DC Auto Show: Ford expands flex-fuel to Navigator, Expedition, E-Vans
For the 2009 model year, Ford is expanding flex-fuel capability on their big trucks. The humongous Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs and the E-Series vans will all be capable of running E85 through the 5.4L V-8. Ford has already offered the same flex-fuel capability on the F-150 pickups for several years. The change probably won't make any real impact on to total fuel consumption but it will get Ford some mpg credits. The Ford press release is after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
FORD DELIVERS BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, MORE POWER
FOR ESCAPE, MERCURY MARINER; EXPANDS E85 FLEET
• 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers improve fuel efficiency with new, more powerful I-4 and V-6 engines and 6-speed transmissions.
• Ford's full-hybrid Escape and Mariner gain performance and refinement improvements for 2009.
• Ford adds three vehicles to its flexible fuel (FFV) line-up for the 2009 model year – Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator SUVs and Ford E-Series Econoline vans.
• Ford and Southern California Edison showcase 120-mpg Escape Plug-in Hybrid.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 22, 2008 – Today at the Washington Auto Show and Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford Motor Company announced its hot-selling compact SUVs, the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, will become more fuel efficient, more powerful and more connected for the 2009 model year.
Ford also announced that it is expanding its commitment to biofuels by adding three additional vehicles to its E85-capable flexible fuel line-up for 2009 – the E-Series van, as well as the standard and extended-length models of the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. These additional product actions are part of Ford's sustainability strategy, which also includes high-volume introductions of EcoBoost gas turbocharged direct injection engines.
Speaking today at Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford Motor Company President and CEO Alan Mulally met with industry leaders and media to share today's announcement and discuss how Ford is accelerating the development of new products and technologies customers want and value. Mulally also reaffirmed that Ford will reach benchmark levels of new or significantly freshened products, delivering a showroom with 70 percent new or freshened vehicles by the end of 2008 and 100 percent by 2010.
"This year, we make good on our commitment to freshen our showrooms," Mulally said. "We just introduced the new 2009 Ford F-150 last week, and it was a hit. We also have Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex coming, as well as a new Mustang early next year."
At the Washington Auto Show, Sue Cischke, Ford senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, outlined the company's high-volume customer-focused strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.
"Ford Motor Company is increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions with affordable technologies for millions of customers," said Cischke. "In the near term, we will leverage existing technologies to achieve those goals, including advanced engines and multi-speed transmissions. The 2009 Escape and Mariner are great examples of how we're delivering today."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Watkins 4:15PM (2/04/2008)
It's nice to read that Ford is starting to add a few more units to the FFV lineup, but what happened to the much talked about Escape Hybrid/FFV? Its press release dating back to 2006 is still viewable on Ford's website, but it has never hit production. Everyone seems completely hush-hush about why, including the ethanol company that was doing the testing on some prototypes. Makes a person wonder if Big Oil isn't paying someone off to prevent it? After all, why introduce something if you're not going to make it, then be all quiet about why it isn't being made? As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason why every gasoline-fueled automobile couldn't be a FFV. The technology is there, and the increased production costs are negligible. Let the customer choose what fuel he/she runs. If E85 isn't available, or isn't reasonably priced, nobody is forced to use it, nor will it impact driveability or emissions if it isn't used.
I own a 2004 Explorer FFV, and use E85 fuel in it almost exclusively. My MPG isn't bad...Maybe a 2-3 MPG loss compared to gasoline, but E85 is so cheap here (usually 80 cents/gallon less) that it's still cost effective to use it. When I saw the FFV model lineup for the '08 Fords, I was disappointed to say the least, and even angered at the fact that the much hyped Escape Hybrid is one more year a dedicated gas-burner. Come on FoMoCo! Get Big Oil out of your back pocket and make the FFVs. Not one car is an FFV...Bring at least one back like the venerable Taurus, or better yet, the cool Fusion or Edge. I'll be eagerly waiting.
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Phil Younger 10:35PM (2/04/2008)
I agree with Mike- Ford-you can do this. Our 2005 Taurus FFV has 150,000+ trouble free miles. Make all your vehicles Flex-Fuel- at least consider starting in your performance vehicles such as the Mustang. The folks that would buy s performance vehicle would be impressed by the added power they could get with E85- especially if you upped compression a bit to take advantage of the 100+ octane.
Give us FFV's that are smaller also for those are the cars bought by those that want to save money on fuel (running E85) here in the Midwest. Even those out of the Midwest will appreciate E85 as ethanol is made from more sources long before they retire that car.
Phil
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