ECOnetic
Encyclopedia
ECOnetic is a tradename for certain car
models produced by Ford of Europe, currently consisting of one model in each of the Fiesta
and the Focus range, with an emphasis on higher fuel efficiency and low-CO2
emissions.
s like Toyota did with the Prius
, Ford of Europe took a different design philosophy: to create vehicles that are as fuel efficient as possible today, without compromising driving experience.
Hence the ECOnetic range doesn’t rely on different fuels, batteries or ‘bolted on’ technology, but improved design and refinement of existing technology. ECOnetic develops three main streams of improvement:
ranges. The Mondeo model launch plans were later dropped.
The first cars were available to order from dealers in early 2008, priced at £250 above the "Style" models. Focus models were delivered to customers in the United Kingdom
from April 2008, and had such low emissions that it was in the lowest bracket of Vehicle Excise Duty
, while the Fiesta was totally exempt VED. Further, the cars were both exempt form the London Congestion Charge
.
The second generation Fiesta ECOnetic was launched at the 2008 British International Motor Show
, which with CO2 emissions of 98 g/km made its Britain’s lowest emitting mass production diesel car. To encourage drivers to be efficient, a green indicator light signals the most economical time to change gear. This improvement was later introduced to the Focus model.
The proposed 2012 Focus ECOnetic model will be the most advanced ECOnetic model so far. Proposed technologies will include:
The car will emit less than 95 g/km of CO2, placing it in the lowest UK VED band resulting in no annual tax payment, and exemption from the London Congestion Charge zone. The car has presently been tested to be capable of 80 mpg, putting it ahead of the 70.6 mpg Toyota Prius Hybrid and 74.3 mpg Volkswagen Golf
BlueMotion
.
n market, because, as Business Week noted, the company "doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic" and doesn't think it would sell enough of the model (350,000/year) to justify the $350 million in upgrades required at their Mexico plant to manufacture it.
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
models produced by Ford of Europe, currently consisting of one model in each of the Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
and the Focus range, with an emphasis on higher fuel efficiency and low-CO2
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions.
Design philosophy
As opposed to developing hybrid vehicleHybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
s like Toyota did with the Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
, Ford of Europe took a different design philosophy: to create vehicles that are as fuel efficient as possible today, without compromising driving experience.
Hence the ECOnetic range doesn’t rely on different fuels, batteries or ‘bolted on’ technology, but improved design and refinement of existing technology. ECOnetic develops three main streams of improvement:
- Aerodynamics: models have a redesigned front bumper skirt, which are more aerodynamic, and reduces drag further through use of a smaller lower grill. The car is then lowered on its suspension to improve angle of address to the air, in the case of the Focus by 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) on the front, and 8 millimetre (0.31496062992126 in) on the rear. To the side, skirts are introduced together with hubcapHubcapA hubcap, wheel cover or wheel trim is a decorative disk on an automobile wheel that covers at least a central portion of the wheel. Cars with stamped steel wheels often use a full wheel cover that conceals the entire wheel. Cars with alloy wheels or styled steel wheels generally use smaller...
s designed to improve airflow. A new and extended rear spoiler reduces rear drag - Resistance: Ford worked with MichelinMichelinMichelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
to create a thinner tyre with lower rolling resistance. The engine's bearings are replaced with lower-resistance versions - Efficiency: engineers re-mapped the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCiFord Duratorq engineThe Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
engine, equipped with a coated Diesel Particulate FilterDiesel Particulate FilterA diesel particulate filter is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Wall-flow diesel particulate filters usually remove 85% or more of the soot, and under certain conditions can attain soot removal efficiencies of close to 100%...
(cDPF), and recalibrated the power steering system. The ECOnetic was the first Ford car to use low-friction transmission oil, which is now uniform on all 1.6-litre diesel European-produced Fords. The first version of the ECOnetic did not use higher gear ratios, as engineers found that fitting longer gear ratios in the five-speed gearbox hindered driveability. The proposed 2012 Focus version will have a six-speed gearbox, with sixth gear an effective high-gear overdrive.
Models
First announced in late-2007, Ford proposed ECOnetic models in the Fiesta, Focus and MondeoFord Mondeo
The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
ranges. The Mondeo model launch plans were later dropped.
The first cars were available to order from dealers in early 2008, priced at £250 above the "Style" models. Focus models were delivered to customers in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from April 2008, and had such low emissions that it was in the lowest bracket of Vehicle Excise Duty
Vehicle excise duty
Vehicle Excise Duty is a vehicle road use tax levied as an excise duty which must be paid for most types of vehicle which are to be used on the public roads in the United Kingdom...
, while the Fiesta was totally exempt VED. Further, the cars were both exempt form the London Congestion Charge
London congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
.
The second generation Fiesta ECOnetic was launched at the 2008 British International Motor Show
British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show...
, which with CO2 emissions of 98 g/km made its Britain’s lowest emitting mass production diesel car. To encourage drivers to be efficient, a green indicator light signals the most economical time to change gear. This improvement was later introduced to the Focus model.
The proposed 2012 Focus ECOnetic model will be the most advanced ECOnetic model so far. Proposed technologies will include:
- New fuel injection system and turbocharger for the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi, producing 109 PS
- Six-speed gearbox with overdrive top gear
- Smart Regenerative Charging to reduce alternator resistance
- Auto-Start-StopStart-stop systemIn automobiles, a start-stop system or stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby improving fuel economy and reducing emissions...
to cut the engine in traffic - Electrically operated front grille shutter, to improve high speed aerodynamics.
The car will emit less than 95 g/km of CO2, placing it in the lowest UK VED band resulting in no annual tax payment, and exemption from the London Congestion Charge zone. The car has presently been tested to be capable of 80 mpg, putting it ahead of the 70.6 mpg Toyota Prius Hybrid and 74.3 mpg Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
BlueMotion
BlueMotion
BlueMotion is a tradename for certain car models from the Volkswagen Group with an emphasis on higher fuel efficiency.Volkswagen introduced the name in 2006 on the Mk4 Polo BlueMotion, and in 2007 a version based on the current Passat was released...
.
| Model | Engine Capacity CC |
MPG Combined Cycle |
CO2 g/km |
UK VED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta | 1600 | 76.3 | 98 | £0 |
| Focus | 1600 | 74.2 | 99 | £0 |
North America
It is not presently planned to introduce ECOnetic models to the North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n market, because, as Business Week noted, the company "doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic" and doesn't think it would sell enough of the model (350,000/year) to justify the $350 million in upgrades required at their Mexico plant to manufacture it.