The Ford Motor Company's early history will be as familiar to many as its recent products. Henry Ford's adoption of production line manufacturing techniques, the Model T and offering customers any colour they want, so long as it's black?, is the stuff of countless business studies and modern history courses. The story started back in 1903 and Ford has remained at the top of the car production pile ever since.

We're currently in the age of the Ford Motor Group with the Blue Oval pulling the strings and sharing platforms across a collection of the world's most famous car brands. It's the Ford branded cars that shift the biggest volumes, however, and in recent years, the model range has stayed ahead of the competition by offering fine handling cars that can really entertain their drivers. The various iterations of the Focus and Mondeo in particular have set the standards for handling in the family hatchback and medium range classes. Buyers can also expect generous equipment levels and good build quality from the latest Ford products.

Lower volume models in the Ford line-up include the S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs, the Ka citycar and the Kuga 4x4. There are also hot ST derivatives of some models and Ford is still in the process of adding to its high profile RS line of ultra-focused performance cars. On the commercial side, Ford's Transit remains the UK's panel van of choice having celebrated its 40th birthday in 2005.