Electric power assist steering (EPAS)
The industry is gradually moving to electric steering, because it contributes to fuel efficiency (a power-robbing belt-driven power steering pump is no longer required). Ford has augmented its new EPA with available Pull Drift Compensation, which automatically increases the power assist so the driver doesn’t have to compensate for pulling and drifting.
New 6-speed transmissions
There are improvements to the six-speed 6F35 automatic transmission, and its utilization now encompasses Fusion and Escape. Improvements limit “parasitic” losses. Witness reduced fluid level for lighter weight and faster warm-up; higher operating temperatures to reduce fluid viscosity, which ultimately makes it easier to move the fluid through the transmission; and recalibration of shift points and lockup.
EcoBoost-equipped models use the higher-spec 6F55 transmission.
Fusion’s standard transmission is now a 6-speed manual (previously a 5-speed).
Here Comes More V8
A 6.2-litre V8 --producing about 400 horses -- first appears in the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a hot rod for the off-road set.
Part of a Greater Plan
These powertrain developments are part of a refocused strategy initiated about three years ago.
Essential elements of the strategy are more EcoBoost engines, fewer V8s and more I4s and hybrids, more 6-speed transmissions, and continuous tweaking to existing powertrains to extract every last increment of fuel efficiency.
At the press preview event in Dearborn, Barb Samardzich, Vice-President, Ford Global Powertrain Engineering, outlined some other pertinent bullet points of the plan…
• Compared to the 2005 Ford fleet, average fuel economy will improve about 20 percent through end of 2010, and by about 35 percent by 2015.
• More engine rationalization. Currently 28 engine families; goes down to 20 by 2013.
• More transmission rationalization; currently 43 transmissions; goes down to 26 by 2013.
• All automatics go 6-speed by 2013.
• Ninety percent of engines go direct injection by 2013.
• I4 to play more important role.
• Hybrid adoption rate will not be rampant; Ford is worried about cloudy infrastructure and incentive picture. “That whole arena is still a work in progress,” said Samardzich.
• Nonetheless, Ford is set to introduce four “plug ins” by 2012: Transit Connect BEV in calendar year 2010; another unnamed BEV in 2011; and two plug-in hybrids by 2012.
photo:Mike Goetz, Ford
The industry is gradually moving to electric steering, because it contributes to fuel efficiency (a power-robbing belt-driven power steering pump is no longer required). Ford has augmented its new EPA with available Pull Drift Compensation, which automatically increases the power assist so the driver doesn’t have to compensate for pulling and drifting.
New 6-speed transmissions
There are improvements to the six-speed 6F35 automatic transmission, and its utilization now encompasses Fusion and Escape. Improvements limit “parasitic” losses. Witness reduced fluid level for lighter weight and faster warm-up; higher operating temperatures to reduce fluid viscosity, which ultimately makes it easier to move the fluid through the transmission; and recalibration of shift points and lockup.
EcoBoost-equipped models use the higher-spec 6F55 transmission.
Fusion’s standard transmission is now a 6-speed manual (previously a 5-speed).
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| Ford 6F35 Transmission |
Here Comes More V8
A 6.2-litre V8 --producing about 400 horses -- first appears in the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a hot rod for the off-road set.
Part of a Greater Plan
These powertrain developments are part of a refocused strategy initiated about three years ago.
Essential elements of the strategy are more EcoBoost engines, fewer V8s and more I4s and hybrids, more 6-speed transmissions, and continuous tweaking to existing powertrains to extract every last increment of fuel efficiency.
At the press preview event in Dearborn, Barb Samardzich, Vice-President, Ford Global Powertrain Engineering, outlined some other pertinent bullet points of the plan…
• Compared to the 2005 Ford fleet, average fuel economy will improve about 20 percent through end of 2010, and by about 35 percent by 2015.
• More engine rationalization. Currently 28 engine families; goes down to 20 by 2013.
• More transmission rationalization; currently 43 transmissions; goes down to 26 by 2013.
• All automatics go 6-speed by 2013.
• Ninety percent of engines go direct injection by 2013.
• I4 to play more important role.
• Hybrid adoption rate will not be rampant; Ford is worried about cloudy infrastructure and incentive picture. “That whole arena is still a work in progress,” said Samardzich.
• Nonetheless, Ford is set to introduce four “plug ins” by 2012: Transit Connect BEV in calendar year 2010; another unnamed BEV in 2011; and two plug-in hybrids by 2012.
photo:Mike Goetz, Ford