Ford Australia Pulls ECOnetic Diesel, Adds EcoBoost

Ford Australia drops the slow-selling Fiesta ECOnetic from its lineup as it prepares to release the Falcon EcoBoost, created by fitting its big sedan with a 4-cyl. engine meant to deliver small-car economy.

Ford had billed the diesel-powered Fiesta ECOnetic as the most fuel-efficient vehicle available in Australia at 63.6 mpg (3.7 L/100 km) when it was released in October 2009.

But Ford Brand Communications Manager Neil McDonald says the car was a halo model, designed to bring awareness of frugal diesel technology to the light-vehicle segment, which at the time was not focused on the advantages of oil-burners.

“You may remember that diesels just a few years ago made up a very small portion of overall Australian vehicle sales and, despite their rising popularity among SUV buyers, sales remain small overall in the passenger segment because of the higher cost of diesel at the pump, particularly for private buyers,” McDonald says in an email to WardsAuto.

Ford’s revised WT Fiesta, released in 2010, came with a 1.6L TDCi engine similar to the ECOnetic’s. But it also was available in both sedan and hatchback models, with fuel economy close to that of the ECOnetic – 53 mpg (4.4 L/100 km) vs. 63 mpg (3.7 L/100 km).

“There were also complexity issues with sourcing the ECOnetic from Europe and the rest of the Fiesta range from Thailand,” McDonald says. “The Thai-built cars carry the WT visual updates, which the ECOnetic does not.”

The ECOnetic sold about 20 units a month since its launch.

“Despite the ECOnetic's departure from the Fiesta lineup, Ford will continue to look at future opportunities as they become available,” McDonald says. “Under the One Ford global banner, there will be more harmonization with models as we move forward.”

He notes Ford’s diesel lineup – across the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Territory and Ranger – is extensive compared with that of just a few years ago.

“We've also improved fuel efficiency in the inline 6-cyl. (gasoline) Falcon, and we've just announced an extensive investment in Falcon that will deliver better aerodynamics, low-rolling resistance tires, new high-tech transmission and lower carbon-dioxide” emissions, he says.

Ford says the first rear-wheel-drive application of its global EcoBoost technology will deliver an 18% improvement in fuel efficiency for the Falcon XT, compared with the standard inline 6-cyl. engine.

EcoBoost uses direct injection and turbocharging to deliver more power and performance from a lower-displacement powerplant.

The new Falcon XT has a fuel-economy rating of 29 mpg (8.1 L/100 km) and will produce just 192 g/km of CO2.

Both the Falcon EcoBoost and Ford’s state-of-the-art, liquid-phase injection, dedicated liquefied-propane-gas powerplant in the Falcon EcoLPi are the only two Australian-built large sedans to deliver CO2 emissions lower than 200 g/km.

The more luxurious 4-cyl. Falcons, the G6 and G6E, also will see fuel-economy and emissions improvements with the EcoBoost engine. Fuel economy will increase 14% to 27.7 mpg (8.5 L/100 km), while CO2 emissions will drop 14.8% to 201 g/km.

Ford says despite achieving new fuel-efficiency and emissions targets, the Falcon EcoBoost will continue to provide drivers with the performance they want in a large car.

Official power and torque figures return 240 hp at 5,500 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) at 2,000 rpm.