(March 11, 2013) COLOGNE, Germany — 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. It was also the top-selling hot hatch in the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

“The unrivaled balance of performance and usability has been recognized 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 247-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the 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 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 178-horsepower Fiesta ST, the fastest-ever production Fiesta that achieves 0-62 mph in 6.9 seconds.

Powered by a 1.6-liter 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.