Ford Europe's ECOnetic vehicles selling well
Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Ford, UK
Click the S-Max for a high-res gallery
Ford has already sold 3000 Euro-market Focus ECOnetic models prior to the vehicle's official on-sale date. Many of these units are headed to businesses interested in lowering their fleets' carbon footprints. Because of the low added cost, the vehicles are proving to be more popular than expected; popular enough that Ford is rethinking how many ECOnetic Mondeos that they need to make. The Focus ECOnetic emits just 114 g/km of CO2, and the new Mondeo is rated at less than 140g/km.
In other related news, Roelant de Waard, head of Ford U.K., says that an ECOnetic S-Max is a possibility, but don't expect any hybrids from Ford's outpost in Blighty. Instead, the EurOval is looking at stop/start technology and low-emission diesels, which have a proven track record of selling well in Europe.
[Source: Business Car]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-23-2008 @ 7:20AM
Niralisherni said...
The fact that this vehicle of Ford is doing really well is evidence that people are interested in more environmentally friendly vehicles and are concerned enough to try and reduce their carbon footprint.This is the reason that EVs and other alternative energy vehicles are gaining in popularity. -http://www.zapworld.com
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3-23-2008 @ 7:43AM
TheRookie said...
The fact that Ford is doing so well with ECONetic is only because UK motorists are pressurized by government to buy vehicles with low emissions. Just take a look at recent budget.
However, if not that and not price of petrol/diesel, general public would immediately switch to SUVs at first opportunity.
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3-23-2008 @ 9:01AM
rgseidl said...
@ The Rookie -
you're right, but does it really matter *why* people are switching to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars? Surely, it's more relevant that they actually do.
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3-23-2008 @ 12:53PM
Throwback said...
The why is important if it is the result of government action/inaction. Any government policy has ramifications beyond the intended desire. Raising the gas tax for instance would make people buy more fuel efficient cars, however it also has a major impact on everything we buy.
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3-23-2008 @ 8:26PM
mike said...
Raising the GAS TAX is the smartest thing Government can do. A gas tax is the definition of foresight: the ability to Predict What Will Happen.
China is now the 3rd LARGEST BUYER OF OIL ON WORLD MARKETS.
Think about that. What happens when China is the Number One buyer of oil on world markets. You'd be a FOOL to buy an SUV now. With a gas tax the government can help this Nation with a little Foresight.
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3-24-2008 @ 9:52AM
Dave said...
The Fords of Europe are "Fords" that I would actually consider buying.
Banking on Ethanol as our techno-savior, last year all domestic US car manufacturers magically introduce E85 models. It had to take 3 or 4 years to design and engineer those cars. And they're big and wasteful: Tahoes, Durangos, Impalas, etc.
Also, here in the US, for 2008 Ford gives us a dull reskined ten-year old technology Focus that gets pretty lackluster mileage for a car in it's segment.
Gas tax, carbon issues, etc. aside, like Europe, US drivers should be able to have attractive, sporty, quality, economical transportation.
Energy conservation and reduced carbon emissions can to some degree occur naturally if American car companies were to offer small cars that people actually want to buy.
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