LOWER CO2 AND IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY FOR KEY FORD MODELS

 

Cologne, November 18, 2008: Several key Ford models are being improved to deliver lower CO₂ levels and enhanced fuel economy to help customers achieve lower costs of ownership.

 

New lower CO₂ Ford C-MAX 1.6l TDCi and Ford Kuga 2.0l TDCi Front Wheel Drive (FWD) models will be available from December 2008 to meet important European tax break points, while improved S-MAX, Galaxy models started production in September.

 

With an average CO₂ emission of just 119 g/km, both the 90 PS and 109 PS versions of the Ford C-MAX 1.6l Duratorq TDCi set best-in-class figures, making it is the only vehicle in this highly competitive segment to undercut the important 120 g/km tax barrier.  The fuel economy of the C-MAX 1.6l TDCi has been improved accordingly and the combined figure is now 4.5 l/100 km (62.7 mpg)*. On the European extra urban drive cycle, the
C-MAX even comes in below the 4.0 l/100 km landmark by delivering an impressive
3.7 l/100 km (76.2 mpg)* result.

 

The FWD version of the crossover Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi now delivers a lower CO₂ level as well.  With an average CO₂ emission of just 159 g/km and a European combined fuel economy of 6.1 l/100 km (46.2 mpg)*, the FWD Kuga meets attractive tax break points in various markets. 

 

The FWD model complements the best-in-class fuel economy and CO₂ performance of the Kuga fitted with Intelligent AWD at 6.4 l/100 km (44.1 mpg)* and average 169 g/km CO_2.

In both cases, the Kuga is powered by a Ford 2.0l Duratorq TDCi engine with a peak power of 136 PS (100 kW), an impressive maximum torque figure of 320 Nm, and standard Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

 

To accomplish these newly homologated fuel economy and CO₂ emission figures for the
C-MAX 1.6l TDCi and the Kuga FWD, Ford engineers have introduced detailed improvements to the vehicles such as a 'sleep mode' for the electro-hydraulic EHPAS power steering.

 

Gunnar Herrmann, Ford's Global C-Car Vehicle Line Director, comments:  "These changes may appear small at first but they really make a difference for the environment and our customers' wallets.  By meeting new tax break points in several European markets, customers for the C-MAX 1.6 TDCi and the Kuga FWD can save a significant amount of money."

 

"These new achievements are a key contributor to Ford's affordable C-Car approach," Herrmann added. "We are able to use the highly flexible Ford Focus architecture to deliver a wide range of efficient vehicles, from the ultra-low CO₂ and highly frugal Focus ECOnetic to the newly homologated C-MAX and Kuga FWD models. Together, these show Ford's continued commitment to delivering better fuel economy and emissions for our customers through technical improvements that really add value.

 

The new figures for the C-MAX 1.6l TDCi are particularly impressive, as this car is not just the only one in its competitive set to undercut the 120 g/km tax barrier, but its actual CO₂ performance figure is also a league apart from its direct competitors in the European market," Herrmann concluded.

 

In addition to C-MAX and Kuga, popular models in Ford's large car range also now benefit from improved CO₂ figures for vehicles built after September 2008.

 

The latest Ford S-MAX and Galaxy vehicles equipped with the 115 and 140 PS versions of the 2.0l Duratorq TDCi and 6-speed manual transmission now benefit from reduced CO₂ emissions of 159 g/km (from 164g for S-MAX and 165g for Galaxy), which equates to an average European fuel consumption of just 6.1 l/100 km (46.2 mpg)*.

 

Another perfect example of Ford's commitment to delivering very sustainable products for cost- and conservation-conscious customers is the Ford ECOnetic range.

 

The latest entry to this range, the Fiesta ECOnetic, is powered by a specially-calibrated version of the 90 PS 1.6l Duratorq TDCi, combined with coated Diesel Particulate Filter. Ford’s most economical Fiesta has a fuel consumption of just 3.7 l/100 km* on the EC Combined Cycle. This is matched with a class-leading CO₂ output of 98 g/km – making Fiesta ECOnetic the lowest CO₂ vehicle in both its segment and Ford’s European range.

 

New Fiesta ECOnetic will be on sale across Europe later this year and completes an initial trilogy of production models in the company’s European vehicle range that also includes a 139 g/km Ford Mondeo ECOnetic and a 115 g/km Ford Focus ECOnetic. A new Ford Ka ECOnetic model is also under development for future introduction.