BRENTWOOD, Essex, 27 June 2012 – The all-new 250PS Ford Focus ST has been named Auto Express’ Best Hot Hatch in its first month on sale.
Ford’s 155mph performance car, available from only £21,995, took the Auto Express award within weeks of going on sale this month. Already more than 450 Ford Focus ST orders have been received by Ford ahead of the car arriving in UK dealerships in five-door and estate body styles in September.
Also honoured by Auto Express magazine was the Ford C-MAX Multi-Purpose Vehicle – named Best Five-Seat MPV. On volume sale since the beginning of last year, the Ford C-MAX leads its sales segment – accounting for 18.5 per cent of all UK medium MPV registrations.
The C-MAX range, priced from £17,665, offers Ford’s acclaimed 1.6-litre turbo-powered, direct-injection EcoBoost petrol engine, with the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost – International Engine of the Year 2012 – being added later this year. High-tech features available on the Ford C-MAX include automated parallel parking and blind spot alert.
Steve Fowler, Auto Express editor-in-chief, said: “The Focus ST has the performance figures to back up its looks – and with a price to please. With the Ford C-MAX, you expect a Ford to be good to drive and you’d be right here too. But the C-MAX is also practical and good value.”
Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain managing director, said: “Ford’s medium car range is all new, with new Focus and C-MAX models launched last year and the next version of the Ford Kuga just around the corner. Auto Express recognising the appeal of our latest Focus sports model, as well as C-MAX, is a terrific endorsement of our products, technology and expertise.”
