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Ford plans new hybrid series to compete with Toyota Prius, report says

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#1 ·
Ford plans new hybrid series to compete with Toyota Prius, report says

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce a new hybrid gasoline-electric car in late 2018 to compete against the best-selling Toyota Prius, two sources with knowledge of the company's plans told Reuters on Wednesday.

The compact car will be Ford's first "dedicated" hybrid -- that is a vehicle designed to be marketed exclusively as a hybrid, rather than a variation of an existing gasoline model, such as the automaker's Fusion hybrid, the sources said.

The as-yet-unnamed vehicle will be built just outside Detroit.

The sources said Ford eventually could offer several different body styles of the new hybrid, as Toyota does with the Prius. There would be different versions of the car's gasoline-electric drivetrain, including a more expensive plug-in model that can be recharged from an electrical outlet.

read more at: http://www.autonews.com/article/201...ries-to-compete-with-toyota-prius-report-says
 
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#56 ·
Details on Hyundai's new hybrid...
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/hyundai-ioniq-fuel-economy-figures-leaked-103441.html

"As the brochure shows, there are two versions of the Ioniq available before launch, both fitted with a six-speed DCT transmission and a 1.6-liter GDI engine. The GDI stands for gasoline direct injection, and the unit is good for 105 HP at 5,700 rpm. The maximum torque available is 147 Nm or 108 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm.

No news on which of the two variants is the plug-in hybrid and which the hybrid option, and the electric version is missing from this informational booklet.

The brochure shows two variants of the Hyundai Ioniq, one available with 15-inch rims and the other fitted with 17-inch rims. The latter has a lower MPG rating and thus higher CO2 emissions.

According to the booklet, the model with 15-inch wheels provides a fuel economy rating of 22.4 kilometers/liter (4.46 liters/100 km or 52 MPG US) and a CO2 rating of 69 grams/kilometer. The 17-inch variant is rated at 20.2 kilometers/liter (4.9 liters/100 km or 47.5 MPG) as far as fuel economy is concerned and at 78 grams of CO2/kilometer when it comes to emissions.
 
#58 ·
Ford has finally planned to launch their hybrid to compete with the 10 year old first generation Prius. I hear they have an EV that's supposed to launch a year after that.

"Scheduled for a market launch next year (2020), the Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid will use a version of the 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost equipped with a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) which replaces the traditional alternator. The BISG will recover and store energy usually lost during braking and coasting in a small 48-volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.

Ford promises an average fuel consumption of 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers (48 miles per gallon) for the Fiesta with corresponding CO2 emissions of 112 grams per kilometer. The Focus EcoBoost Hybrid, in turn, will need 4.7 l/100 km (50 mpg) with estimated CO2 emissions from just 106 g/km."

https://www.motor1.com/news/315421/ford-focus-fiesta-mild-hybrid/
 
#61 · (Edited)
Ultra low emissions Do you know the current Focus CO2g/km ratings? , improved performance ??, great fuel economy Compared to which Focus? and no or very small cost increase You have seen pricing?.
Europeans will love this strategy.Which ones, Spanish, Finnish, Belgiums?>:)
Ford EU Tech sheet MK4 Focus 5 door/hatch 1.0 EcoBoost 6-speed manual CO2g/km 107, Fuel consumption l/100 km (mpg) Combined 4.7 (60.1 Imperial gallons) This car is equipped with Low rolling resistance tires.
versus
Focus EcoBoost Hybrid anticipated CO2 emissions from 106 g/km, fuel-efficiency from 4.7 l/100 km. http://www.campaign.ford.com/conten...lectrified-vehicles-to-include-fiesta-an.html

Looks like the anticipated Hybrid CO2 & fuel efficiency ratings are hmmmmmm pretty much the same as the non-Hybrid current MK4. I don't see any numbers that would bring to mind descriptive words such as "Ultra" nor "Great" compared to the current crop of Foci. As far as improved performance this is a wait & see detail, and lets see if "Europeans" will "love" Fords strategy.

Pricing - if comparing how Ford EU prices the Mondeo Hybrid compared to non-Hybrid Mondeo, the Hybrid costs around $3 grand more. Some Europeans will see this as a small increase most likely, some not.
 
#62 ·
It looks like Ford still has not corrected it's slow reaction to global market trends especially as it relates to new energy vehicles. The extremely long development time has Fords new energy offerings arriving as the trend fades into the evolution of that technology. Mild Hybrid technology was a 2015 technology as best, especially for anything not a big SUV/Crossover or truck. Ford knows they are behind but will just launch old tech anyway and blame the consumer or the market for not wanting what Ford offers, instead of Ford offering what the consumer is asking for and buying.

The hybrid and PHEV Focus and Fiesta shoud have launched back in 2012 which was an obvious decision, and Alan Mulally stated it was easily doable...but Ford turned to diesels. And seriously, what took so long to get the 3-cylinder engine pared with a hybrid drivetrain???? But Ford's lack of focus on electricication was evident in the New GT launched in 2016 with ZERO electrification. Their flagship performance sports car tied to old ICE technoloy only. It is clear that Ford won't be part of the future of transportation, but playing it safe in the decline of last gen technology which does not work in a new technology era. Stuck focused on the way it used to be. Those 7 year product cycles are gone, and it's 2-3 years and months with technology.

Just looking at the obvious in Europe. In just over a month of deliveries, Model 3 is the best selling midsize sedan in Europe. This included Germany, the home of BMW and MB and outselling the C-Class and 3-Series. And this is ONLY selling the highest trim levels of the Model 3. Later in the year coms the standard range at about half the price, which is about at the price of the higher trim level ICE Focus, Golf, etc. VW has several models coming agross their many brands, and Ford is still two years out with what they are planning.

All I can say is good luck with mild hybrids in the age of pure electricication, where in Chiina 200+ mile ev midsize sedans will be $20k at the same time.
 
#63 ·
What nonsense, pretending like Ford is only now keeping up with what was typically a half measure attempt at hybrids, something Ford has mastered quite well. Nice try, troll. There is a clear reason why Ford added micro hybrids to some segments, and you know that reason, but continue to be an idiot about it.

And yes, Tesla is seeing a lot of success selling a product where they currently own the market in Europe. All of which will change very soon with much competition. But success in volume, certainly not in profit. That continues to elude them.
 
#65 ·
The only bit that is correct is that Ford needed to have refreshed the PHEV options, with the end of the c-max the current escape / kuga should have got the PHEV option long ago, rather than it coming to the refresh that is to be revealed this week.


As for the model 3 sales in Europe, talk about creative statistics yes the model 3 sold well as a sedan but it has sold less than the total c-class, a4 and 3 series s60/v60 sales because quite frankly sedan purchases are some what of a niche in Europe, people are more inclined to purchase a Hatchback, Estate (wagon) or as it the popular trend a CUV and it has been like that for decades. It is just as bad a sites that use Norway to show high BEV sales where due to ridiculous taxes a BEV is one of the few affordable new car options for most people.
 
#66 ·
Excellent point on the sedan vs hatch sales.

And yes, Ford was wrong to kill the Escape hybrid, although I suspect sales would have been more or less the same in total if offered alongside the C-Max, which shared a platform and had an interior that was nearly impossible to determine which was which. That said, new Escape and Corsair and Explorer and Aviator hybrid and PHEV all launch in the next few months. Soon after that, Mustang hybrid, F-150 hybrid and pretty much hybrid's across the lineup. All as they prepare 16 EV's in the next 3 years. Yeah, Ford's pretty busy.
 
#67 ·
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