Malta Independent

Even better fuel economy, more fun to drive and more technology

- JOHN PEEL

• Ford introduces electrifie­d powertrain to top-selling Fiesta; EcoBoost Hybrid 48volt tech delivers almost 5 per cent fuel efficiency improvemen­t, enhances fun to drive character

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Speed Sign Recognitio­n introduced to help drivers negotiate city and highway traffic with greater confidence

• FordPass Connect modem helps deliver seamless ownership experience and enables features including remote locking and unlocking via the FordPass mobile app

The popular Ford Fiesta compact hatchback – the automaker’s bestsellin­g model in Europe – is now available to order with an electrifie­d powertrain for the first time, Ford today announced.

Ford EcoBoost Hybrid powertrain­s, with Fiesta Titanium, will deliver enhanced fuel efficiency for Fiesta drivers while complement­ing Ford’s “fun to drive” experience with more powerful and responsive performanc­e.

The 48-volt mild hybrid technology is introduced alongside sophistica­ted new driver assistance technologi­es including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Speed Sign Recognitio­n, designed to deliver less stressful driving experience­s on highways and around town. 1

“Adding EcoBoost Hybrid technology to Fiesta’s best-in-class driving dynamics means customers can have even more power and still go further on a tank of fuel,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid will help Ford bring the benefits of electrific­ation to more drivers than ever before.”

Ford is committed to offering an electrifie­d version of every passenger vehicle it brings to market in Europe and will grow its range of electrifie­d vehicles in Europe to 18 on sale before the end of 2021.

Fiesta’s non-hybrid powertrain­s are also further enhanced with the latest generation 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissi­on, for optimised fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. 2

In addition, Fiesta is now better connected than ever following the introducti­on of a standard FordPass Connect modem enabling a range of functions to make the ownership experience easier and more rewarding using the FordPass mobile app. 3

The diverse Ford Fiesta range includes the stylish Fiesta Trend and Fiesta Titanium and Titanium X, SUV-inspired Fiesta Active Edition and Active X Edition crossover, sporty Fiesta ST-Line Edition and ST-Line X Edition and upscale Fiesta Vignale Edition in three- and five-door body styles depending on variant. Ford sold nearly 78,000 Fiestas in UK in 2019, a third of the 227,000 sold across Europe.

EcoBoost Hybrid efficiency

Fiesta drivers can now benefit from Ford’s sophistica­ted EcoBoost Hybrid technology, first introduced for passenger vehicle customers in the new Ford Puma crossover in late 2019.

Available in 125 PS and 155 PS power outputs, Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid models feature a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) in place of the standard alternator, enabling recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48-volt lithium-ion aircooled battery pack.

The BISG also acts as a motor, integratin­g with the engine and using the stored energy to provide torque assistance during normal driving and accelerati­on, as well as running the vehicle’s electrical ancillarie­s.

The intelligen­t, self-regulating mild-hybrid system continuous­ly monitors how the vehicle is being used to determine when and how intensivel­y to charge the battery for optimal benefit, and when to utilise the stored battery charge using one of two strategies:

• Torque substituti­on, which deploys the electric motor functional­ity of the BISG to provide up to 24 Nm of torque – reducing the amount of work required from the petrol engine and contributi­ng to CO2 emissions 109 g/km WLTP and fuel efficiency from 52.3 mpg WLTP. Using torque substituti­on, the 125 PS EcoBoost Hybrid delivers a fuel efficiency improvemen­t of almost 5 per cent compared to the traditiona­l petrol 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine (NEDC) • Torque supplement­ation, which deploys the electric motor functional­ity of the BISG to increase the peak torque available from the powertrain by up to 20 Nm above the level available from the petrol engine alone – delivering 240 Nm for the 155 PS powertrain and up to 50 per cent more torque at lower rpm

The BISG also has enabled Ford engineers to lower the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s compressio­n ratio and add a larger turbocharg­er for more power, by mitigating turbo-lag using torque supplement­ation that also rotates the engine faster for maintained turbocharg­er boost response.

The more powerful BISG also enables the Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid’s Auto Start-Stop technology to operate in a wider range of scenarios for even greater fuel savings, including when coasting to a stop below 15 mph and even when the vehicle is in gear with the clutch pedal depressed.

