New Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost offers 99g/km CO2 emissions

Ford has announced a new ultra-efficient version of the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost that will be the first petrol-powered family car in Europe to offer 99g/km CO₂ emissions.

The Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost has returned 67.5mpg in tests thanks to its specially calibrated 100PS version of Ford’s award-winning engine.

The new Ford Focus will feature Ford ECOnetic Technology including ultra-low rolling resistance tyres, unique aerodynamics under the car and revised gearing to help deliver the company’s most fuel-efficient ever petrol-powered family car.

“Just a couple of years ago few would have thought that a medium-sized petrol car could break the 100g/km CO₂  barrier,” said Barb Samardzich, European Product Development vice president. “Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has a habit of taking expectations of what a petrol engine can deliver and turning them upside down.”

The International Engine of the Year 2013 and 2012 makes the new model more powerful than a first generation Ford Focus with a 1.6-litre engine from less than 10 years ago, while producing 47 per cent less CO₂.

The new model will extend to three the number of Focus models offered with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, alongside the standard 100PS version, with 109g/km CO₂ emissions, and the 125PS with 114g/km CO₂.*

Introduced to the Fiesta, B-MAX, C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX last year, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will be extended to the EcoSport SUV, Transit Connect and Transit Courier commercial vehicles; Tourneo Connect people mover; and later the all-new Mondeo.

Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine uses a low inertia turbocharger, split cooling system and direct fuel injection to deliver surprising levels of performance from the three-cylinder engine block. The new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost 99 g/km will also use a range of fuel-efficient Ford ECOnetic Technologies including Auto-Start-Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Active Grille Shutter and Ford EcoMode to support a more economical and environmentally friendly driving style.

Ford is also currently launching the zero emissions Focus Electric, and also offers the diesel Focus ECOnetic that delivers 88g CO₂ emissions.*

“With the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost, Focus Electric and Focus ECOnetic, Ford offers customers an unrivalled power of choice of fuel-efficient family cars,” said Sherif Marakby, medium car vehicle line director, Ford of Europe.

New Focus Navigator models

Available immediately in the UK are new Ford Focus derivatives with satellite navigation as standard.  The Focus Zetec Navigator is offered in addition to the standard Zetec series and adds Ford nav, new-design 16in alloy wheels and centre console.

The Titanium Navigator series replaces the Titanium series and adds Sony satellite navigation, new 16in alloy wheels and rear parking sensors.  The Titanium X Navigator supplants the Titanium X series, offering Sony nav, rear view camera and new 17in alloy wheels.

These series are priced from £17,555, £19,295 and £21,295 respectively, compared with £17,305, £19,045 and £21,045 for Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X currently.

Ford EcoBoost video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd6mUcqV8oY

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Ford using rice hulls to make greener and tougher pickups

Ford is proving that pickups can be green and tough by adding rice hulls to the list of sustainable materials used to build F-150 – America’s best-selling truck.

Ford is using plastic reinforced with rice hulls – a byproduct of rice grain – in an electrical harness in the 2014 F-150. The company will need at least 45,000 pounds of hulls in the first year.

“The 2014 F-Series exemplifies our continued efforts to use recycled content in our vehicles,” said John Viera, Ford global director of sustainability and vehicle environmental matters. “We can have greater impact in this case because of the size and sales volume of this product.”

The rice hulls are sourced from farms in Arkansas and will replace a talc-based reinforcement in a polypropylene composite made by RheTech, a Whitmore Lake, Mich.-based automotive supplier.

“We developed this resin specifically for Ford over the last three years, working with the automaker closely, including in all phases of material qualification,” said David Preston, director of business development for RheTech. “The whole process has been a rewarding success for both Ford and RheTech, which can add yet another natural-fiber based product to our RheVision line.”

