Just as the Ford GT becomes a legend in its own time, Avro Motor Cars, the Brooklands-based supercar specialist, has joined forces with Roush Technologies in the UK to create a further strictly limited edition of the car. The Avro 720 Mirage special edition will be limited to just 10 cars – the first of which has just been rolled out of Roush’s Technical Centre in Brentwood, Essex.
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Ford’s continued popularity surge among private customers has driven retail sales up three per cent in 2007, according to latest figures.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirmed the rise in Ford vehicles registered this year to retail customers. In January to November, Ford Focus and Mondeo models led the growth in retail business – up by almost 4,000 cars on the same period last year.
When fleet sales to company car buyers, and commercial vehicle registrations, are added, the SMMT revealed that a total of 416,118 new Fords went on the road this year – over 4,300 up on last year and accounting for 15.8 per cent of the total vehicle market.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: “We are having a great year with new Ford models seducing car buyers. This year will close very solidly for us as the new Ford Mondeo remains such hot property, while 2008 brings the new Ford Focus, swiftly followed by the innovative Ford Kuga.
“Ford’s UK business is strengthening, helped by a stream of new product launches continuing unabated next year. Ford is growing retail market share and improving its appeal to fleet customers through improved residual values and reduced whole life vehicle costs.”
Other Ford models that are improving the footprint of Ford’s UK business are the Ford Galaxy and Ford S-MAX, with combined sales enjoying an 85 per cent leap since November 2006. CAP declared that a “56″ plate Ford S-MAX 1.8 TDCi retains a remarkable 81.6 per cent of its new value after one year/12,000 miles, according to the leading independent residual value expert.
Demand for the UK-built Ford Transit, which makes up the majority of the company’s CV sales, has led to extra production at the Southampton assembly plant. The front-wheel drive Transit model has played a notable part in this success – their sales rose 800 vehicles this year.
Britain’s small car buyers can now create their own special edition Fiesta Zetec Blue. Based on a Style Climate model, Zetec Blue costs £200 more although its comprehensive list of standard features would normally add another £800 to the price.
The new colour and trim choices and large-car technology combine to give a great drive and exciting style. Standard equipment includes: body coloured bumpers, handles, mouldings and door mirrors, front fog lights, rear spoiler, leather steering wheel with aluminium trim, single slot Sony CD player, 16-in seven-spoke sport alloy wheels, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, air conditioning and Quickclear heated windscreen. The Fiesta Zetec Blue proves that small cars have never been so good.
The choices include, three or five doors, 1.25-litre 75PS,1.4-litre 80PS and 1.4-litre 68PS TDCi engines. Two new interior trims: Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dusk, six body colours including new Blazer Blue. On-the road prices start at £9,995 for the 1.25-litre, three-door model, up to £11,595 for the 1.4-litre TDCi, five-door model.
