Posts Tagged ‘Ford’

Filed under: MPG, Ford, Green Daily, Paris Motor Show

Just days ago, Ford confirmed that the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine found in the current Focus ST and RS would be discontinued due to its inability to meet Euro 5 emissions standards. This left us eagerly awaiting the announcement of a replacement model for Ford’s hot hatch. Now, the word is out that Ford will debut the Focus ST’s successor, at least in concept form, at the Paris Motor Show this October.

Ford has confirmed the unveiling of an “exciting performance model” that will showcase the styling of the upcoming 2012 front-wheel-drive Focus ST. The vehicle is expected to be powered by a 2.0-liter turbo’d four-cylinder mill producing about 250 horsepower and employing Ford’s Ecoboost technology. Ford has stated that the concept vehicle represents a future “global performance model” and promises that it will be “exciting to drive and great to look at.” Our cameras will be at the ready to catch this concept in all of its glory late next month.

[Source: Autocar]

Paris preview: Ford confirms debut of “exciting performance” Focus concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog Green

Filed under: Ford

One of the long-time knocks against small cars has been that they sacrifice safety for efficiency. However, modern crash simulation and testing technology, as well as material science, is making that complaint a thing of the past. Case in point: the 2011 Ford Fiesta has just scored a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Fiesta is the first B-segment car to get the top ranking since IIHS added new roof crush requirements to its rating system. Extensive computer simulation has allowed body engineers to tailor the use of high-strength steels and conventional steels in order to direct the energy of an impact into areas of the body that won’t affect the occupants. Designing in paths that collapse in a controlled manner helps to keep the passenger cell intact and, in many cases, like the one shown above, the doors still open normally even after the collision.

The performance of the Fiesta is particularly impressive since Ford has managed to avoid the very thick pillars found on many other newer cars. Those thick pillars can create very large blind spots increasing the chance of a collision.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Fiesta demonstrates that smaller can still be safe

Ford Fiesta demonstrates that smaller can still be safe originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog Green

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Ford, UK

When a car comes with a 48-page press release, well, you know its maker has some special things in mind for it. The 2011 Ford Mondeo, in five-door and wagon styles, is just such a car, with The Blue Oval calling it “the most stylish and technologically advanced Mondeo ever.” Visually, the car’s main lines haven’t changed, but the details have been made sharper: a sleeker front bumper with new LEDs and more aggressive lip, the twin character lines down the side, the chrome trim all around the windows and the new chiseling in the rear valance.

Inside is the familiar story of upgraded materials wrapped around new techno bits. Ambient LED illumination falls from overhead, where also resides a new woven headliner. Driver aids include Lane Departure Warning system, Auto High Beam, Driver Alert, Smart Regenerative Charging and Active Grille Shutter, which opens and closes the grille aperture automatically to promote either cooling or increased aerodynamic efficiency.

Under the hood are new engines, including the Mondeo’s first crack at Ford’s 237-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost. That will be an option alongside the current, 203-hp version. There’s also a reworked 2.2-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel putting out 197 hp, the most powerful such engine yet.

It goes on sale as soon as next month at the same starting price as the current Mondeo, £17,295 (,842 U.S.), although the Titanium trim gets bumped up £200 to £19,945 (,958 U.S.). Follow the jump for an abridged version of the presser, and take your time perusing our huge gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Mondeo gets spiffed up

2011 Ford Mondeo gets spiffed up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

Incoming search terms:

• 2011 mondeo upgrade

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, Green Daily

In an effort to help prepare the city of Portland and the Pacific Northwest for upcoming electric vehicles (EVs), Ford Motor Company and Portland General Electric (PGE) will work collaboratively to ensure that the area’s electrical grid can support battery-powered vehicles and will focus on informing consumers about the benefits of going electric. Ford and PGE will work together to convince local and state governments to develop an EV incentive program and hope to promote legislation and regulations that will encourage people to adopt EVs.

PGE recently unveiled the nation’s first quick-charge station at its World Trade Center headquarters in Portland, OR. The quick-charge stations add to a network of more than 20 charging stations in PGE’s operating area. Ford will introduce its first battery-powered vehicle, an electrified version of the Transit Connect, later this year, followed by the Focus EV in 2011. Follow the jump for more regarding the recent paring of Ford and PGE.

In related news, Ford has partnered with the city of Seattle to prepare that area for its EVs as well. The terms of the agreement between Ford and Seattle are nearly identical to the deal struck up with PGE. Mike Tinskey, Ford’s manager of vehicle electrification and infrastructure, spoke of the importance of partnering with Seattle, stating:

Ford has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011. There is an incredible excitement for electric vehicles in Seattle. To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles in Seattle and across the country, it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and demand on the grid are ready.

With the addition of Portland and Seattle, Ford, like Nissan, is focusing a significant amount of effort into developing the EV infrastructure on our nation’s western coast. Now it’s time to expand the scope of those projects and reach out to areas in the Midwest.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford finds partners to prepare Oregon, Seattle for electric vehicles

Ford finds partners to prepare Oregon, Seattle for electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog Green

Incoming search terms:

• ford seattle electric vehicles

Filed under: MPG, Ford, Land Rover, Paris Motor Show

Jaguar’s got a good thing going with its use of Ford engines, and even an engine shortage isn’t enough to deter Land Rover from getting in on the game. A report in Autocar suggests that the Land Rover Evoque could make use of the 2.0-liter, four-cyliinder Ecoboost engine that Ford just installed as the premium engine into the 2011 Explorer.

On the ‘sceptered isle, the same Ecoboost serves in the Mondeo, but with 203 horsepower instead of the 237 that the Explorer variant outputs. Since Land Rover won’t say anything about the report, probably trying to maintain the surprise until the Evoque is revealed at the Paris Motor Show, we don’t know which tune the Evoque might get. But that engine and the possibility of using Ford’s six-speed, dual-clutch Powershift transmission could go all the way to backing up Land Rover’s assertion that the Evoque will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle it has ever produced.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Land Rover Evoque to get 2.0-liter EcoBoost from Ford? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog Green