Rice hull-reinforced plastic is the most recent example of Ford researchers and engineers using sustainable material whenever possible in the F-Series – without compromising toughness and durability. F-Series trucks already feature:

• Recycled cotton: Used as carpet insulation and a sound absorber; every 2014 F-150 contains enough recycled cotton to make the equivalent of 10 pairs of jeans
• Soybeans: Used to make seat cushions, seat backs and head restraints
• Recycled carpet: Some F-150 trucks have cylinder head covers made with EcoLon, a nylon resin produced from 100 percent post-consumer recycled carpet
• Recycled tires: A thermoplastic material made from recycled tires and post-consumer recycled polypropylene is used to make shields and some underbody covers on F-150
• Recycled plastic soda pop and water bottles: A lightweight fiber derived from recycled plastic soda pop and water bottles is used to construct F-150 wheel liners and shields. The parts are significantly lighter than traditional injection molded parts and lead to a quieter ride. Select F-Series trucks feature fabric made from recycled fiber
• Recycled post-industrial plastics: Used in interior finish panels, including around radio and climate controls

Researchers in Dearborn are constantly searching for the next sustainable material that can feasibly be used in Ford vehicles. Finding a source of material is only the beginning of the process, however, because before making it to production, components made from recycled content must perform as well or better than comparable virgin-grade material.

Materials development engineers at Ford Materials Engineering, Testing and Standards in Dearborn, in conjunction with RheTech, conducted testing of the rice hull material for more than a year, examining everything from smell and appearance to functionality and flammability. The rice hull-based material successfully passed all tests.

With F-Series as America’s best-selling truck for 36 years – averaging more than 650,000 sales per year – the environmental impact of being as sustainable as possible adds up fast. Ford estimates about 10 million pounds of recycled cotton are used in F-Series trucks annually.

“Fuel economy is a top priority when it comes to Ford’s environmental impact,” says Carrie Majeske, Ford product sustainability manager. “But we also recognize the tremendous impact that can be made by using sustainable materials inside our cars, utilities and trucks.”

The eco-friendly aspects of F-Series extend to the powertrain. The available 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine combines technologies typically associated with heavy-duty truck diesel engines – turbocharging and direct fuel injection – in a gasoline engine. The engine delivers fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent, while reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 15 percent.

Further, the 2014 F-150 equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 engine will be available this fall with a factory-installed package that allows the engine to operate on either natural gas or gasoline through separate fuel systems.

The complete F-Series Super Duty pickup truck and chassis cab lineup is available with gasoline, diesel, B20, and dedicated compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas capability, or CNG/LPG bi-fuel capability, while Ford F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks can be outfitted for gasoline, biodiesel or CNG/LPG operation. In addition to biodiesel and CNG/LPG offerings, the 6.2-liter V8 can operate on E85, an ethanol-gasoline mix.

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Huge UK demand for this hot hatch leads to production boost

Ford has received double the expected number of orders for the award-winning Ford Fiesta ST in its first six months on sale, with almost one third of all orders placed across Europe coming from the UK.

More than 3,000 Fiesta ST orders have been placed in the UK since it went on sale at the end of March, a sales rate well ahead of the projected 5,000-per-year target. Europe-wide demand is being led by UK customers, making up 56-per cent of all dealer reservations across the continent. As a result, Fiesta ST production will increase by 15 per cent to 60 vehicles per day to keep up with growing demand.

Fiesta ST’s unique Pearlescent Molten Orange and Spirit Blue metallic paint colours have been requested on 45 per cent of orders and 56 per cent of buyers have opted for higher specification ST2 models.

“The customer and media reaction to the Fiesta ST has been extraordinary – it’s really become an instant classic and orders have been extremely strong,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.  “We are doing what we can to increase production and try to meet demand.”

Since it was launched in the UK, the Ford Fiesta ST has been highly-commended by the British media. Auto Express crowned it “Hot Hatch of the Year 2013”, while BBC Top Gear named the Fiesta ST as the winner in its competitive set, declaring: “Everything about the Fiesta ST – the steering, the handling, the responsiveness – is peerless”. Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson said: “I honestly haven't driven a car as surprising or as likeable as this for a very long while.”

