The No. 2 U.S. automaker said it will introduce a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine within the next two years. The engine will have the same performance as the widely used four-cylinder engine, but would save more fuel and lower emissions, Ford said.
"We just keep trying to find fuel economy improvements," Derrick Kuzak, Ford's head of product development, said Thursday. "The only way you keep doing that is by finding new technologies and attention to detail."
Engines of this size are seen in smaller cars and motorcycles. Kuzak said the engine is "clearly aimed for small cars."
Ford also said Thursday it would develop its own hybrid transmission and is planning an eight-speed transmission.
The move comes as automakers are developing more advanced powertrains and shaving weight from their vehicles to meet tightening U.S. standards regarding fuel economy.
By the 2016 model year, automakers' cars and trucks must get 35.5 miles per gallon on average, according to new U.S. fuel economy standards. Vehicles made by the top 14 automakers for the 2010 model year averaged 22.5 miles per gallon.
The three-cylinder engine will be used in Ford vehicles worldwide, although Ford did not specify which models.
Calgary Herald
No comments:
Post a Comment