It was on this day in 1993 that Ford finally introduced its much-hyped new ‘world car’, the Ford Mondeo (badged the ‘Contour' in the US) after years of planning.
In Europe, the mid-sized vehicle replaced the Ford Sierra which - although highly successful in the UK itself - never quite matched the popularity of its all-conquering predecessor, the Ford Cortina.
At a cost of over $6 billion, the design programme behind the Mondeo was one of the most expensive ever undertaken with new safety features being a high priority.
The primary reason for the phenomenal costs was that the Mondeo was essentially a brand new design, sharing very little with the Sierra.
In Europe, the Mondeo was an instant hit, quickly becoming a class-leader and winning Car of The Year in 1994. For most of the next decade it was the best-selling company car in the UK and is still going strong 25 years (and several face-lifts) later, though sales are a well below its late 90’s zenith.