Ford blames weather for U.S. sales drop in January

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is blaming the harsh weather for its 7-per cent sales decline in January.

Nearly every Ford brand vehicle saw sales fall from last January. Sales of the Focus small car fell 26 per cent, while the Fusion sedan was down 8 per cent. The company's bestseller, the F-Series pickup was flat from last January, with sales of 46,536.

Ford got a surprise boost from its Lincoln brand, which has been struggling to break back into the luxury market. Lincoln sales were up 42.5 per cent. Sales of the MKZ sedan, which was introduced last spring, more than quadrupled over last January's anemic levels. Ford sold 2,122 MKZs in January. Sales of the MKX crossover were also up 35.5 per cent.

Ford says it was Lincoln's best January in four years.