Ford has announced the use of new green technologies across a host of its models. Set to make formal announcements at the Geneva Motor Show, the car maker will also unveil its C-MAX Energi, a pre-production version of the plug-in hybrid that will launch in Europe in 2013.
The car maker has also said its new Focus Electric, Ford’s first-ever all-electric passenger car, will come to Europe in 2012.
The Focus Electric is a zero emission, fuel-free, version of Ford’s compact car and it is hoped it will become a flagship for the company’s growing fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles.
The C-MAX Energi is the first of two electrified models based on the C-MAX five-passenger multi-activity vehicle. It will be joined by a C-MAX HEV when they both go on sale in Europe in 2013. They offer low fuel consumption and emissions as well as a distinctive body design and what Ford describes as a flexible interior.
Ford says its underlying commitment to electric cars is also demonstrated by its show car development of the zero-emission Transit Connect Electric which will also be on show in Geneva.
Based on the Transit Connect Kombi, it is one of several electric Ford vehicles currently on test in the UK and features the same battery electric power train as the Transit Connect Electric Van, which goes on sale in the UK later this year.
Developed in conjunction with Ford’s US-based electric vehicles partner Azure Dynamics, it has a proprietary Force Drive battery electric drive train powered by an advanced battery pack designed by Johnson Controls-Saft.
Another one of Ford’s announcements is that it will be boosting its flagship large car family with a new 114g/km CO2 Mondeo ECOnetic and introducing a range of additional powertrain enhancements for its Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models.
A new and efficient 1.6-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi, with peak power of 115 PS, has been added to the range of engines offered in Ford’s large cars. At the same time the Ford Auto-Start-Stop system is being made available for this small displacement diesel engine, as well as for the recently introduced 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost engine (160 PS).
The combination of the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi and Ford Auto-Start-Stop system also builds a solid foundation for the new Ford Mondeo ECOnetic, which boasts homologated CO2 emissions of 114 g/km.
