Focus ST becomes ‘best-selling’ hot hatch

The Ford Focus ST was Europe's top-selling hot hatch at the end of 2012
Ford’s Focus ST hot hatchback has become the best-selling car in its class according to research reported by the firm.

Ford’s Focus ST hot hatchback has become the best-selling car in its class according to research reported by the firm.

It cites research by automotive data analysis company Polk, which says the 1,984 hot Focus sales between October and December last year gave it 44% of the market, ahead of the Golf GTi on 33% and the Renaultsport Megane on 12%.

Among the European countries whose hot hatch sales charts the Focus topped were the UK, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Ford has sold a total of 3,819 new Focus STs in Europe since its summer 2012 launch, with a split of 74% hatchbacks and 26% estates. The most popular colour has been Frozen White at 41%, followed by Panther Black with 28% and Tangerine Scream, which although a costly option has secured 17% of customers’ vote.