Ford’s record European sales are being powered by its new efficient engines – made here in the UK.
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The automaker sold over 1m vehicles across Europe and demand is increasing for its new 1.4- and 1.6-litre diesel engines, built in Dagenham, Essex, which power the Fiesta, Focus and Fusion.
The Focus 1.6 TDCi range, along with 1.4/1.6 diesel Fiestas and the 1.6 TDCi Fusion posted registrations up 38% year on year in the first half of 2008.
The two engines emit between 113g/km and 119g/km of CO2, making them tax-efficient as well as environmentally friendly. Tim Winstanley, director of powertrain development at the plant, said engines such as these are the ‘green’ way forward.
He said: “Reducing emissions on the Focus diesel by just 2% has a greater impact than all the hybrids sold in the UK today.”
He added that Ford’s ECOnetic programme is not just about engines.
“We can lower emissions through better aerodynamics, less friction in the gearbox, optimised engine management and even by fitting a fuel economy display on the dashboard telling drivers when they are driving most economically.”
Demand for Dagenham-built low-CO2 engines has triggered a steep rise in 1.4/1.6 engine production. The plant will make 485,000 this year and 575,000 in 2009. This will push total diesel output at the factory to over 1m a year.
Dagenham also makes larger diesels for other Ford models as well as for Land Rover and Jaguar.
Ford claimed that the installation of two wind turbines at Dagenham in 2004 avoided around 6,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. A arrives in early 2009 and the building making the 1.4/1.6 engines will become 100% wind-powered.
