Ford Escape, Explorer, and Fusion See Record August Sales, Fiesta Sales Down

The Ford Escape and Explorer crossovers plus the Fusion midsize sedan experienced record sales in August. After suffering in July due to a downturn in fleet sales, Ford sold 189,108 vehicles in the month of August, a 13.1-percent year-over-year increase over August 2011. Ford’s luxury arm, Lincoln, managed to move 8141 vehicles last month, a 1.7-percent year-over-year increase.

We’ve collected the biggest movers and shakers from Ford and Lincoln below.

Ford Winners and Losers

Ford Focus sales are surging this year, making it one of the best-selling compact cars behind the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Ford sold 19,073 Focuses last month, a 35.3-percent year-over-year increase, bringing Focus sales for the year to 166,950. Despite recent recalls, Ford Escape sales are up 36.8 percent year-over-year for the month of August. Ford sold 28,188 Escapes last month, bringing the year-to-date total to 176,927, making it Ford’s overall third-best seller through the first eight months of 2012. The Fusion also had its best-ever August, with 21,690 units sold through the end of the month and 181,865 through the first eight months of this year.

Flex sales may be down but the related Ford Explorer posted its best August sales results since 2006, with 13,168 sold – a 33.0-percent year-over-year increase. Through the end of August, 100,202 Explorers have been sold. The F-Series, of course, continues to be the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. with 58,201 trucks sold last month, many of them likely equipped with the EcoBoost V-6.

On the other side of the spectrum, the Ford Fiesta subcompact is a loser for the second consecutive month. Ford only sold 4176 models of its smallest car, marking a 28.4-percent year-over-year loss, and putting its year-to-date sales at just 39,561 (a 25.7-percent year-over-year downturn).

Lincoln Winners and Losers

The Lincoln MKZ continues to be Lincoln’s best-seller. Lincoln sold 3327 last month, which is a 42.4 percent year-over-year increase. Lincoln’s full-size MKT crossover had a good month, as well. Lincoln sold 604 MKTs last month, a 48.0-percent year-over-year increase, putting it up 47.5 percent for calendar year 2012. Sales of the Taurus-based Lincoln MKS weren’t as hot: MKS sales dropped 32.0 percent last month, to 1019 vehicles sold.