The Ford Focus has out-sold its nearest competitor by more than 1,500 units in the first half of 2007.

A total of 8,592 Ford Focus models were sold between January and June of this year, representing 5.6% of the overall car market.

With three-quarters of all new car purchases made in the first half of every year, it is now virtually impossible for another model to overtake the Focus before the end of the year.

Nearly 80,000 Focus units have been sold in this country since its introduction in late 1998.

The top 10 best-selling cars in Ireland for January to June 2007 were: Ford Focus (5,892), Toyota Corolla (6,873), Toyota Avensis (6,627), VW Golf (6,494), VW Passat (5,948), Opel Astra (5,094), Opel Corsa (4,211), Toyota Yaris (4,049), Skoda Octavia (3,737), Ford Fiesta (3,353).

By Trish Whelan

MotorNet.ie