More Proof That Ford Gets It
BusinessWeek article on Ford’s use of retro technology to improve gas mileage in its new vehicles. Direct injection, lightweight steel, four cylinders and turbos. Not exactly rocket science, this stuff has been on the shelf since the 40’s. But automakers SWORE they couldn’t make cars any more efficient than they already were, at least not without years of development and mounds of expense.
Will these cars suck like those of the 1970’s? The 2011 Ford Explorer will have a four cylinder turbo putting out 275 horsepower, about 25% more than today’s V8 Explorer. Torque and towing power? If 18-wheelers can use turbos, I’m pretty sure the average personal vehicle can do so just fine.
February 20th, 2009 at 14:33
I’ll be taking a look at these new Eurospec Ford compacts coming in the next couple years. If they meet the hype, I’m game to buy one. I do wonder how many will be built in the United States, though, and not in Mexican maquiladora factories.