Ford announces that the 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine is to be offered with innovative cylinder deactivation technology

• Ford to launch variable displacement for the multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine using cylinder deactivation technology from early 2018
• Technology will be a global first on a three-cylinder engine; can stop or restart combustion in 14 milliseconds and improve CO₂ and fuel efficiency by up to six per cent
• European Ford engineers defy industry opinion by further enhancing three-cylinder engine’s fuel efficiency with no compromise on performance or refinement

Ford today announced that the multi-award-winning 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine is to be offered with innovative cylinder deactivation technology for further reduced CO₂ emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

Ford’s compact and powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost will in early 2018 become the first three-cylinder engine in the world to feature cylinder deactivation. 

The accomplishment is delivered through innovative engineering by Ford, and defies industry opinion that a three-cylinder, variable capacity engine could not deliver the refinement needed for passenger car applications.

Cylinder deactivation will deliver reduced running costs for 1.0-litre EcoBoost customers by automatically stopping fuel delivery and valve operation for one of the engine’s cylinders in conditions where full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine.

An example of the advanced engineering that enables Ford to deliver the power of choice to customers with fuel efficient petrol, diesel and electrified powertrains, the technology can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds – 20 times faster than the blink of an eye. Combined with advanced solutions to counteract vibrations, cylinder deactivation will be imperceptible to drivers in terms of operation and engine performance.

“Ford has pushed back the boundaries of powertrain engineering once again to further improve the acclaimed 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, and prove that there is still untapped potential for even the best internal combustion engines to deliver better fuel efficiency for customers,” said Bob Fascetti, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering, Ford Motor Company.

Making the best even better

The cylinder deactivation system, developed by Ford engineers at Dunton Technical Centre, in Essex, UK, Germany and the U.S. in collaboration with Ford’s engineering partners at the Schaeffler Group, improves fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions by reducing friction and pumping demand inside the engine.

Simple in concept but featuring advanced engineering that enables it to operate at engine speeds of up to 4,500rpm – when valves are each opening and closing almost 40 times per second – the system uses engine oil pressure to activate a special valve rocker and interrupt the connection between the camshaft and the valves of cylinder number one.

Sophisticated software determines the optimum moment to deactivate the cylinder based on factors including speed, throttle position and engine load. A new single-piece camshaft module – similar to the design debuted earlier this year for the all-new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine – frees space within the cylinder head for new oil channels and valve-switching componentry.

“With the variable capacity delivered by cylinder deactivation, drivers get the power and performance of the whole engine when they need it, and the enhanced fuel efficiency of a smaller engine when they don’t,” said Denis Gorman, powertrain engineer, Ford of Europe. “Our research shows that in most driving scenarios the system will be active for just a few seconds at a time, making fast and seamless operation crucial, and has the potential to improve fuel efficiency by up to six per cent.”

Ford’s single-cylinder deactivation design reduces complexity to make volume production achievable, but also presented significant challenges in maintaining the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s acclaimed refinement – delivered using innovations including an offset crankshaft configuration and deliberately “unbalanced” flywheel and pulley that counteract vibration.

A new dual-mass flywheel and a vibration-damping clutch disc help neutralise engine oscillations when running on two cylinders, especially at lower rpm, and enable a wider operating range. Intake and exhaust valves are closed when the system is active, trapping gasses to provide a spring effect that helps balance forces across the three cylinders for refinement, and also retain temperatures inside the cylinder that maintain fuel efficiency when reactivated.

New engine mounts, drive shafts and suspension bushes also will be specially tuned for refinement. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost will feature enhanced durability to cope with the different loading forces resulting from cylinder deactivation, including a new camshaft chain, and valve rockers formed using advanced metal injection moulding.

“Cylinder deactivation adjusts the effective engine capacity to maximise fuel efficiency, and to deliver the greatest benefit to customers, needs to be triggered in as many driving scenarios as possible,”said Carsten Weber, manager, Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford of Europe. “We intensively tested the system in real world conditions using a range of deactivation strategies to develop a system that maximises the fuel efficiency without compromising driving comfort.”

Game-changing 1.0-litre EcoBoost

Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine was launched in the Ford Focus in 2012, and uses Ford EcoBoost technologies including high-pressure direct fuel injection, Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing and turbocharging to deliver optimised fuel efficiency alongside the power and performance of a naturally aspirated 1.6‑litre engine.

The 1.0‑litre EcoBoost was earlier this year voted best in class at the International Engine of the Year Awardsfor the fifth year in a row. In 2014, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost became the first engine to be named overall International Engine of the Year for a third time in a row, and also was in 2012 named “Best New Engine.”

