FORD has launched a new five-speed automatic called the Durashift 5-tronic for the 170bhp 2.5-litre V6 Mondeo Zetec-S and Ghia X models.

The auto 'box, which has a manual mode that allows the driver to shift up and down by pushing and pulling the gear lever, will be available from March.

However, it will cost £1,500 and should increase the emissions level of the car from the 242g/km of CO2 in the manual. The five-speed automatic in the Jaguar X-type 2.5 V6 has a 10g/km increase over the manual, and much the same is being expected for the Mondeo.

In full automatic mode, the gearbox will select from 11 different modes which are influenced by road conditions and the driver's demands, including sport mode with quicker downshifts and mountain mode which recognises speed and gradient to avoid any 'hunting' for gears.

Durashift 5-tronic will eventually also be available in the 130bhp Duratorq TDCi common rail turbodiesel engine, with 2.0-litre automatic Mondeos fitted with the present four-speed gearbox.