Whereas larger, more fuel-efficient Ford models are the vehicle of choice for some U.K. private-hire companies, Evald Jastad has clocked up an impressive 127,000km in just 18 months in, arguably, the most popular taxi in Norway - a Ford Focus RS.

The first job of the day for cabbie, Evald, is a 16km round-trip from Odda through breathtaking Scandinavian scenery to take his son to nursery before locals and tourists call on him to take them across the Trolltunga cliffs, in style. Regulars have nicknamed the car 'Blue Lightning' thanks to the Focus RS's 345bhp, 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine.

"There are not many people who can say they live their dream. But I am definitely one of them," says the 36-year old father of two. "When I drive him to nursery, all the way there, Martin shouts out more gas!"