FORD’s Mustang can now celebrate two global sales crowns, earning world’s best-selling sports car and its fifth straight best-selling sports coupe title. Mustang is also America’s best-selling sports car of the last 50 years.

Mustang sold 102,090 units, according to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit, making it the best-selling sports car in the world in 2019. During this period, Mustang sales in Germany increased 33 per cent, in Poland sales rose by nearly 50 per cent, and in France, they nearly doubled.

The year 2019 also marks the fifth consecutive year that Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe in the world. Sports coupes, as defined by IHS Markit, include two-door and convertible models.

Ford sold 9,900 Mustangs in Europe during 2019, a three per cent increase year-on-year, with 1,300 sold in the UK.

Mustang is offered for customers in Europe in fastback and convertible body styles, with a choice of 449 PS 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine with 10-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions, and 291 PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission.

The special edition Mustang BULLITT featuring an enhanced 460 PS 5.0-litre V8 engine is offered in fastback body style with a choice of Shadow Black or classic Dark Highland Green exterior colours, and unique exterior and interior details.

OTR vehicles top 40 million

THE number of vehicles registered for use on British roads has surpassed 40 million for the first time, according to new Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The UK’s largest automotive analysis reveals that more than 35 million cars and five million commercial vehicles were in use in the UK in 2019, representing a one per cent increase on the previous year.

Light commercial vehicles saw the biggest percentage growth, rising 2.7 percent on the previous year to 4,527,724 units, surging by 28 percent in the last decade. Passenger cars, meanwhile, increased 0.8 per cent to 35,168,259 over the same period, as the number of heavy goods vehicles grew by 0.4 per cent to 607,998 – the largest number delivering for Britain since 1990.

Speeds are in lockdown too

ROAD safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is asking drivers to pay close attention to the speeds they use while out and about during the current period of lockdown.

GEM says that speed limits continue to apply and that ignoring them brings significantly increased risks. In London alone, for example, eight people have died and many others have been seriously injured in road collisions, with speeding being the most frequent factor identified by police.