What's the news?
Ford will put hybrid versions of its big-selling Focus and Fiesta on sale later this year, as well as creating hybrid versions of the Transit van. The full announcement will be made next week at Ford's 'Go Further' event in Amsterdam (effectively Ford's own motor show and the reason it skipped the recent Geneva motor show) but we have some details already.
Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, said: "Our new Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models are examples of Ford's commitment to deliver new, more environmentally sustainable vehicles, sophisticated technologies, and valued services for our customers, and we have many more examples to announce in Amsterdam next week and beyond. We've gone to every length to develop mild-hybrid powertrains for two of our most popular cars that will help keep cash in customers' pockets while remaining true to the Ford 'fun to drive' philosophy."
Now, it's important to note that these are not Toyota-style hybrids, but instead mild-hybrids set up around a 48-volt battery and electric architecture. There's no electric motor built into the transmission, but instead a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) which can't drive the car itself, but which can help it save on fuel.
Attached to the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol turbo engine, the BISG can add a little extra torque when pulling away or accelerating, and can help minimise the effect of turbo lag. The compact 48-volt lithium-ion battery scavenges power from braking and coasting, and stores it for later use.
"Our 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has already proven that fuel-efficiency and performance can go hand-in-hand. Our EcoBoost Hybrid technology takes that to the next level," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. "We believe customers are going to love the smooth and urgent power delivery of our EcoBoost Hybrid powertrains just as much as they'll enjoy less-frequent trips to the fuel pumps."
So far, Ford is claiming 4.9 litres per 100km (57.6mpg) economy and 112g/km CO2 emissions for the Fiesta Hybrid, and 106g/km and 4.7 litres per 100km (60.1mpg) for the Focus Hybrid. Those figures are taken from the new WLTP emissions and economy test, so should be reasonably realistic.
The Transit will get basically the same 48-volt mild-hybrid architecture as the Focus and Fiesta, but attached to the back of an EcoBlue diesel engine. Ford is claiming 139g/km of CO2 for a Transit Custom Hybrid, and 6.7 litres per 100km (42.1mpg) economy.