Ford has announced that both the Fiesta and Focus will be available with a mild hybrid powertrain in 2020.
The two vehicles, which rank amongst the UK’s most popular new cars, will be offered with the all-new EcoBoost Hybrid power units that pairs a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack.
Instead of a standard starter motor, a belt-driven integrated starter/generator will be used to get the car underway and recover kinetic energy from braking and coasting that is usually lost to help recharge the battery.
Ford will also be fitting the established EcoBoost engines with a larger turbocharger to cut turbo-lag and provide smoother performance.
On the Fiesta, Ford expects the EcoBoost Hybrid to return 57.6mpg, while the Focus could return a potential 60.1mpg.
Both vehicles are part of a series of plans to be announced at Ford’s Go Further event, which will be held in Amsterdam on April 2.
Ford Europe president, Steven Armstrong, said: “Our new Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models are examples of Ford’s commitment to deliver new, more environmentally sustainable vehicles, sophisticated technologies, and valued services for our customers, and we have many more examples to announce in Amsterdam next week and beyond.
“We’ve gone to every length to develop mild-hybrid powertrains for two of our most popular cars that will help keep cash in customers’ pockets while remaining true to the Ford ‘fun to drive’ philosophy.”
