Forty-seven years on from the birth of the most gladiatorial form of motorsport, top-level rallycross returns to Britain this month with Ford racers at the forefront.

The Ford Fiesta has been crowned The Telegraph's Car of the Year, beating a variety of more expensive models. The accolade follows voting by Telegraph readers to decide their favourite cars in seven categories in the run-up to the newspaper and website‘s Festival of Motoring last week.

The Ford Fiesta was the No.1 selling small car in Europe in the first quarter of 2014 with 85,639 Fiestas sold.

Ford said its sales in Europe rose in April, marking the 11th straight month of year-over-year sales improvement and fifth successive month of market share gains.

UK market leader Ford recorded year-over-year increases in its total vehicle sales and share in April and extended its sales lead over its nearest rival to more than 11,000 units.

Spain, Greece and Italy attract millions of visitors every year to their sun-drenched beaches, but a new Ford Motor Company study on buying trends in Europe shows that residents in some of the region’s hottest countries are among the least likely to purchase a new car with a sunroof. This is one of several findings from Ford Car Buying Trends 2014, a study of new car buying habits in 22 countries across Europe, highlighting regional trends and national differences that both conform to and confound expectations.

Ford Fiesta heads a wide variety of Blue Oval models competing in top level motorsport in Europe during 2014.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, today launched a new project at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre to help bring new generation low-CO2 engine technologies to market.

Ford has launched a new flagship version of its multi-award-winning Ford Fiesta ST.

Moving forward with its plan to bring 15 new vehicles to the Chinese market by 2015, and building on its impressive momentum in the Asia Pacific region, Ford Motor Company is giving visitors to Auto China 2014 an exclusive and interactive look at its growing lineup of global vehicles and innovative, smart technologies.

Ford is off to a strong sales start in Europe in 2014, posting year-over-year sales improvements for the tenth straight month in March and the fourth consecutive quarter.

The all-new Ford Tourneo Courier will offer growing families and urban motorists with active lifestyles best-in-class fuel efficiency, space and exclusive safety features when it is delivered to the first customers in spring 2014.

Ford’s own marathon-winning Ford Fiesta drove the London Marathon route this week to highlight its own personal best achievement. The MPG Marathon victor took gold at the auto industry’s annual fuel-saving endurance race in October, clocking up over 88mpg. Such smooth driving means only using a third of a gallon of fuel to cover the London Marathon’s 26.2-mile course.

The new Ford Fiesta ST’s trophy case is filling up fast. Ford’s fastest and most dynamic small production car has earned 22 awards from Europe and around the world since going on sale in March last year, making it the most-awarded performance subcompact Ford has ever made. Named BBC TopGear Magazine Car of the Year, U.K., and Echappement magazine Sports Car of the Year, France, the Fiesta ST also was recently named a 2014 Automobile Magazine All-Star in the U.S.

Ford Focus retains its title as world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate for 2013, according to Ford analysis of the just-released full-year Polk new vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive. The news comes as a new Focus 4-door prepares to make its debut at next week’s 2014 New York International Auto Show. Registrations of the Focus were up 8.1 per cent with 1,097,618 cars sold worldwide in 2013 compared to 1,014,965 in 2012, including 317,110 registrations in Europe last year – 29 per cent of total registrations. China now is responsible for more than one in every three Focus vehicles sold globally, based on Polk data.

Ford Focus retains its title as world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate for 2013, according to Ford analysis of the full-year Polk new vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive.

A UK car census conducted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows the automotive industry reflecting similar qualities to the baby boomer generation - resilience and longevity.

Chalking up its highest monthly sales volume since 2008, UK market leader Ford recorded year-over-year increases in its car and commercial vehicle (CV) sales for March and for the year to date. Ford’s lead over its nearest rival in car and total vehicle sales has also been extended both for the month and for the year to date.

Ford’s market-leading commercial vehicle range has scooped six major trophies at the 2014 VansA2Z Awards, including the overall Van of the Year title with the all-new Transit.

Ford’s Fiesta ST rallycross car was put through its paces in snowy Sweden in preparation for the upcoming rallycross season – and Ford Racing had cameras rolling to capture the spectacular winter test.