DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 27, 2010 Ford's popular fuel-saving
technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle
comes to a stop a feature found today on the Ford Fusion Hybrid and
Ford Escape Hybrid and some Ford cars in Europe will soon be added to
conventional cars, crossovers and SUVs in North America.
Ford's patented new Auto Start-Stop system for gasoline engines
will improve fuel economy for most drivers by at least 4 percent. The
gain can be as high as 10 percent for some drivers, depending on vehicle
size and usage. It can also reduce tailpipe emissions to zero while the
vehicle is stationary or waiting at a stoplight. Ford has more than 244
patents for its Auto Start-Stop technology and will showcase the
feature on a concept in January at the North American International Auto
Show.
Auto Start-Stop is the latest example of Ford moving aggressively
to bring affordable advanced fuel-saving technologies to all customers.
Ford has already introduced electric power steering, dual-clutch
PowerShift six-speed transmissions and other fuel-saving features as
part of the company's commitment to lead or be among the leaders in fuel
economy in every segment.
Ford's global Auto Start-Stop technology is smooth, quiet and
seamless, and it requires no changes to the driver's behavior. In city
driving when the vehicle is stopped, the engine restarts the instant the
driver's foot leaves the brake pedal. When the engine is off, all of
the vehicle's accessories function normally.
For the driver, Ford Auto Start-Stop provides extra fuel
efficiency without inconvenience, as it works completely automatically,
said Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president of Powertrain engineering. And, just like in our hybrid vehicles, the heater and air conditioner
work as normal so drivers will not sacrifice comfort.
The global rollout of Auto Start-Stop is under way in Europe. The
system, designed to work on both gasoline and diesel engines, is
standard on the ECOnetic models of the Ford Ka and Mondeo, and is
launching now on Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX. The fuel-saving system
debuts in North America in 2012 and eventually will be offered in all of
Ford's global markets.
Many North American Ford customers are already familiar with Auto
Start-Stop. A similar system has been installed on more than 170,000
gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles Ford has sold since 2004. Ford is the
leading domestic producer of start-stop systems. In 2011, the version of
Ford's Auto Start-Stop designed for gasoline-electric powertrains will
be on the Escape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid as well as the Lincoln MKZ
Hybrid.
Many of the same Ford engineers who designed the Auto Start-Stop
system used on Ford and Lincoln hybrids are developing the Auto
Start-Stop system for non-hybrid vehicles that will be sold around the
globe, said Samardzich.
When Auto Start-Stop debuts in North America, it will be available
on gasoline-powered cars and utilities with either a manual or automatic
transmission as well as vehicles that use Ford's patented dual-clutch
six-speed automatic transmission.
Ford's aggressive move to direct-injection EcoBoost™ engines
is one of the technologies that enable the Auto Start-Stop system to
work seamlessly, Samardzich said. The direct-injection system, which
sprays the exact amount of fuel directly into the precise location in
the combustion chamber, helps enable extremely fast engine starts,
Samardzich explained. The system debuts on four-cylinder engines and
will gradually be expanded to vehicles with V6 and V8 engines.
Auto Start-Stop does not require any additional vehicle
maintenance. The system uses an enhanced 12-volt automobile battery and
upgraded starter motor, said Birgit Sorgenfrei, program manager for Auto
Start-Stop.
Our hybrid owners tell us that start-stop is one of their favorite
features, said Sorgenfrei. When the engine is off, they know they are
saving fuel and reducing emissions.
The system includes a light on the dash that alerts the driver when
the engine is off and a special tachometer that moves the needle to a
green zone when the engine is not running.
Ford engineers are making customer comfort a priority in
engineering the system. A special electric pump keeps engine coolant
circulating through the heater so drivers will stay warm in cold
weather, Sorgenfrei said.
Ford's start-stop technology conserves fuel and eliminates emissions at
every vehicle idle opportunity once customer comfort and convenience
are assured this is good for the environment, Sorgenfrei said.
Auto Start-Stop is just the latest in a long list of fuel-saving technologies Ford has brought to market in recent years.
Ford's industry-leading suite of fuel-saving technologies include:
- EcoBoost engines, which combine turbocharging, direct injection
and twin independent variable camshaft timing or Ti-VCT, with downsizing
to deliver outstanding fuel economy without sacrificing performance
- Improved and highly fuel-efficient TDCi turbo-diesel engines in European models with low emissions and high levels of refinement
- Electric power steering, which eliminates the engine-driven hydraulic pump, lines and fluid
- Six-speed transmissions, which enable engines to run more efficiently by always selecting the best gear for fuel economy
- PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission, which efficiently
sends the engine's power through the transmission without relying on a
torque converter or hydraulic pumps
In 2011, Ford will be the only manufacturer in North America to
offer four vehicles that get 40 mpg or more. Those vehicles, the Ford
Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, are part
of a dozen vehicles leading their sales segments in fuel economy, a
record no other manufacturer can match.
Ford Auto Start-Stop works so fast and so seamlessly, most drivers
won't even notice it is there, though they will notice the benefits in
their lower fuel bills, Samardzich said.