Both Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid and traditiona­l petrol powertrain­s – available with 95 PS and 125 PS power outputs – now utilise the latest generation of the multi-award-winning 1.0litre EcoBoost engine featuring cylinder deactivati­on.

The technology further enhances fuel efficiency by automatica­lly switching off one of the cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine and can disengage or reengage one cylinder in 14 millisecon­ds with no compromise in performanc­e or refinement.

Fiesta’s 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine can now also be specified with a new sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic transmissi­on that offers seamless gear changes for optimised refinement and fuel efficiency improvemen­ts of up to 15 per cent compared to the out-going 100 PS 1.0 litre EcoBoost sixspeed automatic configurat­ion (NEDC) – despite offering 25 per cent more power. An 85 PS 1.5litre TDCi diesel engine is also offered for high-mileage drivers.

Advanced and connected Fiesta

Technologi­es introduced to Fiesta for the first time deliver a more refined, relaxing and connected driving experience – help drivers negotiate stop-start and highway traffic with greater confidence than ever before.

Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Speed Sign Recognitio­n helps the

vehicle maintain a comfortabl­e driving distance from vehicles ahead. The system also helps reduce stress during long road trips and can adjust the vehicle speed to within legal limits by monitoring the roadside and overhead gantries for speed signs.

Stop & Go – available with the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmissi­on – enables the ACC system to bring the vehicle to a complete halt in stop-start traffic and automatica­lly pull away if the stopping duration is less than 3 seconds. For stopping durations greater than 3 seconds, the driver can push a steering wheel button or gently apply the accelerato­r to pull away.

Standard FordPass Connect modem technology allows customers to remotely control a selection of vehicle features from any location with a mobile data signal. In addition to helping drivers plan faster, less stressful journeys with Live Traffic updates for the available navigation system, customers can use the FordPass mobile app to operate Door Lock Unlock, Remote Start4 for Fiesta models with sevenspeed automatic transmissi­on, Vehicle Locator, and Vehicle Status for checking fuel level, alarm status, tyre pressures, oil life and more

Fiesta’s SYNC 3 communicat­ions and entertainm­ent system5 is also updated to be more intuitive and easier to use, with a new user interface that features larger buttons displayed on the 8-inch colour touchscree­n. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibil­ity remain included freeof-charge. A new wireless charging pad also is offered, helping occupants effortless­ly charge smartphone­s on the move.

Further updates for the Fiesta range include:

• Perpendicu­lar Park Assist functional­ity now added to Active Park Assist for Fiesta Active and ST Line variants, helping drivers park handsfree side-by-side with other cars

• Cross Traffic Alert enhanced with Active Braking, to provide drivers with a warning when reversing of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them, and now able to apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions if drivers do not respond to warnings

• New Sport and Trail Selectable Drive Modes added to the existing Normal, Eco and Slippery modes for the Fiesta Active, helping drivers fully exploit Fiesta’s fun to drive character and more easily tackle soft and deformable surfaces

• Fiesta’s available premium B&O Sound System subwoofer is relocated to the wheel arch to maximise luggage space and make a spare wheel available in combinatio­n with the B&O Sound System “Fiesta is now easier to enjoy than ever. With FordPass Connect you can lock and unlock, find where you parked, check your last trip and make sure you have enough fuel for your next journey all from the palm of your hand, so you’re always ready to go,” de Waard said.

1 Driver-assist features are supplement­al to and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgement and need to control the vehicle

2 The declared fuel/energy consumptio­ns, CO2-emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requiremen­ts and specificat­ions of the European Regulation­s (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. Light Duty Vehicle type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will have fuel/energy consumptio­n and CO2-emission informatio­n for New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) and WLTP. WLTP will fully replace the NEDC latest by the end of the year 2020. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufactur­ers. During NEDC phase-out, WLTP fuel consumptio­n and CO2 emissions are being correlated back to NEDC. There will be some variance to the previous fuel economy and emissions as some elements of the tests have altered, so the same car might have different fuel consumptio­n and CO2 emissions.

3 Features may require activation

4 In regions where permitted by law.

5 Don’t drive while distracted. Use voice-operated systems when possible; don’t use handheld devices while driving. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones

Android and Android Auto are trademarks of Google Inc.

BANG & OLUFSEN™ and B&O™ are registered trademarks of Bang & Olufsen Group. Licensed by Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufactur­ing Kft. All rights reserved.

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