Ford’s European Focus Gets Greener

The Ford Focus has been a star over in Europe for years and there appears to be no intention of its success slowing.  Available for the rest of the 2011 model year will be two new powertrain options that will help the already efficient European Focus reach new green heights.  Low carbon emissions were the main goal when Ford designed the Flexifuel Focus and the PowerShift Focus.

“Cutting CO2 emissions and fuel consumption was a top priority on the Ford Focus, and these two new models further expand the choice of green options for Focus customers,” said Roelant de Waard, Vice President of Marketing Sales and Service for Ford Europe.  “The introduction of advanced PowerShift and E85 Flexifuel models gives Focus drivers fresh new ways to reduce their carbon footprint.”

For the first time in a European application, the Ford PowerShift features the six speed, dual-clutch automatic that the current generation U.S. spec Focus received.  Fitted to the 1.6 liter, Duratec inline four cylinder model, the PowerShift replaces the old, four speed automatic previously found in the gasoline Focus.  C02 emissions have been cut 19 percent compared to the four speed model and average fuel mileage has increased to 44.1 mpg.  Alongside better emissions and economy, the PowerShift Focus can now accelerate faster thanks to the quick shifting action of the dual-clutch transmission.

The Flexifuel Focus allows drivers to be a lot more creative in the way the fill up.  Using a modified version of the 1.6 liter Duratec, the Flexifuel has the ability to run on E85 bio-ethanol.  In order to keep things simple for the driver, the Flexifuel can also run on conventional gasoline or a mixture of both.  A computer control module integrated into the fuel system detects which type of fuel is most being used and reacts accordingly.  Since E85 burns much different from conventional gas, the Flexifuel has modified injectors, valves and valve seats as well as a different catalyst and exhaust.[via : Ford]