The top-selling Ford Focus - a popular motor vehicle choice in the Middle East - has outclassed 107 other models available in Germany, to recently be rated as the most reliable used motor car between one and three years old in 2001.

T-V, the influential Cologne-based industry body which controls and approves quality standards of industrial and consumer products, announced its findings in its Auto Report 2002 after exhaustive tests which saw 92.7 percent of used Ford Focus' examined register no fault at all.

In addition, the Ford Focus has received reliability recognition from Germany's Dekra, which inspected over six million used vehicles during 2001 before declaring the Focus as the most reliable one-to-three year old vehicle - with a remarkable 94.2 percent of Focus' examined registering no flaw.

Managing director of Ford Middle East and North Africa (Mena), Jim Benintende, said the recognition emphasised the Focus' superior quality.

"The Ford Focus combines a bold, signature design with outstanding functionality and vehicle dynamics," continued Benintende. "It's an all-around performer, without any weaknesses. It is best in class in virtually every aspect of the basic design elements and that is very rare. With Focus, buying a small car no longer means making compromises in comfort, room, appearance, driving character, safety or value. The Focus is an achiever in all of those areas."

Germany's Schwacke's Automibile Index also placed the Ford Focus in second spot in its November 2001 edition. This index rating is based on the Focus' maintaining a residual price of about 68 percent of its purchase price. This success is mirrored in the United Kingdom where new Ford Focus sales reached 136,882 units in 2001. The vehicle's ability to hold its residual value makes the Ford Focus the dealers' favourite used car stock in its class.

In 2001, Ford Focus sales amounted to 895,700 worldwide, with 568,000 sold in Europe alone. Following its introduction in the Middle East in 2000, Focus sales increased 45 per cent by end of 2001. Total Focus production worldwide since the vehicle was launched in October 1998 is now more than 2.5 million.

As the world's best selling car in the last two years, the Ford Focus has registered an unprecedented level of success and popularity in its segment, and won praise for its performance, handling and package ingenuity. It is the only vehicle ever to be voted Car of The Year both in Europe and North America.