LAST year was one of Ford's best in a long time.
Not only did it sell more cars wearing the familiar blue oval badge, it increased its share of the UK market and ended a great year by walking away with the coveted European Car of the Year title for the highly-praised S-Max sporting MPV.
Ford's sales figures for 2006 reveal Fiesta as the current star in a Ford range which has led the UK car market for three decades.
Once again, the Fiesta was the first choice among private buyers and 2006 saw sales leap 24 per cent from 83,803 to 103,856.
And to keep the momentum going, there are a number of special edition models on offer for March buyers, including a new high-spec version of the Zetec S which has been created to mark 30 years of sales success for Britain's favourite small car.
The Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary edition model will be a limited run of just 400 vehicles and will be on sale in March.
Priced at £12,595 on the road it takes the already complete specification of the Zetec S model and adds a host of extra equipment to make a highly attractive package adding around £1,400 of extra value.
Additional features are unique radian yellow paintwork, panther black door mirrors, side mouldings, tailgate handle and spoiler, MP3 connection socket, silver dashboard bezel, velour mats, privacy glass, full leather seats, chequered flag roof decal and chequered scuff plates.
Meanwhile there's a new Pursuit special edition of the Fusion which also has guaranteed exclusivity - only 500 examples will be available at prices from £10,995.
Features include a unique two-tone finish and a body styling kit with deep side mouldings extending from the front and rear bumpers and following the length of the car.
The Pursuit is available in seven colours: colorado red, tonic, moondust silver, tango red, frozen white and verdigris and ocean blue, all matched with the lower body in black.
Special promotional offers are available on most Ford models in the run up to the new registration period - including the S-Max and Galaxy Zetec models - but some of the best deals can be expected on the Mondeo range which will be replaced later this year by an all-new model.
The Mondeo Edge special edition, for example, comes with 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, air conditioning and rain sensing windscreen wipers, auto lighting and an automatically dipping mirror for only £12,995.
But there's one new Ford model which you're unlikely to get special deals on just yet and that's the drop-dead-gorgeous new Focus Coupe Cabriolet which has just gone on sale and is expected to be in big demand for the new 07 plate.
Priced from £16,795 it's a genuine four seater with an all-weather folding hard top and comes in three trim levels with a choice of 1.6 and two-litre petrol or two-litre turbodiesel engines.