Ford

October 2009

The blue oval certainly hasn’t been left behind in the drive towards green motoring. ECOnetic versions of the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo have made Ford an eco leader.

All feature revised engine mapping, uprated gear ratios, low-resistance tyres and slippery aerodynamics to slash emissions and fuel consumption. Yet these tweaks don’t come at the expense of the firm’s trademark sharp driving dynamics.

The Fiesta ECOnetic qualifies for free road tax as its 88bhp 1.6-litre TDCi diesel emits only 98g/km of CO2. A more powerful version of the same engine is used in the Focus, and puts out 114g/km, although combined economy is still an excellent 65.7mpg.

The Mondeo ECOnetic is designed to appeal to the fleet market, and comes with a choice of 1.8 or 2.0-litre TDCi diesels, both emitting 139g/km. The larger-engined model has a six-speed gearbox as standard, and so is slightly more frugal, at 54.3mpg.

Plus, benefit in kind tax is rated at 18 per cent, which will please company drivers.

Ford has even extended the ECOnetic range to the Fiesta van and short-wheelbase Transit. Better still, the firm’s engine factory in Dagenham, Essex, has won awards for cleaning up the way it operates.

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