Growing demand for Ford’s passenger cars and SUVs as well as continued strong sales of commercial vehicles drove Ford total vehicle sales in Europe for the first 11 months of the year to their highest level since 2009.

Ford today revealed the next generation Ford Fiesta – the world’s most technologically advanced small car – at a special Go Further event in Cologne, Germany.

Ford Motor Company today delivered the global debut of the next generation Ford Fiesta at a special “Go Further” event in Cologne, Germany.

Growing demand for Ford’s performance cars and SUV vehicles as well as continued strong sales of commercial vehicles drove Ford of Europe’s total vehicle sales year-to-date up 6.0 percent at 1,144,200 in its 20 traditional European markets.

Hot hatches – sporty small cars with powerful engines – were once the preserve of “petrol head” car fans, but are fast becoming a mainstream choice for car-buyers who are a far cry from the stereotypical “boy racer”, Ford data shows.

The new Ford Kuga delivers an even more technologically advanced, refined and affordable sports utility vehicle (SUV), making driving simpler, safer and more enjoyable for growing numbers of SUV customers in Europe.

It may not be the first country that first comes to mind for sports cars, but drivers in Belgium have fallen head over heels for the new Ford Mustang. Of more than 21,000 new Mustangs that Ford has now sold across Europe, 1,600 went to Belgian enthusiasts. That’s one for every 4,693 of the country’s 7,659,000 drivers – a far higher proportion than anywhere else in Europe

Sales of Ford performance cars and SUVs are at their highest levels ever in the first nine months of 2016.

The Ford Fiesta ST compact performance hatchback is for the first time available to order in Europe in 5-door bodystyle alongside the 3 door model.

Sales of Ford’s performance cars in Europe have almost doubled so far in 2016, with close to 31,000 sold in the region August year-to-date – 98 per cent up on 2015.