The Beach Blog

More Ford EcoBoost Vehicles in 2012

Now that record sales of 127,683 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles in 2011 are on the books, Ford aims to more than triple production capacity of vehicles using this fuel-efficient technology in 2012.

Ford will expand its portfolio of fuel-efficient offerings this year with the fuel-saving 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine in the Escape and Fusion nameplates, and five new electrified vehicles.

“EcoBoost expansion and availability in high-volume nameplates such as the all-new Ford Escape and Fusion will take this affordable, fuel-saving technology to the heart of the market,” said Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering Sue Cischke. “Ford is committed to delivering class-leading fuel economy for our customers, which benefits the environment and helps the U.S. move toward greater energy independence.”

The full-size Taurus sedan becomes the first Ford vehicle to offer customers a choice between two EcoBoost engines. It will offer a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder making an estimated 237 horsepower and giving customers up to an anticipated class-leading 31 mpg, while the iconic Taurus SHO sport sedan features a 365-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 delivering 25 mpg highway.

The green and mean Focus ST arrives this year as a high-performance – yet fuel-efficient – sport compact EcoBoost application.

Additionally, Ford offers an EcoBoost-powered Police Interceptor for 2012. It is the first-ever turbocharged law-enforcement vehicle offering.

By the end of 2012, nine Ford models will deliver or are anticipated to deliver an EPA-certified 40 mpg highway or higher, with still more fuel-efficient vehicles on the way.

Source: Ford

The F-150’s Fuel Saving Technologies Get High Marks for Quality

The F-150’s EcoBoost engine and another fuel-saving technology – electric power assist steering – earned high ratings from customers in Ford’s 2011 U.S. Global Quality Research System, or GQRS, helping to power the F-150 to some of the industry’s strongest independent quality rankings in 2011.

The V-6 EcoBoost-equipped F-150 is achieving customer quality ratings on par with F-150s equipped with the popular 5.0-liter V-8 engine, according to data from GQRS, a quarterly survey conducted for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The data was gathered from surveys of more than 1,600 F-150 owners who purchased their trucks between September 2010 and May 2011.

“Ford F-150 customers are very discerning so we are pleased they rate our new EcoBoost technology as highly as V-8 engines that some thought truck customers would never give up,” said Doug Scott, group marketing manager, F-Series trucks. “We believe this is a good sign as we plan to roll out this innovative, powerful and fuel-saving technology to most of our lineup during the next few years.”

Electric power-assisted steering, or EPAS – another Ford truck first – is also giving the F-150 a quality edge, with steering that adapts to changing road conditions and vehicle speed, allowing for more confident handling and improved fuel economy.

Internal customer data show these technologies have reduced warranty claims with 25 percent fewer complaints for vehicle vibration and 33 percent less reported issues with drifting and pulling. This means customers are happier with the new system than the reliable outgoing hydraulic-assisted steering system.

“The F-150 is a symbol of how Ford is reinventing its lineup to lead the industry in fuel economy and quality,” says Bennie Fowler, Ford Group Vice President, Global Quality and New Model Launch. “We have demonstrated with our EcoBoost engines that we can deliver new technology with great fuel economy improvements and leading quality.”

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to take the F-150’s EcoBoost and electric power assist steering for a test drive.

Source: Ford

Exciting New Things for the 2013 Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang just received a new design and a list of new technology features.

“The new Mustang is the perfect example of continuing to build on excellence. It takes the greatness of the 5.0-liter and V6 and pushes the refinement to the next level,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The car has been spot-on functionally and now we’re adding more features and technology to further improve the driver’s experience.”

More aggressive design
The new model Mustang, which goes on sale in spring 2012, offers a more aggressive design with a significantly more prominent grille. A more powerful splitter adds to that appearance. Functional heat extractors on the hood of the GT were specifically placed and designed to help move hot air out of the engine compartment and cool the engine.

“We are delivering a more distinctive and emotional design presence that celebrates the total performance of Mustang,” said Darrell Behmer, Mustang chief designer. “This latest Mustang design is very respectful of its heritage while continuing to look forward with a more powerful and modern look.”

Rocker panels running along the car are now body-color, making for a more premium appearance. The rear has been updated with a high-gloss black panel that connects the tail lamps.

Also new for Mustang design are standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps on both V6 and GT cars. Signature lighting plays into the technology upgrades for 2013 as well, with two individual light-emitting diode (LED) bars accentuating the front headlamps and three LED ropes forming the iconic three-bar rear lights.

The new car also offers mirrors with pony projection light, which casts the image of Mustang’s famous pony emblem on the ground when the unlock button is activated. New colors – Deep Impact Blue and Gotta Have It Green – join the existing sporty colors for 2013.

New driving technologies
The 2013 Mustang with 5.0-liter engine will now deliver 420 horsepower.

It can be specified with a six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission. This advanced control strategy offers the driver a choice between fully automatic operation and manual control.

