After eight years as Britain’s top seller, the Ford Fiesta is making way for an all-new model arriving this month.

Across the country, 1,000,000 Brits have ordered new Fiestas since 2008 and over 4,500,000 since the first hatchback to bear the name arrived in 1976. Of the 120,000 examples registered in the last 12 months, 70 per cent were five-door models, 90 per cent petrol and 60 per cent Zetec, while 20 per cent chose the Titanium series.

Accordingly, the very first of the new Fiestas to be unloaded was a five-door Titanium with premium B&O PLAY audio, 1.0-litre EcoBoost 100PS engine and eight-inch touch screen connectivity. It was transported to a dealership in Birmingham, where most Fiestas are sold. 

The new hatchback is the most technologically advanced Fiesta ever, thanks to 15 high-tech features including Pre-Collision Assist featuring pedestrian detection, meaning that the driver is warned of people who are in or near the road ahead, automatic perpendicular parking, blind spot alert and auto high beam.

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said:  “This year the eyes of the car world in our market are on new Fiesta as it takes over the reign as top seller.  Having seen all Fiesta models coming over the next nine months, I’m confident it will remain on top.”

Joining the Ford Fiesta’s core range of Zetec and Titanium in dealerships this month will be sporty ST-Line and Vignale models in early autumn, both offering the acclaimed 1.0 EcoBoost 140PS engine, followed by an all-new Active crossover and ST hot hatch in spring next year.