Ford ponders Eco Focus

Ford Australia has revealed it is interested in bringing the new Focus ECOnetic Down Under. But whether it does or not depends on the success of the Fiesta ECOnetic that will launch here in December.

The ECOnetic Focus was launched at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show. It features Auto-Stop-Start technology -- the first European Ford to offer the system -- and boasts a combined cycle fuel economy rating of 3.8L/100km and CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

"It's on the radar, I wouldn't say it's on the agenda yet, but at the moment we're focused on the launch of the Fiesta ECOnetic," Ford Australia communications manager, Sinead McAlary told the Carsales Network. "We would absolutely look at the Focus if the Fiesta is well received."

McAlary admitted that the success of the Fiesta could also mean further additions to the local ECOnetic line; Ford Europe already offers a Mondeo and Transit versions.

"We're looking at ECOnetic across a number of vehicles across the range and that includes Mondeo," she said.

The new ECOnetic Focus features the full armoury of Ford's current low emission technologies.

Dr Thilo Seibert, manager CO2 Technologies for Ford of Europe stated: "To achieve these impressive figures, we combined the proven approach of the original Focus ECOnetic model with even more detail improvements and all-new technologies. The new Focus ECOnetic is particularly significant as it paves the way for some of these technologies to be implemented into our core vehicle series in the near future."

The Focus ECOnetic is powered by an 80kW 1.6-lire Duratorq TDCi engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. To help the economy the transmission features longer third, fourth and fifth ratios.

Ford claims the Auto-Stop-Start system is able to restart the engine in only 0.3seconds to make the process smooth and refined. According to the company the system helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to five per cent in mixed conditions and up to 10 per cent in urban environments.

Another new feature on the MY10 Focus ECOnetic is the Ford Eco Mode system. It monitors the car's systems and then provides feedback to the driver via a dashboard readout to help the driver modify his or her driving style for improved efficiency.

"At Ford we have a great deal of experience in the techniques of eco-driving used to achieve maximum real-world fuel economy," Seibert said.

"The new Ford Eco Mode system is a software application that is added to the instrument cluster to give the driver useable and realistic eco-driving advice."

Ford Europe is also offering a Focus ECOnetic model without the Auto-Stop-Start system in both five-door hatch and wagon variants.

Check out the Carsales Network's Frankfurt show preview and brand-by-brand summaries. And stay tuned for more Frankfurt show news and first drives in the days to come.

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