The Ford Fiesta ST offers performance-tuned steering, suspension, brakes and enhanced Torque Vectoring Control; as well as Ford MyKey, SYNC with Emergency Assistance and Recaro sports seats. Powered by a 180bhp, 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, the Fiesta ST is capable of 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 139mph.

A Mountune engine upgrade, available for £599, increases output to a maximum of 212bhp.

The success of the new Fiesta ST follows on the heels of the Focus ST, which went on sale in summer 2012. Equipped with a 247bhp, 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Focus ST was the best-selling hot hatch in Europe during the first six months of 2013, with 4,000 sales.

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900 new jobs building Ford F-150s in Kansas City Assembly Plant

Here are some good economical news for a change. Ford, today welcomes a third crew of 900 new hourly workers at its Kansas City Assembly Plant to meet surging customer demand for the Ford F-150.

Ford F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series lineup, the nation’s No. 1-selling vehicle for 31 years and the best-selling truck for 36 years.

“Ford F-Series sales are the strongest since 2006, and we are increasing production to meet this demand.” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager. “This is an important indicator that our economy is growing again. We are proud that Ford Trucks are helping more and more of our customers get back to work.”

The additional production crew is Ford’s first step in bringing more than 2,000 jobs to Kansas City Assembly Plant to meet growing truck demand and to launch production of the all-new Ford Transit van early next year.

Over the past year, Ford announced it will increase capacity by 600,000 units in North America to meet surging demand for its cars, trucks and utilities.

F-Series demand

Customer demand for Ford F-Series continues to strengthen:

• F-Series sales increased 22 percent from January to July 2013, compared to the same period last year
• F-Series sales were at 60,449 in July, representing the best July sales month since 2006 and a 23 percent increase over 2012
• Based on July U.S. sales results, F-Series sales now have increased for 24 consecutive months

The Built Ford Tough F-150 delivers the segment’s best combination of power, capability, safety and fuel economy. F-150 leads in a variety of fields, including:

• 68 percent market share in hazardous materials work
• 67 percent share in the oil pipeline industry
• 62 percent share in road and highway maintenance

“Whether it’s construction, farming, energy or law enforcement, Ford trucks keep America working,” said Scott.

Going further
The additional jobs at Kansas City Assembly Plant come as Ford continues to retool and expand the facility through a $1.1 billion investment to ready for Transit production. Kansas City Assembly Plant has more than 250 suppliers nationally and more than 10 suppliers locally that will benefit from the addition of a third crew. When Transit production begins, close to 275 suppliers nationally and six suppliers locally will grow their business.

“Missouri’s resurgent auto industry continues to drive economic growth and create good jobs for Missouri families in Kansas City and across the state,” Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said. “I applaud Ford for their historic investment in this region and congratulate the hundreds of additional autoworkers going to work building America’s most popular pickup right here in the Show-Me State.”

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Michael Schumacher's Benetton and other treats auctioned this week

 1938 BMW/AFM 328 Roadster ex Günther Bechem/German GP

The car in which seven time World Champion Michael Schumacher scored his first ever Grand Prix points is to be auctioned at COYS’ sale in Nürburgring, Germany, on 10th August.

This Benetton F1 Ford Cosworth is a direct derivative of the B194, in which Schumacher took his first title in 1994. It is eminently eligible for any historic Grand Prix events and remains highly competitive, having appeared at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed in 2003 and 2004.

The car is offered in excellent race-ready condition with Pi dashboard, a data acquisition system and all equipment necessary to run and drive the car, including a spare set of wheels and assorted spare components. It also includes a comprehensive file documenting the car's history, restoration and its most recent race-preparation last year.

Chris Routledge, Managing Director of COYS, said: “This is a stunning and fine handling racing car. B191 05 represents a highly important piece of both Benetton and Michael Schumacher’s history. It is an opportunity not to be missed.”

COYS Nürburgring auction also features a 1938 BMW/AFM 328 Roadster ex Günther Bechem/German GP. After WWII, Alex von Falkenhausen (AFM), an engineer who worked for BMW on the 328's before the war, opened a garage in Munich where he tuned pre-war 328s. Later in 1948 he went on to build his own car marque with the 328's engine.

