SUPERMINIS produced by Ford could be among the first to offer super-clean diesel motoring. A new range of motors sized up to 1.5-litres now being designed could easily incorporate the French company's advanced particle filter technology, according to PSA Group chairman Jean-Martin Folz.

The engines are under development at the PSA research centre in la Garenne-Colomber, Paris, in a FF2 billion agreement between the companies to create power units which will meet stringent new requirements on exhaust emissions. They will replace the familiar 1.5-litre TUD series which powers the Peugeot 106 and Citroen Saxo, but Ford has yet to reveal which of its cars they will drive.

'Of course, I cannot speak for Ford, but it would be easy for the PF system to be fitted to the common-rail units which both companies are now working on. I would think several manufacturers are likely to be interested in the system, provided they think the price is reasonable,' Folz told FNN.