22nd July 2006 - Ford Mondeo will be the Bond car in Casino Royale - reports Sky News.

It's more popular with salesmen than spies, but a Ford Mondeo will be the Bond car in Casino Royale. Jem Maidment, Sky News' own 007, finds out if it's licensed to thrill.

The Mondeo gets a bad press and I’ve always felt that isn’t really fair. It’s the automobile of Middle England and an easy target.

If National Lampoon’s Vacation had been set in Bracknell, Chevy Chase would have dragged his family across Britain in a beige one. You see its reputation is all reliable and safe, a kind of no-risks motor. What you see is what you get. But then, what’s wrong with that?

So heard the one about James Bond ditching his achingly classy Aston Martin in favour of the so-called blandest of the bland in his new movie Casino Royale? Is Daniel Craig about to be dumped for Richard Briers? Swap Martinis at sunset overlooking Monte Carlo for a warm half of pale ale in Mansfield? Replace Jermyn Street chic for Kays Catalogue cheap? All a bit far-fetched, wouldn’t you agree?

A couple of bursts up and down the high street failed to stir the AM office girls heading off for their lunchtime sarnies. Bond, as we know, has always had a way with the fairer sex, and his motor has been integral. Despite a rare shave and a couple of dabs of Blue Stratos behind the ears, the ladies were suitably unimpressed with my efforts to catch their eye. Not even a blast of Grace Jones on the absolutely fantastic CD system drew one admiring glance…

You see, Bond motor or not, it still, somewhere, has that air of reliability. And women, my older, wiser – and divorced - brother tells me, like danger, a man on the edge.

In two words - James Bond.

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