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At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Ford of
Europe is revealing the next step in its acclaimed low CO2
Ford ECOnetic strategy, the super-efficient new 2010 Focus ECOnetic.
Dedicated Ford ECOnetic Fiesta, Focus,
Mondeo and Transit models have already established themselves as
credible alternatives for customers prioritising low carbon motoring and
high levels of fuel efficiency. The new model for 2010 takes this
formula even further by combining new technology with clever details to
produce the most efficient Focus ECOnetic to date.
Efficient technology
The new Focus ECOnetic five-door is available with a new optional Ford
Auto-Start-Stop system that was previewed on the Ford iosis MAX Concept
at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Regardless of whether Auto-Start-Stop is
specified, the Focus ECOnetic has Smart Regenerative Charging and Low
Tension FEAD (Front End Accessory Drive) technologies that are new to
the Ford of Europe product line-up, and which combine to deliver lower
emissions and better fuel efficiency and pave the way for future
powertrains from the blue oval.
Power comes from Ford's 109PS (80kW)
1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine with standard coated Diesel Particulate
Filter (cDPF). Target average CO2 emissions for the
Auto-Start-Stop equipped car are as low as 99g/km, with a combined fuel
economy of 74.2mpg and 104g/km for the standard Focus ECOnetic.*
The new Focus ECOnetic is also the
first vehicle to feature the new Ford Eco Mode system as standard. An
all-new driver information system, Ford Eco Mode helps to educate the
driver to achieve improved real-world fuel economy thus benefitting
the customer's pocket as well as the environment.
"To achieve these impressive figures,
we combined the proven approach of the original Focus ECOnetic model
with even more detail improvements and all-new technologies," said Dr.
Thilo Seibert, Manager CO2 Technologies for Ford of Europe.
"The new Focus ECOnetic is particularly significant as it paves the way
for some of these technologies to be implemented into our core vehicle
series in the near future."
Ford Auto-Start-Stop system
The new Focus ECOnetic five-door is the first European Ford to offer a
new Ford Auto-Start-Stop system, which combines automatic engine
start-stop operation with the car's smart regenerative charging and
advanced battery management systems.
The Ford Auto-Start-Stop system
automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle is at idle at a
traffic light, for example and restarts the engine when the driver
wants to move off, saving the fuel wasted while the vehicle is
stationary.
The system can reduce fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions by up to five per cent in mixed driving
conditions. In an urban environment and in heavy traffic with frequent
stops the savings could increase to as much as 10 per cent.
The advanced new Ford Auto-Start-Stop
system has been carefully designed with customer comfort in mind, and to
provide consistent starting and stopping performance that is smooth,
quiet and seamless, requiring no changes in driver behaviour.
When the engine shuts down, the
electronic control unit immediately prepares the engine's systems for an
instant restart. An integrated system of sensors is then used to detect
when the driver performs an action that signals the intent to drive off,
such as pressing the accelerator or clutch pedal.
As soon as the driver prepares to move
away, the engine starts quietly and almost instantly; it only takes the
system around 0.3sec to fire up the engine. The process is near
imperceptible, and happens before gear selection is completed.
To support the increased number of
engine starts, the starter motor is upgraded with a high performance
electric motor and a stronger pinion-engagement mechanism with reduced
noise levels.
Smart Regenerative Charging
The new Focus ECOnetic also uses advanced technologies to ensure that
the battery is kept charged in the most efficient way.
A Smart Regenerative Charging system
increases the alternator output when the vehicle brakes or decelerates.
This converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric energy
without having to use additional fuel.
The free electric current is used to
recharge the battery, so that it can be used by the electrical systems
at a later stage. This could be when the engine is switched off during
a stop-phase, but can also be when the generator is operating in a less
efficient mode.
The battery has an advanced management
system that continually monitors its status and communicates with the
Ford Auto-Start-Stop system, so that the regenerative charging feature
can charge the battery in the optimal way. The start-stop system knows
how much battery charge is available, so that it can leave the engine
running if the battery does not have a sufficient level of charge.
The versatile alternative: New 104g/km Focus ECOnetic
In order to offer even greater versatility to cost-conscious ECOnetic
customers in many markets, Ford is also launching additional five-door
and estate versions of the new Focus ECOnetic without the integrated
Ford Auto-Start-Stop system.
Available with Ford's 1.6-litre
Duratorq TDCi engine with standard coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF)
in both 90PS and 109PS power ratings and in a choice of five-door and
estate bodystyles, these versions offer the full range of the latest
Focus ECOnetic technology, with the single exception of the start-stop
functionality.
Even without Ford Auto-Start-Stop,
average CO2 emissions are a low 104g/km and target average
fuel consumption is 70.6mpg.
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