When Ford starts talking about a 'visually exciting' new Mondeo with 'superb dynamics', a 'sportier new look' and 'aggressive styling', just two letters spring to mind: ST.

But this isn't the Mondeo ST. This is the Mondeo Titanium X Sport, a new top-spec version of Ford's big rep favourite with a shiny new diesel engine and a few fresh bits of finery.

The engine sounds like a cracker: a 173bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel which will see the Mondeo to 62mph in 8.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 139mph while still returning 45.6mpg and 165g/km of CO2.

The Titanium X Sport gets twin chrome tailpipes, fatter side skirts and some leather frippery on the inside, all of which combines to create a meaner-looking load lugger.

But it's no ST. Worse still, we're unlikely to see a properly hot Mondeo for a long while: Ford UK tells us that the Titanium X Sport is the sportiest Mondeo in the pipeline. Considering the Mondeo's capable chassis and decent handling, that's a pity.

Perhaps they'll just skip straight to the Mondeo RS instead. Wishful thinking? Us?