FORD performance car sales in Europe have almost doubled this year, with close to 31,000 sold in the region August year-to-date – a massive 98% up on 2015.

This year Ford will sell more than 200,000 performance cars globally, including Mustang, Focus RS, Focus ST and Fiesta ST – nearly double the volume of three years ago.

Almost 14,000 of this year’s new Ford performance car deliveries in Europe have gone to eager UK buyers – up by 61% from 8,675 in the same eight-month period last year.

Over 5,050 Brits have ordered Focus RS since the award winner went on sale last year, while an additional 4,800 have opted for Mustangs.

Younger, more affluent car buyers are choosing Ford for its growing line-up of performance vehicles – particularly cars – that get them where they need to go with added thrills.

“Ford’s commitment to performance leadership continues, with Ford on track to deliver 12 new performance vehicles promised by the end of the decade,” said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director.

Focus RS, recently introduced for the first time globally, has sold out in every region around the world, and customer orders in Europe have now exceeded 8,800 since launch.

Ford has now sold more than 38,000 Fiesta STs in Europe since the class-leading hot hatch was introduced in 2013, and sales were up 11% August year-to-date compared with 2015.

A new five-door version of the Fiesta ST is now available to order in Europe for the first time, and Ford earlier this year also revealed the new 200PS Fiesta ST200 – available in three-door bodystyle only – with 6.7sec 0-62mph acceleration. Read our review here.

European Focus ST sales were up 21% August year-to-date compared with 2015.

Sales of Mustang, the world’s best-selling sports coupe in 2015, continue to grow in Europe and Asia Pacific after limited availability last year. Mustang customer orders in Europe have exceeded 20,000 since the car was launched late in 2015. Mustang has beaten rivals in the UK to become favourite high power sports car (250PS and over).

As consumer demand for performance cars grows, the Ford Performance brand is also increasing its vehicle portfolio. The all-new F-150 Raptor arrives in the U.S. during the fourth quarter. It then heads to China for the first time, too. And more than 6,500 consumers applied to own the first 500 Ford GT cars, which begin arriving late this year.

Ford Performance recently announced it will offer the all-new Ford GT for two additional production years, bringing the production commitment to the carbon fibre supercar to a total of four years.