FORD ECOBLUE

Still basking in the glow of acclamation around its Ecoboost engine line, Ford has revealed an all-new 2,0-litre Ecoblue diesel. It’s the first in a new range of advanced engines that’s said to deliver unrivalled fuel efficiency, performance and refinement.

Clean-sheet design reduces friction with innovations including an offset crank, belt-in-oil and Ford’s first use of modular camshafts. Overall, fuel efficiency is 13 per cent better than previous engines’.

But drivability is another area that came in for some serious work. The company’s first mirror-image inlet manifold and a low-inertia turbocharger with what’s described as “rocket engine materials” are part of a 20 per cent boost in low-end torque at 1 250 r/min compared with the outgoing equivalent, a 2,2-litre.

According to Ford, standard selective catalytic reduction emissions after-treatment contributes to improved NOX reduction. The ultra-low emissions are in line with Euro Stage VI standards, due to be introduced in September 2016, that cut the limit for the previous standard by more than half.

The Ecoblue diesel engines will power future passenger cars and commercial vehicles with power outputs ranging from 75 to 180 kw – including a 1,5-litre variant. Its design allows the same block to be used for front- wheel-drive and rear- wheel -drive applications. It will make its debut, though, as a four- cylinder 2,0-litre in the new Transit and Transit Custom commercial vehicles. based on its standard safety equipment. However, with the optional safety pack Radar Brake Support, which includes an AEB City and AEB Inter-urban system, the Baleno achieves 4 stars. From now on, Euro NCAP will allow similar dual ratings.

“The inclusion of AEB Pedestrian in the rating is a key milestone in the development of automotive safety that will help the proliferation of the crash avoidance technology into all segments of the market. At the same time, to provide accurate and clear information to consumers about the latest systems and what benefit they might bring, is becoming more challenging. The dual rating will simplify the choice for the safest car,” says Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General. PM