This has been a superb year for Ford, and unless the carmaker has a December of biblically bad proportions, the Blue Oval will end 2013 as America's best-selling brand. By close of play in November, Ford had sold 2,202,150 vehicles to Toyota's 1,806,109, Chevy's 1,793,632 and Honda's 1,240,372. Year end figures should see that number rise to over 2.4 million units sold, which represents a year-to-date sales increase of 15 percent.

While the F-Series pickup will be the best-selling vehicle of the year with over 700,000 models shifted, it is a combination of strong models that has enabled the Dearborn-based carmaker widen its lead over Toyota et al. There have been record sales for the Fusion, Fiesta and Escape, hybrid sales have tripled, and the Focus is in demand. Fusion sales should exceed 290,000 units in 2013 and while this is eclipsed by the Camry, which sold almost 379,000 through November, the gap has never been closer. 2014 should build on this year's sales successes. "With 16 launches next year, we're looking to keep our sales momentum going," said John Felice, Ford's US marketing VP.