This unique BMW/AFT 328 was sold to Günther Bechem, who often raced it under the nickname “Bernhard Nacke”. In 1953, Bechem along with Hans Stuck entered two AFMs in the Nürburgring German Grand Prix, both qualifying and racing against modern the likes of Ascari's Ferrari some 15 years after leaving the BMW production line.

This car must be one of the most significant racing AFM 328 on the market, having last raced at Spa for over one hour without problems, and is estimated at €350,000 to €380,000.

A unique Lancia Aprilia Riva Spider will also go under the hammer. This car was made by Signor Riva, from coachbuilder Carrozzeria Riva near Varese, in Italy, from the same factory drawings using a spare chassis in their shop in the 80s.

It has a normal Aprilia engine and is exactly the same as the original car, made by the same company and panel beaters. This Lancia is estimated at €105,000 to €120,000.

The sale will also feature an exceptional 1954 Moretti 750 Spider Bialbero Michelotti, estimated at €240,000 to €280,000, a very rare 1946 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Pininfarina Cabriolet, estimated at €175,000 to €190,000, a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C1750 Turismo Carrozzeria Barbini, estimated at €250,000 to €300,000 and a 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE 30th Anniversario, one of only 150 produced, estimated €120,000 at €140,000.

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Nearly 50 years of Mustang Legend

Ford is launching ‘Mustang Countdown,’ an online video series to throw the spotlight on the legendary sports car and the culture that has formed around it all across the globe, and to continue the celebration leading up to the 50^th birthday of the car on April 17, 2014.

Kicking off the series – Where It All Started: The Mustang 1 Concept – turns the clock back to the 1962 debut of the first concept car to wear the pony badge. From there, other episodes lift the lid on Ford’s exhaustive Mustang archives, Mustang toys, custom Mustangs and more all featuring unique and often rare footage, exclusive new interviews and expert insight.

“RC Movie Magic: Filming a Chase”, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of filmmaker Zach King’s recent project “The Cliché RC Action Chase.” That short film went viral earlier this year, garnering nearly 3 million views on YouTube. Just like the extensive filmography featuring Ford Mustang over the past 49 years, King’s video puts the Mustang in a prominent role. A pair of radio controlled Ford Mustangs star in an action-packed sequence that features drifting around corners, tight racing and helicopter gunships, all without any computer-generated imagery.

“Fans around the world share a passion for Mustang that embodies the freedom of the open road and the spirit of performance driving,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “The ‘Mustang Countdown’ series is another way in which Ford is honoring that heritage with numerous celebrations over the next year,”

Upcoming episodes will tackle video games, Mustang’s competition heritage custom restomods and more.

More than 9.2 million Ford Mustangs have been sold since the car’s 1964 debut. Mustang has made more than 3,000 appearances on film and TV – including “Bullitt” (1968), “Gone in 60 Seconds” (1974 and 2000), “I Am Legend” (2007) and Drive (2011). In 2014, a modified Mustang will be the hero car in “Need for Speed,” based on the long-running video game series from Electronic Arts.

Click here for the complete ‘Mustang Countdown’ series playlist on the Ford Mustang YouTube channel.

50 years of Mustang
The Ford Mustang is about to become the newest member of a very exclusive club – vehicles in continuous production for 50 years. In its first 49 years of production, Mustang has gained a worldwide base of avid fans, including more than 5 million on Facebook, the most of any vehicle nameplate. Mustang’s unique combination of style, performance and affordability established an entirely new class of sporty cars, and it has led the segment ever since.

Over the past 49 years, of the more than 9.2 million Mustangs produced and sold, most of them have originated close to Ford’s home base in Dearborn, Mich. From the racetrack to the silver screen to the airwaves to the toy box, Mustang has become an enduring part of pop culture.

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Henry Ford was a visionary ahead of his time

Today marks the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Henry Ford, whose innovative ideas revolutionised transportation and brought mobility to the masses. Henry Ford’s enduring impact is being recognised through events and declarations across the United States and around the world.

