past the Heathrow junctions, but as traffic picked up pace on the M40, the Mondeo stretched its legs.

Click on the cruise control and switch on a favourite CD and although you have 50 miles to travel, you feel like you are almost home.

The ST interior is nothing short of a super-comfortable living room on wheels, complete with air conditioning, electrically-adjustable, heated, leather-trimmed seats and a Sony six-CD, in-dash autochanger.

The UK-exclusive model has been created to build on the unprecedented popularity of Ford's turbo-diesel engines in the UK, which account for more than half of all Mondeo sales. Small wonder when this 2.2-litre, 155 horsepower car is capable of well over 40 miles per gallon.

Based on the existing 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi, the ST is also extremely well equipped. High-tech touches abound, ranging from auto-lighting headlamps and rain-sensing wipers, to an auto-dimming rear view mirror.

The Mondeo's already sharp chassis capabilities with added sports-tuned lowered, suspension create a dynamic feel, while wearing an ST badge means the Mondeo also features exterior sports styling cues of the V6-powered ST flagship, including 18-inch alloy wheels and flared front wheel arches.

Safety systems include electronic anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme and anti-whiplash front headrests. Those favouring the luxury of the Mondeo Ghia X will also benefit from the new engine, as it also becomes available on Ghia X.

Mondeo customers now benefit from an array of added features as standard across the range. Key features include cruise control on the LX, auto climate control and sports suspension on the Zetec and six-speed manual transmission on Zetec S and ST220.

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MARIE says: The Mondeo ST TDCi is hot stuff, but I don't mean the mighty mass of metal under the bonnet.

As impressive as the engine is supposed to be, the item that made the biggest impression on me was the part leather-trimmed driver's seat. Or rather the four-stage heating inside the seat.

One chilly evening I absent-mindedly flicked on the seat heater to the first of four heat settings and within seconds I thought my bum was burning.

Put it on the highest setting and you might need a fire extinguisher.

That little switch summed up how hot the ST was for me. This car packed 2.2 litres and 155 horsepower which I found difficult to marry up in my mind with a Mondeo diesel.

Whopping great alloy wheels and a sports bodystyling kit also made this Mondeo a bit difficult to take. To say nothing of a price tag that would ease you behind the seat of many a prestige German brand.

But praise where it is due. This is a particularly rapid, yet refined and quiet diesel, to the point where you had to think twice, or even three times, as you pulled up at the fuel pumps to remind yourself that you needed to fill up with diesel.

The sticker on the inside of the fuel flap was a welcome reminder that diesel was what you needed.

I suppose my biggest problem with the Mondeo ST was that it was a singularly blokey car.

The interior is a super-smart blend of leather, brushed aluminium and chrome. Just like an upmarket bloke's briefcase with all the gizmos of a handheld PDA.

Don't get me wrong, it is well-planned, looks swish and works effortlessly, from the six-disc CD player and headlamps which switch themselves on when it gets dark, to the wipers that know when it is raining.

But it would not suit a family driver. Within seconds of taking to the road you would be doing your nut telling the children to stop dropping crumbs over the elegant upholstery and not to put their sticky fingers on the plush, soft-feel covered doors.

Never mind the hugely powerful engine, the stress of keeping the inside tidy was more than enough for me.

I would have been happy to settle for a much less intense experience - and a much smaller price tag. It was just a bit too clean-cut, tidy and boardroom business-like for me. Despite those heated seats, it was just a bit too cool.

David and Marie Duffy

AUTO FACTS

MODEL Ford Mondeo ST TDCi

PRICE £22,145

INSURANCE GROUP 13E

FUEL CONSUMPTION (Combined) 46.3mpg

COMFORT Excellent

TOP SPEED 137mph

LENGTH 473.1cm/ 186.2in

WIDTH 195.8cm/ 77.1in

LUGGAGE CAPACITY 19.4 cu ft

FUEL TANK CAPACITY 58.5 litres/12.8 gallons

CO2 EMISSIONS 161g/km