Platts of Marlow Blog

Ford Fiesta – Electrified and Upgraded

July 15, 2020 by admin

Even Better Fuel Economy, More Fun to Drive and More Technology

The popular Ford Fiesta compact hatchback – Ford’s best-selling model in Europe – is now available to order with an electrified powertrain.

Ford EcoBoost Hybrid powertrains, available from £19,860 with Fiesta Titanium, will deliver enhanced fuel efficiency for Fiesta drivers while complementing Ford’s “fun to drive” experience with more powerful and responsive performance.

The 48-volt mild hybrid technology is introduced at the same time as sophisticated new driver assistance technologies including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Speed Sign Recognition, designed to deliver less stressful driving experience.

Adding EcoBoost Hybrid technology to the Fiesta means customers can have even more power and still go further on a tank of fuel. The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid will bring the benefits of electrification to more drivers than ever before.

Ford is committed to offering an electrified version of every passenger vehicle it brings to market in Europe and will grow its range of electrified vehicles in Europe to 18 on sale before the end of 2021.

Fiesta’s non-hybrid powertrains are also further enhanced with the latest generation 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, for optimised fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions.

In addition, Fiesta is now better connected than ever following the introduction of a standard FordPass Connect modem enabling a range of functions to make the ownership experience easier and more rewarding using the FordPass mobile app.

The diverse Ford Fiesta range includes the stylish Fiesta Trend and Fiesta Titanium and Titanium X, SUV-inspired Fiesta Active Edition and Active X Edition crossover, sporty Fiesta ST-Line Edition and ST-Line X Edition and upscale Fiesta Vignale Edition in three- and five-door body styles depending on variant. Ford sold nearly 78,000 Fiestas in UK in 2019, a third of the 227,000 sold across Europe.

EcoBoost Hybrid efficiency

Fiesta drivers can now benefit from Ford’s sophisticated EcoBoost Hybrid technology, first introduced for passenger vehicle customers in the new Ford Puma crossover in late 2019.

Available in 125 PS and 155 PS power outputs, Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid models feature a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) in place of the standard alternator, enabling recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48-volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.

The BISG also acts as a motor, integrating with the engine and using the stored energy to provide torque assistance during normal driving and acceleration, as well as running the vehicle’s electrical ancillaries.

The intelligent, self-regulating mild-hybrid system continuously monitors how the vehicle is being used to determine when and how intensively to charge the battery for optimal benefit, and when to utilise the stored battery charge using one of two strategies:

• Torque substitution, which deploys the electric motor functionality of the BISG to provide up to 24 Nm of torque – reducing the amount of work required from the petrol engine and contributing to CO₂ emissions 109 g/km WLTP and fuel efficiency from 52.3 mpg WLTP. Using torque substitution, the 125 PS EcoBoost Hybrid delivers a fuel efficiency improvement of almost 5 per cent compared to the traditional petrol 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine (NEDC)
• Torque supplementation, which deploys the electric motor functionality of the BISG to increase the peak torque available from the powertrain by up to 20 Nm above the level available from the petrol engine alone – delivering 240 Nm for the 155 PS powertrain and up to 50 per cent more torque at lower rpm

The BISG also has enabled Ford engineers to lower the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s compression ratio and add a larger turbocharger for more power, by mitigating turbo-lag using torque supplementation that also rotates the engine faster for maintained turbocharger boost response.

The more powerful BISG also enables the Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid’s Auto Start-Stop technology to operate in a wider range of scenarios for even greater fuel savings, including when coasting to a stop below 15 mph and even when the vehicle is in gear with the clutch pedal depressed.

Both Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid and traditional petrol powertrains – available with 95 PS and 125 PS power outputs – now utilise the latest generation of the multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine featuring cylinder deactivation.

The technology further enhances fuel efficiency by automatically switching off one of the cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine and can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds with no compromise in performance or refinement.

Fiesta’s 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine can now also be specified with a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that offers seamless gear changes for optimised refinement and fuel efficiency improvements of up to 15 per cent compared to the out-going 100 PS 1.0‑litre EcoBoost six-speed automatic configuration (NEDC) – despite offering 25 per cent more power. An 85 PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine is also offered for high-mileage drivers.

Advanced and connected Fiesta

Technologies introduced to Fiesta for the first time deliver a more refined, relaxing and connected driving experience – help drivers negotiate stop-start and highway traffic with greater confidence than ever before.

Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Speed Sign Recognition helps the vehicle maintain a comfortable driving distance from vehicles ahead. The system also helps reduce stress during long road trips and can adjust the vehicle speed to within legal limits by monitoring the roadside and overhead gantries for speed signs.

Stop & Go – available with the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission – enables the ACC system to bring the vehicle to a complete halt in stop-start traffic and automatically pull away if the stopping duration is less than 3 seconds. For stopping durations greater than 3 seconds, the driver can push a steering wheel button or gently apply the accelerator to pull away.

Standard FordPass Connect modem technology allows customers to remotely control a selection of vehicle features from any location with a mobile data signal. In addition to helping drivers plan faster, less stressful journeys with Live Traffic updates for the available navigation system, customers can use the FordPass mobile app to operate Door Lock Unlock, Remote Start for Fiesta models with seven-speed automatic transmission, Vehicle Locator, and Vehicle Status for checking fuel level, alarm status, tyre pressures, oil life and more.

Fiesta’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system is also updated to be more intuitive and easier to use, with a new user interface that features larger buttons displayed on the 8-inch colour touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility remain included free-of-charge. A new wireless charging pad also is offered, helping occupants effortlessly charge smartphones on the move.

Further updates for the Fiesta range include:

• Perpendicular Park Assist functionality now added to Active Park Assist for Fiesta Active and ST‑Line variants, helping drivers park hands-free side-by-side with other cars
• Cross Traffic Alert enhanced with Active Braking, to provide drivers with a warning when reversing of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them, and now able to apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions if drivers do not respond to warnings
• New Sport and Trail Selectable Drive Modes added to the existing Normal, Eco and Slippery modes for the Fiesta Active, helping drivers fully exploit Fiesta’s fun to drive character and more easily tackle soft and deformable surfaces
• Fiesta’s available premium B&O Sound System sub-woofer is relocated to the wheel arch to maximise luggage space and make a spare wheel available in combination with the B&O Sound System.

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