Celebrations at Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn headquarters today are being complemented by a special proclamation by the state of Michigan declaring this “Henry Ford Day.” In Washington, D.C., hundreds downtown and on Capitol Hill will mark the day enjoying commemorative cupcakes delivered by a food truck – part of a mobile movement Henry Ford would support.

While today’s events mark the day of Henry Ford’s birth, they are just part of a yearlong celebration of the man and his achievements.

Appropriately, given Henry Ford’s global impact, the anniversary of his birth is being commemorated in countries around the world throughout 2013. Some of the events include:

• Dealers in 21 Asia Pacific markets have launched Ford Heritage month, transforming showrooms into exhibitions on Ford’s rich history
• Ford of Germany marked the occasion with a series of five road rallies that celebrated Ford’s numerous automotive breakthroughs over the last 110 years
• More than 4,000 people attended community events held by Ford in Romania
• In Great Britain, celebrations were capped by the reveal of a restored statue of Henry Ford at the company’s UK Tech Centre

In coming months, celebrations will continue with additional events across the United States, Europe and South America.

Contributions to a better world

Henry Ford’s introduction of the automobile into the mass market transformed agricultural economies in the United States and around the world into prosperous industrial and urban markets. Many historians credit him with creating a middle class in America. His high minimum wage – revolutionary at the time – set a precedent for fair distribution of company wealth that influenced later management practices. For a timeline on Henry Ford, click here.

Henry Ford initially struggled to get Ford Motor Company on solid financial footing, but broke through with the Model T. The iconic vehicle debuted in October 1908, opening a new era in America. More than 15 million Model T’s were built and sold as Ford Motor Company put the nation on wheels.

The innovative spirit of Henry Ford took root in many other forms after the success of the Model T, including:

• Moving assembly line: In 1913 Henry Ford introduced the first moving assembly line for cars. Within 18 months, the amount of time needed to build a Model T was reduced from 12 ½ man-hours to 1 ½ man-hours, ushering in the modern auto industry
• $5 work day: To reduce high turnover rates among workers, Henry Ford more than doubled their pay in 1914, from $2.34 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day
• Vertical integration: To improve quality, Henry Ford sought to own, operate and coordinate all the resources needed to produce complete automobiles. This principle, known as vertical integration, was put into practice in 1927 with the Model A

“What my great-grandfather established, especially his legacy of innovation, continues to inspire our commitment to a strong business, great products and a better world,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “We are putting unexpected levels of technology within reach of millions of people, accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value, and driving growth by creating jobs and bringing the freedom of mobility to the world.”

Spirit of innovation guides Ford today

Henry Ford’s spirit of innovation continues to guide Ford Motor Company today, reflected in a lineup of vehicles as diverse as the F-150 pickup, Mustang sports car and Fusion Hybrid sedan. It lives on in technologies such as Ford SYNC, the company’s in-vehicle infotainment system, and fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines. And it echoes through employees serving customers across six continents.

Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, at 83. More than 50 years after his death, in 1999, Forbes magazine named him “Businessman of the Century,” and in 2012 a History Channel documentary highlighted him as one of “The Men Who Built America.”

“My great-grandfather’s vision was to improve people’s lives by making cars affordable for the average family,” said Bill Ford. “His vision to build cars that are reasonably priced, reliable and efficient still resonates and defines our vision today.”

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2014 Ford F-150 Tremor gives V8 performance with V6 economy

The 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor is the first-ever EcoBoost-powered sport truck that addresses the needs of street truck enthusiasts looking for high-performance V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

 

The short-wheelbase, regular-cab Tremor goes on sale this fall delivering distinctive looks and performance. The all-new truck couples the style of the FX Appearance Package with an EcoBoost engine and a launch-optimized 4.10 rear axle – the shortest final drive ratio offered in an EcoBoost F-150 – helping provide customers with fast acceleration.

