Ford Focus ST Becomes Europe's Top-Selling Hot Hatch

• Focus ST is the best-selling hot hatch in Europe over last three months of 2012 according to automotive data intelligence provider Polk*
• Ford sold 1,984 Focus ST models from October to December 2012; 44 per cent of all hot hatches in Europe; ahead of VW Golf GTI with 33 per cent and Renault Megane Sport with 12 per cent
• Focus ST is the best-selling hot hatch in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Switzerland and the U.K. – where it is named “Best Hot Hatch” by Auto Express magazine and the wagon is declared “Hot Hatch of the Year” by Top Gear

COLOGNE, Germany, March 11, 2013 – The Ford Focus ST was the best-selling hot hatch in Europe in the last three months of 2012 according to figures from automotive data intelligence provider POLK; accounting for 44 per cent of all sales during this period, ahead of VW Golf GTI with 33 per cent and Renault Megane Sport with 12 per cent.
 
Total Focus ST sales in this period were 1,984; also it was the top-selling hot hatch in the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

“The unrivalled balance of performance and usability has been recognised by some fantastic reviews for the Focus ST from Europe’s media,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “You really have to drive it yourself to experience the responsiveness of the engine and the fantastic chassis; and I am just one of one of a fast-growing group of excited ST drivers.”

The third generation Focus ST in Europe went on sale in summer 2012. Equipped with a 250 PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, new Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car – having launched in North America last year and being introduced in the Asia Pacific regions this year.

Ford has sold a total of 3,819 new Focus STs in Europe since launch – 74 per cent hatchbacks and 26 per cent wagons. The most popular colour has been Frozen White (41 per cent), followed by Panther Black (28 per cent) and Tangerine Scream (17 per cent).

The new Focus ST was named “Best Hot Hatch” by U.K. magazine Auto Express and the wagon version declared “Hot Hatch of the Year” by Top Gear magazine. The leading automotive magazine in Denmark, Bilmagasinet, has also named the Focus ST the best car in its segment.

Ford will this year extend the Ford ST range with the introduction of the new 180 PS Fiesta ST, the fastest-ever production Fiesta that achieves 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and 220 km/h top speed. Powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine and delivering the same “fun-to-drive” experience as the Focus, the new Fiesta ST also offers a new chassis, steering and brakes; as well as enhanced Torque Vectoring Control and 3-mode Electronic Stability Control.

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*Data based on information provided by POLK. Figures are based on 34 European countries. For more information visit www.polk.com

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (15 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and nine unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911