“This lets owners take an automatic out on a track day or whenever they want to drive sportier, and lets them have the convenience of switching to manual control,” said Tom Barnes, Mustang vehicle engineering manager. “It’s a significant improvement to our powertrain offerings that lets the driver take control.”

Hill start assist makes its debut on manually equipped Mustangs. This feature helps keep the car from rolling backward, making it easier to pull away when on a slope or hill. With the brake pedal pressed, if sensors detect the car is on a slope, the system is automatically activated.

A new 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen that lets customers access information related to fuel economy and vehicle performance also makes its debut on Mustang. The screen is navigated through a five-way control button located on the steering wheel and offers Track Apps, which delivers performance metrics for drivers right from the factory. The app measures g forces, shows acceleration times in quarter-mile and 0-60 increments, and displays braking times, complete with automatic and countdown starts.

The 2013 Mustang also offers customers two new audio systems for even better sound quality for incredible clarity and crispness. The optional Shaker™ system comes with eight speakers and pumps out 370 watts of power. The upgraded Shaker Pro offers nine speakers and delivers 550 watts of power.

Source: Ford

Focus ST at Frankfurt Motor Show

Ford’s first global performance car, the new Focus ST, is finally out of production. The new model combines strong performance, exceptional handling, eye-catching style and everyday refinement. Focus ST will launch around the world in 2012, being sold in over 40 countries spanning six continents.

Powered by a 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost engine mated to a specially revised six-speed manual transmission, Focus ST offers an uncompromising mix of performance and efficiency. The lightweight, all-aluminum engine delivers a maximum output of 250PS (246 hp) and peak torque of 360Nm (265 lb/ft), yet helps cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by more than 20 percent compared to the previous-generation European Focus ST.

Alongside the five-door model, Ford is also revealing a special treat for European customers – the stylish Focus ST Wagon. A unique offering in the segment, the Wagon shows just how far the performance DNA of an ST model can stretch.

“There’s nothing comparable in the market to the Focus ST Wagon,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles. “It builds on the practical element of the Focus ST but doesn’t take away any of the performance, handling abilities or refinement of the five-door model. Wagons are very popular in many of the major European countries so we have high hopes for the ST wagon being a great success.”

Source: Ford

Smallest Engine is Focus-Bound

Ford is expanding its range of EcoBoost engines with the addition of an all-new three-cylinder 1.0-liter engine that will become available in Focus, C-MAX and B-MAX next year.

Ford will introduce two versions of the engine in Focus in early 2012 – with 100PS and 120PS and five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions respectively.

With its 1.0-liter capacity, the three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be the smallest unit currently produced by Ford. Yet, despite its small proportions, it delivers power and performance to rival a traditional 1.6-liter gas engine while emitting less than 120g/km CO2 in the Focus.

“By offering the Focus with an advanced 1.0-litre petrol engine Ford is not only making a major statement on how serious we are about engine downsizing – it also shows the strength of our development and engineering capabilities. To produce a 1.0-litre petrol engine with such impressive performance and fuel economy is a clear example of our commitment to be class-leading in fuel economy,” said Graham Hoare, executive director, Powertrain, Ford of Europe.

Source: Ford

Ford Offers EcoBoost Engine in 2012 Explorers and Edges

Ford Motor Company is expanding its range of vehicles with the award-winning EcoBoost® engine, offering the fuel-efficient powertrain in the 2012 Ford Edge and Explorer that are arriving in dealerships now.

Edge and Explorer are the first vehicles in North America to be offered with Ford’s new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. The four-cylinder EcoBoost marks the next chapter in the company’s strategy to downsize engines. The engines use turbocharging and direct injection of gasoline in a smaller-displacement engine to deliver the power customers want, while delivering excellent fuel economy.

The success of Ford’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in Europe – its blend of fuel economy, lower emissions and good performance– makes it the ideal powertrain for Edge and Explorer.

Ford has committed to offering fuel-efficient, high-technology EcoBoost engines in 90 percent of its global vehicle portfolio by 2013.

Stay tuned to news from Beach Ford to find out when you can come take the new EcoBoost Edge or Explorer for a test drive.

Source: Ford

Hajek Motorsports Breaks Two Land Speed Records with Ford F-250

Hajek Motorsports broke two land speed records using both a diesel and biodiesel-powered 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty. Using a mostly stock truck with the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8, the team achieved a speed of 171.123 mph on regular diesel and 182 mph on B20 biodiesel.

The Ford truck broke the B Production Diesel Truck record of 166.850 mph by a Duramax diesel GMC. This class is normally comprised of race vehicles with extensive aftermarket modifications.

Underscoring that the 2011 Super Duty is the cleanest Power Stroke ever, a land speed record was also set using soy-based biodiesel fuel. The truck broke the biodiesel land speed record of 130.614 mph.

Every 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel can operate on a mixture of diesel up to 20 percent biofuel.

“Racing is part of Ford Motor Company’s DNA so it’s only natural for us to build a race vehicle that demonstrates Ford’s leadership in the diesel and biodiesel truck market,” said Brent Hajek, Hajek Motorsports owner. “The F-250 is an excellent truck with amazing capabilities. I’m amazed at how, with very few changes from stock, we were able to accomplish this.”