Tremor signals its sport truck capabilities with a custom-inspired FX Appearance Package featuring stealthy, flat-black accents that include unique 20-inch flat-black wheels, stylized bodyside graphics and black badges with red lettering.

 

Tremor is the only regular-cab F-150 offering a flow-through center console and bucket seats. Interior touches include black leather seating surfaces with red piping, brushed-metal accents and a red-stitched steering wheel. Alcantara seat inserts add texture and style as well.

 

“The new Tremor gives F-150 customers yet another option to drive a highly capable, distinctive performance truck with features typically found only in the aftermarket,” said Brian Bell, F-150 product marketing manager. “Plus, the Built Ford Tough EcoBoost engine is available for the first time in a short-wheelbase F-150.”

 

F-150 Tremor is powered exclusively by Ford’s groundbreaking 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, which features:

 

• 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel
• 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm
• Twin independent variable camshaft timing for improved performance and fuel economy
• Up to 90 percent peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm

An electronic locking rear differential that’s standard for both two- and four-wheel-drive versions helps deliver the power to the pavement by improving traction during takeoff.

 

Connectivity comes standard on F-150 Tremor with MyFord Touch powered by SYNC. Designers have optimized the physical interface for MyFord Touch to accommodate truck users who may be wearing work gloves by providing easy access to climate controls and audio presets on the center stack.

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Electronic Break Light communicates with the car behind

Ford has participated in a special test of a high-tech early warning “brake light” that can warn drivers following behind even if they are around a bend or behind other traffic.  

The technology is one of 20 potential future systems Ford tested as part of Safe Intelligent Mobility – Testfield Germany (sim^TD), a four-year joint industry research project.

In emergency braking situations, the experimental “Electronic Brake Light” transmits a wireless signal to illuminate a dashboard light in cars following behind. The study found the technology could enable drivers to brake earlier and potentially mitigate or avoid a collision.

The sim^TD field tests involved 500 test drivers in 120 vehicles – including 20 Ford S-MAX models. Testers logged more than 41,000 hours and almost a million miles on public roads and an enclosed test track in Germany.

“Car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications represent one of the next major advancements in vehicle safety,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford’s chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. “Ford is committed to further real-world testing here and around the world with the goal of implementation in the foreseeable future.”

Ford used specially-equipped Ford S-MAX models to help test the potential of car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication; also testing Obstacle Warning system, which alerts to the presence, position and type of potentially hazardous objects in the road, and Traffic Sign Assistant, that keeps in contact with traffic management centres for up-to-date information.

Engineers from Ford’s European Research Centre in Aachen, Germany, led the Electronic Brake Light development, testing and data analysis.

Further technologies tested for sim^TD included:

• Public Traffic Management, which provides exact traffic prognosis based on comprehensive information; this includes identifying likely traffic scenarios and their impact at the point in the journey when they are encountered rather than at the point of departure   
• In-car Internet Access, which, for example enables the driver to receive information about free parking spaces or check traffic hotspots by receiving up-to-date pictures from traffic cameras.

As a global leader in researching car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications, Ford is engaged in the European Commission-supported field operational tests DRIVE C2X, and in the U.S. contributing to Safety Pilot Model Deployment, a field test of more than 2,800 vehicles in cooperation with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Collating results from these programmes supports Ford’s objective of harmonisingstandards for messaging and hardware globally that would enable the delivery of new technologies faster, more efficiently, and more economically.

sim^TD is a joint project by leading German automotive manufacturers, component suppliers,  communication companies, research institutions and public authorities. The funding for the project was approximately £45million, of which £26million of direct project promotional support was provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

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2014 Ford Fiesta achieved impressive 41 mpg

The new 2014 Ford Fiesta has achieved 41 mpg (5.74 l/100km) in EPA testing. Fiesta is currently the only subcompact car to surpass 40 mpg.

 

The fuel economy claim is for Fiesta SE with the Super Fuel Economy package that includes Ford’s 1.6-liter engine and PowerShift automatic transmission. Along with the EPA-certified 41 mpg highway rating, Fiesta achieves 30 mpg (7.84 l/100km) in the city and 34 (6.92 l/100km) mpg combined.

