FORD'S relationship with Mazda was most fruitful with the KA-KE Lasers from 1981 to 1990, when the small front-wheel drive hatchback, sedan and wagon dominated the small car market. But the Telstar too had success, albeit sporadic. In its 1992 AX mode (a slightly revised Mazda GE 626) the awards came on thick and fast, with Ford sharing a car of the year gong with its Japanese partner. But the Japanese bubble economy had burst by the time of its release, and with the resulting long-term recession over there forcing the Yen to skyrocket in value, Japanese cars became unusually expensive. To keep prices from rising, equipment levels were often slashed, causing the term "decontenting" to be coined. By the mid-'90s Ford decided to shield itself from such measures by switching to the German-developed Ford HB Mondeo instead, a move that was met with very mixed results. Some critics even said that compared to the refined, quality Telstar, the Mondeo was palpably inferior...