Ford will reveal significant electrification, commercial vehicle and SUV news as part of the company’s vision for a new era of mobility at a special ‘Go Further’ experience in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on April 2.
Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, and incoming chairman, Ford of Europe, will be joined by an executive leadership team including Stuart Rowley, incoming president, Ford of Europe, to unveil news and products including a diverse family of electrified powertrain solutions for Ford customers.
The manufacturer says that new 48-volt mild-hybrid Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models will be introduced next year. The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid is anticipated to have CO2 emissions from 112g/km, while the Focus EcoBoost Hybrid will have emissions starting from 106g/km.
“Our new Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models are examples of Ford’s commitment to deliver new, more environmentally sustainable vehicles, sophisticated technologies, and valued services for our customers, and we have many more examples to announce in Amsterdam next week and beyond,” Armstrong said.
“We’ve gone to every length to develop mild-hybrid powertrains for two of our most popular cars that will help keep cash in customers’ pockets while remaining true to the Ford ‘fun to drive’ philosophy.”
The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid will feature a mild-hybrid architecture tailored to enhance fuel-efficiency.
A belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) replaces the standard alternator, enabling recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48-volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.
The BISG also acts as a motor, integrating with the low-friction, three-cylinder 1.0‑litre EcoBoost combustion engine and using the stored energy to provide torque assistance during normal driving and acceleration, as well as running the vehicle’s electrical ancillaries.
The electric torque assistance helps deliver punchier, more responsive performance, particularly at lower engine speeds, for a more flexible and connected driving experience. The BISG has also enabled Ford engineers to boost the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s power with a larger turbocharger, by mitigating turbo-lag.
“Our 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has already proven that fuel-efficiency and performance can go hand-in-hand. Our EcoBoost Hybrid technology takes that to the next level,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president of marketing, sales and service for Ford of Europe.
“We believe customers are going to love the smooth and urgent power delivery of our EcoBoost Hybrid powertrains just as much as they’ll enjoy less-frequent trips to the fuel pumps.”
In addition to the Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrids, the new Mondeo Hybrid wagon was unveiled earlier this year, featuring a full-hybrid architecture.
Ford also is introducing mild-hybrid powertrain solutions to enhance the fuel-efficiency of the Transit 2-tonne and Transit Custom vans, and the Tourneo Custom eight/nine-seater people-mover, on sale later this year.
Furthermore, Ford earlier this year announced that every one of the company’s nameplates launched from the all-new Focus onwards will include one or more electrified options. This includes new nameplates and new versions of existing vehicles. From Fiesta to Transit, either a mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full battery electric option will be offered.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
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