After building what is globally recognised as the first mass-production vehicle, Ford has established itself as one of Britain’s – and the world’s – leading brands.
With the help of affordable and well-built models, such as the Focus and Fiesta, the American manufacturer has been close to or at the top of British sales tables for some time.
Here we will give you an insight into the brand and what cars it currently offers for British customers.
Who owns Ford?
Ford of Europe – who make the vehicles driven in the UK – is owned by the Ford Motor Company that is based in the United States town of Dearborn, Michigan. Ford of Europe has been a subsidiary since 1967, with the main brand being founded by Henry Ford in 1903.
Who does Ford own?
The manufacturer has owned some of the world’s most famous car brands in the past, including Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Volvo and Aston Martin. But since the economic downturn in the mid-2000s, it has let most of those companies be sold to other companies – but still owns American brand Lincoln and Brazilian off-roader company Troller.
What country is Ford from?
The company was founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan in 1903, but he had originally started a company in 1901 called the Henry Ford Company. That was changed to the Cadillac Motor Company in 1902, so Ford left to create his own brand again. The company has since remained in the family and is currently headed by William Clay Ford Jr. as executive chairman and Jim Hackett as president and CEO.
Ford’s latest models
To please multiple sections of the market, Ford offers 15 total models in the UK currently including vehicles in all sectors. Here we will highlight its best and most recognisable units that you can – but in one case can’t – choose from.
Fiesta
The Fiesta has been a leader in the UK car market for roughly 40 years now and it shows no sign of going away. It is compact, practical and usually defines the design of the era that it sits. The Mk7 and newly-released Mk8 were a move towards a more angular look and the former is arguably one of the brand’s best looking cars, as it completely remodelled the Fiesta from a curvy supermini to a hatchback that really stood out from the crowd. It also comes in an excellent ST hot hatch form, with the latest version being sold from 2018.
Focus
If the Fiesta is slightly too small, the Focus is the step up and you get good practicality, handsome looks and a good driving feel. It replaced the Escort, which had established itself as one of Britain’s most loved cars, but the Focus has carried that success on and continues to be near the top of the country’s sales charts. It also has a raucous RS version that was one of the best cars of 2016.
Mondeo
The Mondeo is Ford’s family car of choice as it has lots of space on offer – especially in estate guise – and a comfortable ride. Now in its fourth generation, it has grown to be one of the most popular saloons on the market. But as customers move away from saloons and into crossovers, the Mondeo may be seen less and less.
Mustang
The name has been around since the 60s, but the Mustang has changed a lot in its time and only now does it look close to its best. The original is one of the most desirable cars in the world due to the image of retro design, but the newest version looks the part too. With a tweaked exterior design the 2018 model will continue that theme. Under the bonnet is either an Ecoboost engine that is economical but not as exciting, or a full-blooded V8 that sounds glorious and is a proper muscle car.
S-MAX
With sporty looks and tonnes of space, the S-Max is an interesting option in the family car market. Sitting in the middle of Ford’s MPV line-up, the S-Max has space for seven and comes with plenty of great technology to make it incredibly practical in most cases. Running costs aren’t too bad either, and is certainly a good alternative to a crossover.
Edge
This is Ford’s largest SUV and is one of the newest names to the line-up. It has an Americanised look that isn’t seen too often on British roads and is quite chunky when compared to the rest of the Ford range. It comes with the latest safety technologies and has plenty of space on offer, but may not be as handsome as some of its competitors.
Transit
For business owners who need to get lots of stuff from A to B, the Ford Transit is usually near the top of the list when choosing a van. It has been around since 1965 and has since become the van of choice in the UK. With different shapes and sizes to choose from, it is incredibly adaptable and with it now in its fourth generation, it is still well ahead of its competitors.
GT
Now, however much you want this frankly stunning machine, you can’t guy it anymore as all the units have been sold out – but we don’t see why we can’t mention it. This GT is inspired by the Le Mans racer that is currently doing rather well in the World Endurance Championship and was converted to work on the road rather than many of its contemporary racers. The name has been around since the legendary race cars of the 60s, and is one of Ford’s greatest triumphs. This current model uses a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and gets up to a top speed of 205mph.