 

The claim is significant because fuel economy is often cited as the No. 1 reason for purchase consideration in the subcompact class, according to Ford data. The new 2014 Fiesta will be arriving in dealers soon.

 

“The 2014 model is shaping up to be a game changer for Fiesta,” said Liz Elser, Ford Fiesta marketing manager. “With the addition of Fiesta ST and the award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost, we have fantastic performance and fuel efficiency. But with today’s news, buyers will have a fuel-efficient Fiesta no matter which they choose.”

 

Two key technologies help Fiesta achieve fuel economy leadership – its advanced aerodynamics and dry, dual-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission.

 

In terms of aerodynamics, the SFE package adds rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields, lower grille blockers, low-rolling-resistance tires and cruise control. Together, these features decrease the amount of fuel needed to push the car through the air at speed.

 

The second enabler is the PowerShift transmission. Unlike regular, hydraulically operated automatic transmissions that use power-sapping torque converters, wet clutches and pumps, Ford’s new dual-clutch PowerShift automatic consists of two manual transmissions – in the same case – working in parallel. Each has its own independent clutch unit controlled by computers, and fast-acting electromechanical actuators that shift the gears.

 

In addition to the leadership claim for highway fuel economy, the new Fiesta boasts a best-in-class suite of technologies and features that give drivers a connected, yet untethered, driving experience.

 

A new MyFord Touch system with 6.5-inch touch screen featuring enhanced voice control is now available. Fiesta still features SYNC AppLink capabilities pioneered on the first Fiesta, which allow drivers to access and control Ford-approved smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls while on the go.

 

Ford MyKey is a new feature for Fiesta, which enables parents to encourage safer driving and limit their teenagers’ exposure to risk at the wheel. The system allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. It also mutes audio until seat belts are fastened and ensures driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated when used.

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Steve Soper makes classic comeback

Touring car hero Steve Soper is ready to make for a very welcome competitive comeback at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).

The 61-year-old was forced out of the sport on medical advice following a heavy crash in the final round of the 2001 MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. However, following a recent operation on his damaged neck, he has now been given the all clear and is ready join the growing number of racing legends competing in what’s firmly established as the world’s biggest motor racing festival.

Soper will make his eagerly-anticipated return sharing a Ford GT40 with close friend David Cuff in the two-driver World Sportscar Masters which features a full 58-car grid of glorious Le Mans-style sportscars from 1962-1974 era.

“It’s going to be great to make my comeback with David racing a GT40 at the Silverstone Classic,” said Soper. “It’s such a mega event. I went last year and the racing was just fantastic; now I’m looking forward to be taking part in it.”

Voted ‘the greatest saloon car driver of all times’ by an panel of experts in a poll conducted by Motor Sport magazine, Soper attributes his imminent return to a combination of worsening health and medical advances.

“After the accident I was told to totally change my lifestyle, so that’s what I did. I totally stopped racing and concentrated on my BMW dealership in Lincoln,” he explained. “But last year I started getting pins and needles in my fingers, so I went back to see the specialist. To cut a long story short, he insisted I had an operation on my damaged neck which, thanks to today’s technology, has replaced three of my discs and two vertebrae with carbon cages. The surgeon tells me that, after the three and half hour operation in January,my neck is now as strong as it was when I was 21 and therefore has cleared me to start competing again.”

The news came as huge relief to Soper who admitted to being an increasingly frustrated spectator. “I’m still a petrol head and I find it difficult to be at a race meeting and not to be involved. More so recently as I’ve seen so many of my old friends having such fun in these fabulous historic events like the Silverstone Classic and Goodwood Revival. Now I’m back and really looking forward to doing a few selected meetings such as those, when lucky enough to be invited.”

The GT40 in which Soper will be making his comeback in July is currently nearing completion at renowned GT40 experts Gelscoe Motorsport in Derbyshire. 

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