Polk, a leading company in automotive data and trends, has announced that the Ford Focus was the best-selling car across the globe in 2012.

To achieve this remarkable feat, Ford sold 1,020,410 examples of the Focus last year; and initial figures look promising this year as well. The Focus's success was in no doubt aided by the introduction of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which found its first home under the bonnet of the Focus. The latest ST model also helped continue Europe's love of fast Fords.

Ford also concentrated on growing the car's popularity in China and the US. The resulting effort culminated in a 51 per cent market growth in China, making it the country's best seller for the first time. A still remarkable 40 per cent growth was recorded in the US.

Ford's Fiesta was named as the best selling B-segment car in the world as well. A total of 723,130 models were registered last year; with European sales averaging at one every two minutes. The updated styling is said to be heavily contributing to the model's success according to Ford.

"Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy," comments Jim Farley, Ford's Executive Vice President of Global Marketing. "With additional manufacturing capacity added last year, we now have a tremendous opportunity to further strengthen our global small car sales in 2013, with sales off to a very strong start already."

James Giddings - 15 Apr 2013