Ford Delivers Vehicles Customers Want

By Alice Arutoff

In late July, as prices at the pump continue to be a major concern for many across the U.S., President Obama announced a historic agreement with thirteen major automakers regarding One National Program for fuel economy standards.

Ford worked closely with the government and others to make sure we had a program that could benefit our customers and the environment, while protecting jobs and the economy. The program will help significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting jobs and the economy. By the 2025 model year, automakers will increase the average fuel efficiency to 54.5 mpg for cars and light-duty trucks.

“We are absolutely committed to continuously improving the fuel efficiency of all of our vehicles,” said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. “We support the agreement in principle on One National Program for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for the 2017-2025 model years.

“We are pleased to be a part of a solution that benefits the environment while protecting jobs and providing customers with a full range of affordable vehicle choices. This agreement provides the regulatory certainty we need to design and build fuel-efficient vehicles during the next 14 years.”

Ford is already working towards this goal. The company is committed to delivering continuously improved fuel efficiency on all of its cars and trucks.

Edge is the latest vehicle outfitted with Ford’s EcoBoost® 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, and is now EPA-certified to deliver 30 mpg highway.

Edge bests all SUVs its size or larger, in addition to cars such as the Honda Civic Si and the Saab 9-3 automatic. The only competitive utilities offering higher highway fuel economy than Edge with EcoBoost are a few smaller-size vehicles such as the Ford Escape Hybrid.

The Blue Oval’s showroom offers customers a choice among 13 model/ powertrain variations that deliver 30 mpg or more – including four vehicles with EPA-certified 40 mpg or higher – a claim no other full-line automaker can match.

Building on Ford Explorer’s current class-leading V6 fuel efficiency, the addition of EcoBoost power and a 28 mpg highway rating now puts Explorer over the top.

“Today’s SUV buyers place a high priority on miles per gallon, so Explorer has expanded its portfolio of fuel-efficient engines with an allnew EcoBoost offering,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager, Large Cars and Crossovers. “SUV buyers deserve economy with their capability, so Explorer now offers best-in-class V6 and four-cylinder fuel efficiency.”

EcoBoost has been successful at attracting new, more upscale customers to the Ford showroom. Ford Taurus SHO and Ford Flex with EcoBoost lead the Ford lineup for car and utility conquesting. More than half of all Taurus SHO buyers are new to the Ford brand, and more than 62 percent of Flex with EcoBoost buyers had not previously considered a Ford product.

With Ford F-150 pickup trucks now offering an EcoBoost option, sales of Ford vehicles with this advanced technology have crested 70,000 units and the F-150 EcoBoost now accounts for 40 percent of total F-150 sales, making it the top-selling full-sized V6 pickup truck on the market.

EcoBoost is a global Ford strategy to provide affordable fuel efficiency for millions of drivers while also delivering the power they desire. By the end of 2011, Ford will have built nearly 180,000 EcoBoost-powered vehicles in North America. EcoBoost will be offered on 90 percent of Ford nameplates by 2013.

Listed here are the Ford offerings with their respective city/highway EPA-rated fuel economy estimates: • Edge with EcoBoost: 21 mpg/30 mpg
• Escape Hybrid FWD: 34 mpg/31 mpg
• Escape Hybrid AWD: 30 mpg/27 mpg
• Fiesta five-speed manual: 29 mpg/37 mpg
• Fiesta automatic: 29 mpg/38 mpg
• Fiesta SFE automatic: 29 mpg/40 mpg
• Focus five-speed manual: 29 mpg/37 mpg
• Focus automatic: 28 mpg/38 mpg
• Focus SFE automatic: 28 mpg/40 mpg
• Fusion 2.5-liter automatic: 23 mpg/33 mpg
• Fusion Hybrid: 41 mpg/36 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Coupe automatic: 19 mpg/31 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Convertible automatic: 19 mpg/30 mpg

More on fuel economy:

Ford's Fuel-Efficiency Leadership
Ford Ecoboost Fact Sheet
Improving Fuel Economy Step by Step
Eco-Driving Tips