Best-selling cars 2005

On 7 July 2005, a series of terrorist bombings struck London’s public transport system during the morning rush hour. That same year, Tony Blair became the longest-serving Labour Prime Minister and Charles, Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles.

James Blunt, Coldplay and Robbie Williams topped the music charts, which included both physical and download sales for the first time. Meanwhile, Internet access among the UK population reached 70 per cent.

After three consecutive years at record levels, the local car market decelerated by five per cent, to 2.44 million sales. The Ford Focus celebrated seven straight years at number one in the sales charts, but the most striking development was the push by foreign cars, which accounted for half of the top 10.

The Volkswagen Golf made its way into the annual top five for the first time in its 30 years in production, and in 2002, the Peugeot 206 broke the all-time annual volume record for a foreign nameplate, with 101,019 sales – a record that still stands today. Renault also shone with its Clio and Megane.

The BMW 3 Series’ performance demonstrated the UK’s growing appreciation for premium models. Elsewhere, MG Rover production stopped in April, when the company was declared insolvent.

Best-selling cars 2005

Click below for the best-selling cars of that year...

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