7/28/2008
Ford to Speed Up Production of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
Ford Motor Co. is adding several new North American products in the near- and
mid- term, and shifting from a primary emphasis on large trucks and
SUVs to smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to recent reports. By the end of 2010,
two-thirds of spending will be on cars and crossovers – up from
one-half today.
A company spokesman said it is accelerating the development of the new products customers
want and value. "We sell some of the best vehicles in
the world in our profitable European and Asian operations, and we will
bring many of them to North America on top of our already aggressive
product plans."
The new products include six European small vehicles to be introduced in North America by the end of 2012.
According to Ford spokesman, the company has no intention of giving up its longtime truck
leadership, and are creating a new Ford in North America on a foundation
of small, fuel-efficient cars and crossovers that will set new
standards for quality, fuel economy, product features and refinement.
The Ford, Lincoln, Mercury lines will be almost completely upgraded by the end of 2010.
Coming in 2009 are the first applications of Ford's new EcoBoost
engines. EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection
technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, up to 15 percent
fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus
larger-displacement engines.
EcoBoost V-6 engines will be introduced on several vehicles next
year, beginning with the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus sedans, and Ford
Flex crossover. Four-cylinder EcoBoost engines will debut in 2010 in
both North America and Europe. Ford will offer EcoBoost on more than 80
percent of its North American lineup by the end of 2012.
Ford also plans to double capacity for North American four-cylinder
engines to more than 1 million units by 2011, to meet the consumer
trend toward downsized engines for fuel economy. The smaller engines
will deliver significant fuel savings.
In addition, Ford plans to double its hybrid volume and offerings
next year – and is looking to expand further going forward. Production
of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid begins
in December – with fuel economy expected to top the Toyota Camry
hybrid.
With these new models, the Ford Escape Hybrid – now in its fifth
year of production – and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford will offer
four hybrid vehicles. That will make Ford the largest domestic producer
of full hybrid vehicles in North America, second only to Toyota in
sales volume.
Ford also is introducing six-speeds with PowerShift that offers the
fuel economy of a manual transmission and convenience of an automatic;
start-stop engines that shut off when the vehicle stops; electric power
steering; direct injection, and Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing
engines. These technologies will be progressively introduced within the
North American lineup by 2012.
In the next five years, Ford will build more than 1 million
vehicles a year worldwide off its global B-car platform and nearly 2
million units worldwide off its global C-car platform.
Additional News Articles>>