If there's a car that might just break the mould of Ford Australia being known as the `Falcon' company, this is it: The Fiesta ECOnetic.
Even Ford acknowledged this car is it's future, by placing the diminutive Eco car centre stage of the Ford display at MIMS.
The facelifted Territory, which had it's first public outing, was placed on the sideline.
Territory is (still) waiting, waiting, waiting for an economical, efficient common rail diesel power plant.
The Fiesta ECOnetic is not a show car, but a production model from Ford's ECOnetic range in Europe.
It will join the Ford Australia stable late this year and brings to the blue oval a car that returns a miserly 3.7 litres/100 kms.
Added to that emissions of an equally frugal CO2 output of just 98 g/km.
And, for those who think Eco means a box on wheels, just look at the Fiesta. It could even be described as chic. Looks and brains too? You bet!
“Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic model will enable customers to drive a mainstream, fuel efficient and low CO2 emitting vehicle that is also stylish and affordable,” said Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela.
At the heart of the vehicle is a conventional diesel engine producing 68 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque. In all appearance it looks like your average garden-variety Fiesta. Yet, it has best-in-class CO2 emissions, `compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrid models.'
That's right. In economy and emissions it out performs Toyota's Prius. Ford state the efficiency and low CO2 emissions have been achieved by a number of factors.
These include:
- specially calibrated Duratorque TDCi common rail diesel engine
- low rolling resistance tyres
- low viscosity engine and transmission oils, developed in conjunction with BP
- longer final drive gear ratio
- addition of a green shift indicator light which tells the driver the best time to change gears to maximise fuel economy
- improved aerodynamics including lower ride height, air deflectors and unique wheel covers
- weight reduction by use of a tyre mobility kit replacing a traditional spare wheel
Australian specifications and pricing for Fiesta ECOnetic will be announced at a later date in the build up to the car's release here. |
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