Ford in Europe has announced the launch of new electrified Fiesta 1,0 EcoBoost variants, offered in 92 kW and 114 kW forms, delivering more power and improved fuel efficiency.
The 48 V mild-hybrid technology has been applied to the Blue Oval brand’s turbocharged 1,0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. From what we can tell, the electrified Fiesta will be limited to Europe for now (as brands there attempt to meet increasingly strict emissions standards).
The new system features a belt-driven integrated starter/generator in place of the standard alternator, enabling “recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting”. This charges the 48 V lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.
The stored energy is then used to provide “torque assistance during normal driving and acceleration”, as well as run the vehicle’s electrical ancillaries. The belt-driven integrated starter/generator is capable of providing up to 24 N.m in its “torque substitution” setting (reducing the work of the petrol engine) and 20 N.m in “torque supplementation” mode (in addition to the petrol engine’s peak twisting force).
Interestingly, the mild-hybrid has allowed Ford to lower the three-pot’s compression ratio and add a larger turbocharger; Ford says turbo-lag is mitigated by the torque supplementation function.
“Adding EcoBoost Hybrid technology to Fiesta’s best-in-class driving dynamics means customers can have even more power and still go further on a tank of fuel,” said Roelant de Waard, vice-president for marketing, sales & service at Ford of Europe.
“The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid will help Ford bring the benefits of electrification to more drivers than ever before.”
The Dearborn-based firm says it is “committed to offering an electrified version of every passenger vehicle it brings to market in Europe” and will grow its range of electrified vehicles in Europe to 18 before the end of 2021.
This latest update for the light hatchback also includes the debut of a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, replacing the six-speed torque-converter item.
