Ford adds LPG variants to Focus and C-Max lineup
Ford of Europe is already selling the Euro-spec Focus 2008 and adding new models to the line up. In this case, an LPG-powered version. LPG stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas and is also known as Autogas. While it's still a fossil fuel, it's also claimed that burns "cleaner" hence reducing pollutants in city airs. LPG conversions are very popular in certain European countries so most marques are already offering an LPG option direct from the factory. The same engine is also being offered in the C-Max.
For the Focus, Ford chose the venerable 2.0 Duratec engine which, running on LPG, gets 140 HP (145 when running on unleaded). This car makes 400km (280 mi) with a single tank of LPG. One interesting feature is that these cars get an additional tank for LPG while keeping the gasoline one, reaching a 1,100 km (700 mi) range on both tanks. Average consumption (EU combined cycle) is 7.1 l/100 km (33mpg) when running on gasoline and 10.4 (22 mpg) when running on LPG. CO2 emissions rise to 171 g/km and 169 g/km, respectively.
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[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
A.Brien 2:42PM (1/19/2008)
That's a simple and efficient solution to ease
petrol consumption and reduce polution. Eco-fueler
car compagny sell a car that use natural-gas. The
best would be to offer bi-fuel as natural-gas can be a problem to find. Natural gas can be seen as a green fuel if you make it from waste like animal used meal. That should have been made in the 70's
before the first oil crisis but it's never too late.
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tankd0g 8:00PM (1/20/2008)
LPG must be a lot cheaper in euope because it sure isn't here.
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Xavier Navarro 2:12PM (1/21/2008)
LPG is actually kept cheaper by less taxes (50% cheaper indeed) because it was made as a solution for gasoline shortage. But it's not considered a "green" fuel by many voices indeed
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