Ford engineers teamed up with Hajek Motorsports to design and install the modifications to the production-level truck. Changes were made only to the top-end components of the engine including the high-pressure fuel pump, fuel injectors and turbochargers for more fuel flow. The compression ratio was modified as well.

Other components were added for safety purposes, including a full roll cage and five-point harness

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to experience the Ford F-250s capability and power for yourself.

Source: Ford

Ford Edge with EcoBoost Delivers 30 MPG

The Ford Edge crossover, the latest vehicle to receive the company’s EcoBoost® 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, is now certified by the EPA to deliver 30 mpg highway. This complements the best-in-class Edge V6 fuel economy, giving utility customers plenty of fuel efficient choices.
“Fuel efficiency is important to our customers,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager, Large Cars and Crossovers. “Adding the EcoBoost engine to the new Ford Edge crossover makes for 13 vehicles delivering 30 mpg or more in the Ford showroom.”

The Ford Edge delivers 30 mpg on the highway, besting all SUVs its size or larger, in addition to cars such as the Honda Civic Si and the Saab 9-3 automatic. The only competitive utilities offering higher highway fuel economy than Edge with EcoBoost are a few smaller-size vehicles such as the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Combining gasoline direct injection and turbocharging with smaller overall displacement, this advanced new EcoBoost engine delivers the power of a normally aspirated V6, yet delivers four-cylinder fuel efficiency.

13 at 30 or more
Adding a fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine to the popular Edge crossover means the Ford showroom now offers customers a choice among 13 model/powertrain variations that deliver an EPA fuel economy rating of 30 mpg or more.

These Ford offerings are listed here with their respective city/highway EPA-rated fuel economy estimates:

• Edge with EcoBoost: 21 mpg/30 mpg
• Escape Hybrid FWD: 34 mpg/31 mpg
• Escape Hybrid AWD: 30 mpg/27 mpg
• Fiesta five-speed manual: 29 mpg/37 mpg
• Fiesta automatic: 29 mpg/38 mpg
• Fiesta SFE automatic: 29 mpg/40 mpg
• Focus five-speed manual: 26 mpg/36 mpg
• Focus automatic: 28 mpg/38 mpg
• Focus SFE automatic: 28 mpg/40 mpg
• Fusion 2.5-liter automatic: 23 mpg/33 mpg
• Fusion Hybrid: 41 mpg/36 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Coupe automatic: 19 mpg/31 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Convertible automatic: 19 mpg/30 mpg

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to check out all the fuel-efficient Ford vehicles and take them for a test drive.

Source: Ford

Transforming the Automobile Engine

Ford is leading the way in the transformation of the automobile engine around the world.

For most of Ford’s 107 years, engineers have answered the call for higher horsepower and more torque with larger, heavier and thirstier engines. But the company’s 2006 commitment to lead or be among the leaders in fuel economy in every sales segment has changed the way Ford designs its engines.

Two of America’s favorite vehicles, the Ford Mustang and Ford F-Series, now provide the most dramatic examples of how new, smaller-displacement engines are delivering levels of performance that in the past could only be obtained with much larger engines.

–The optional 6.8-liter V10 engine in the 2011 F-Series Super Duty is rated at 362 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque. F-150’s EcoBoost 3.5-liter engine – with about half the displacement – delivers 365 horsepower and a comparable 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The horsepower per liter of the V10 is 53.23 compared with more than 104 for the 3.5-liter.

–The 2011 Mustang coupe has a 3.7-liter V6 engine rated at 305 horsepower and delivers as much as 31 mpg highway, according to the 2011 EPA Fuel Economy Guide. The 3.7-liter replaced a 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 that was EPA-rated at 26 mpg highway. The 2011 Mustang Coupe is the first car in history to have a 300-plus-horsepower engine rated at 30 mpg or more. It also delivers 0-to-60 times of around six seconds.

These new engines are part of nine all-new or significantly revamped engines Ford began launching in 2010. And they are helping make the 2011 Ford and Lincoln lineup the most fuel efficient in the company’s 107-year history.

Ford and Lincoln showrooms today are filled with an industry-best dozen vehicles that lead or are among the leaders in their sales segments for fuel economy. Four vehicles carry an EPA-certified rating of 40 mpg or higher, also best in the industry.

“From Fiesta to Super Duty, Ford has invested a record amount in new engines, transmissions and cutting-edge technologies to meet our commitment to lead or be among the leaders in fuel economy in every segment in which we compete,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering.

“Though we have made great strides, our work in improving fuel economy is not done and never will be. We have to deliver a fuel economy gain of about 10 percent every three years from now on. Expect further improvements to our EcoBoost system, three-cylinder engines and our Auto Start-Stop system launched now in Europe and soon to be installed in North American vehicles,” he added.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to take the new and improved engines for a test drive.

Source: Ford