Detroit 2009: All Fords to eventually get auto start stop
by Sam Abuelsamid on Jan 13th 2009 at 12:35PM 
Automatic start-stop systems are becoming increasingly common in Europe where many non-hybrid cars are equipped with the relatively inexpensive systems that shut down the engine to prevent idling. However, here in the US, only hybrids have that capability. At an event with some Ford executives during Detroit Auto Show, Barb Samardzich, VP of Global Powertrain engineering stated that over the next several years all Ford vehicles will get the auto-stop capability. Currently, only the Escape, Mariner, Fusion, and Milan hybrids have it here. Over in Europe, the non-hybrid start/stop is being added to cars like the new Ka. The simple systems are being implemented in Europe first because of the prevalence of manual transmissions. With a manual, it can be assumed that a driver will put the car in first gear to restart. On cars with automatic transmissions - which comprise 95 percent of the U.S. market - an electro hydraulic pump must be added to shift the transmission back to first gear before restarting. That capability will be added to all models in the coming years but we will likely get our first taste of auto auto start-stop when PowerShift dual clutch transmissions begin arriving next year.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Lincoln Concept C
[Source: Ford]
Live Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 1:06PM (1/13/2009)
In other news:
All Fords to eventually electric.
Given that ford survives bankruptcy while attempting to push old tech as new ideas.
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stas peterson 10:21PM (1/14/2009)
You mean like Honda making a big deal of re-announcing this stop-start technology in it "new" Insight, like it was really something worth all the hype?? Ford is saying all it's cars will have the equivalent to the "revolutionary Insight IMA". BFD !
At least Ford has strong HEVs to offer as well, in the Escape and Fusion. Whereas Honda has ZIP, Nada, Nothing, ZERO...
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oollyoumn 3:35PM (1/13/2009)
A small but helpful improvement. Not all cars are automatic. Most of mine are manual transmission. Why does no car company offer auto stop/start with a manual transmission in the US?
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Will 1:01PM (1/14/2009)
BMW is working on that for you.
BoomBoom 4:01PM (1/13/2009)
It is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, Autoblog Green for not calling them "micro-hybrids".
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johnizathome 7:58PM (1/13/2009)
All fords to become flotsam.
buy the new and improved ford flotsam.
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