Ford's true blue future

Blue is the colour of the sky and the sea, so it has become the new poster child for environmental sensitivity. Blue is everywhere you look at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit -- until you leave the venue, when you'll encounter snow, slush and overcast skies. 

At the venue, both GM and Chrysler fielded concepts that pointed to a future of increased reliance on electrical power for personal transport. It has to be said that GM possibly made more of a splash with its Cadillac Converj concept, and Chrysler's 200C EV concept is undeniably the attractive face of alternative energy, but Ford's presentation to the media in Cobo arena was one that focused on concrete goals and a serious vision for the migration to hybrids, plug-ins and EVs.

Ford kicked off the presentation with a fast-forward video listing the 200 global awards the company has secured over the past 12 months -- and the Falcon received a mention in that -- but the real 'meat' was served up to the media once Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally arrived on stage in a new Fiesta.

Mulally spoke of the rollout of Fiesta throughout the world, before handing over to his product guru, Derrick Kuzak (Group VP for Global Product Development). Kuzak followed up by introducing the Flex Ecoboost, a vehicle that looks like a MINI Clubman upsized to the same general dimensions as the Australian Territory.

The V6-engined vehicle offers the power of a V8, for the efficiency of a V6. Ecoboost is the way ahead for Ford, says Kuzak, who cited 355hp of power and 350 ft. lbs of torque for the SUV, which returns 22MPG (roughly 10.7L/100km).

"It meets or beats every other full-size performance crossover on the road -- including the BMW X5," he told the audience.

"One year ago, we outlined the significant role Ecoboost engines would play as part of Ford's commitment to provide affordable fuel economy for millions.

"We will deliver Ecoboost across the full range of our product portfolio...

"In fact, by 2013, Ecoboost will be available on about 90 per cent of our North American product nameplates. Within three years, we will deliver 750,000 Ecoboost-equipped vehicles annually in North America."

Kuzak also gave a commitment that all Fords would offer six-speed transmissions by 2012.

Next came the Fusion hybrid, described by Bill Ford (Executive Chairman), as "the most fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan in America today", based on its fuel consumption of 5.3L/100km -- but it was the announcement following the intro of the Fusion Hybrid that caught everyone's attention.

"Today, I'm pleased to announce that our environmental partnerships are growing on a global scale. We've entered into a four-way legal partnership between the Ford Motor Company, Changan Auto Group and the cities of Chongqing China and Denver Colorado.

"We will develop projects that promote energy security as well as economic and environmental sustainability. We are going to also tackle challenges such as battery production and infrastructure planning.

"And this leads to today's most significant news: we are launching an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles as well as next-generation hybrids and plug-in hybrids to the market quickly -- and more affordably."

The Executive Chairman continued with the news that the company will develop at least four new vehicles over the next four years in North America.

"Our global electrification strategy is not a test program, it's a vital element of our business plan going forward," he stressed.

"It's aimed at making Ford the leader in sustainable transportation."

Ford (the man, not the company), then called Kuzak back to the stage to provide further details. Kuzak outlined a plan for at least four new "high mileage EVs" (electric vehicles, but including hybrids) to be in the marketplace by 2012.

The first such vehicle will be a commercial vehicle for fleets, an electric vehicle to be developed and put into production from 2010. The following year, Ford will introduce a production model small car, running on electric power. This vehicle will be developed jointly with Magna International on the Focus platform and is expected to offer consumers a range of up to 100 miles (160km) between charges of the lithium-ion batteries.

Initial forecasts are low -- 5000 to no more than perhaps 10,000 -- but Kuzak anticipates the company could increase production rapidly if the demand picks up and the infrastructure to support the electric vehicle can grow at the same time.

"We will be ready to ramp up volumes, as the infrastructure develops and the customer demand grows," he said.

"But we're not stopping there," he continued.

"In 2012, we will deliver our next generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version. The next generation system, already under development, will be even more fuel-efficient and cost-effective...

Kuzak handed over to Mark Fields (Ford President of the Americas), who then introduced the 2010 Fusion and the 2010 Mustang GT500 (pictured), assisted in presenting the latter by octogenarian icon, Carrol Shelby -- the father of the original Shelby Mustangs (and the ferocious Cobras) from the 1960s. The two Mustangs on the stage, a blue convertible and a red coupe departed with a squeal of tyres, counterpointing the responsible and measured environmentally-sensitive tone of the proceedings up to that point.

Finally -- and likely to be of some interest in Australia -- Fields introduced the new Taurus (also pictured). Unlike the unlamented DA model seen in Australia during the mid-90s, the new Taurus is not at all globular. It is, in fact, imposing and is an example of the way Ford Designer J Mays is gradually merging American and European styling schools within the Ford world. The Taurus looks larger than the Falcon and features some styling cues from the Interceptor concept car of a few years back, with Mondeo-style side sculpture lines and extraction vents in the front quarter panels.

And you know what? Front-wheel drive or not, it didn't look bad.