The compact engine – with a block small enough to fit into an aeroplane’s overhead locker – is available with 100PS, 125PS and 14 PS – delivering a greater power-per-litre ratio than a Bugatti Veyron supercar.

Eleven Ford models, including Fiesta, EcoSport, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX, Grand C-MAX, Tourneo and Transit Connect, Tourneo and Transit Courier and Mondeo are available in Europe with the three-cylinder engine. One in five all-new Ford vehicles sold in Europe in last year were equipped with the 1.0-ltre EcoBoost, including two in five Fiestas.  

30 years after the police tested the Ford RS200 rally car for motorway driving, they now trial the Focus RS.

The world’s most exclusive ‘police-car’ – based on the multi-award-winning Ford Focus RS – has been on test with police forces across the UK. The £31,250, four-wheel-drive, front-engined hyper hatch reaches 60mph from a standing start in under five seconds.

This special version of the Focus RS – on trial exactly 30 years after a Ford RS200 police car was put to the test - could be voted a ‘stunning hit’ by expert traffic policemen lucky enough to get behind the wheel, and is sure to intimidate would-be speeders.

Powered by a 2.3-litre turbocharged, 16-valve, four-cylinder Ford EcoBoost engine, the Focus RS develops 345bhp in standard road-going form – meaning that even the fastest Ford RS models of 30 years ago are no match for the Ford RS police cars of today.

The body was designed by Ford of Europe Design’s Ernesto Rupar, while the mechanical design and development was the responsibility of Ford Performance’s chief engineer, Tyrone Johnson. The Focus RS has won a host of awards since its launch, including Top Gear Magazine’s Car of the Year 2016.

Law-breakers would be relieved to learn that, due to limited production numbers, Ford does not expect many police forces to offer a patrol car capable of catching anything on the road. “But until they have tried it we won’t know whether it meets any specialist need”, said Terry Adams, Ford’s police sales manager.

Most forces will continue to rely on the standard Ford Focus and Ford’s biggest-selling police vehicle, the Transit Custom, for patrol duties. Ford supplies more than 1,500 vehicles to Britain’s police forces across the country, including the Ford Kuga and Ford Ranger in rural areas.

Unlike the RS200, the Focus RS includes most practicalities expected of a police patrol car, including rear doors for suspected criminal accommodation and a boot large enough for traffic cones.

Jaguar believes in the XE so much they will let you compare it the competition at Jag dealers this weekend.

• Jaguar’s XE sports saloon is pitted against its rivals across UK showrooms in the first weekend of September
• Car buyers invited to test up to three competitor vehicles at Jaguar UK showrooms and decide for themselves if the XE beats its rivals onto their driveway
• Jaguar becomes the first manufacturer in the UK to offer such a competitive comparison through its showrooms
• The multi-award winning Jaguar XE is the current Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year and was named ‘a Game Changer’ at the 2016 Autocar Awards

Jaguar UK makes a bold statement this summer with an open invitation for car buyers to test the multi-award-winning XE against its rivals in the market through group tests arranged at UK showrooms.

More than 250 examples of the three main rivals to the Jaguar XE have been brought in for the first weekend of September and placed at key Jaguar retailers across the UK for the magazine-style group tests to take place.

Jaguar Land Rover UK managing director Jeremy Hicks said:

“Our offer is simple: if you are interested in test driving a Jaguar XE, but are uncertain about how it will compare against its key rivals, then contact your local Jaguar retailer and arrange your own personal group test.  It’s a bold move, never done before by a manufacturer in the UK, but the Jaguar XE speaks for itself. It is the best looking car in its class, appealing to the heart but with class-leading running costs that add up to a shrewd financial purchase.”

“It’s a class leader across the key measures of efficiency, performance and cost of ownership and absolutely holds its own in the most hotly contested sector of the market against the most established players in the world. We know it, the critics know it, now it’s time for car buyers across the UK to know it – and crucially, experience it – for themselves.”

The multiple Executive Car of the Year winner has played a crucial role in the business’s record-breaking sales in 2016, with almost 30,000 XEs making their way onto global driveways so far this year. The Autocar 2016 ‘Game Changer’ is fast approaching its 50^th award, and was shortlisted for the coveted European Car of the Year award.

Already hailed as the best drivers’ car in its class, the updates to the XE for the 2017 model year have enhanced this further. It now comes with key specification additions; including an all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which is available to order on the 2.0-litre Ingenium 180PS diesel variant.

The AWD system enhances vehicle dynamics and improves traction, while Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR) optimises the AWD system by changing the powertrain and Dynamic Stability Control system mapping according to the conditions.

Jaguar's advanced Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, and high-tech Ingenium engines, make the XE the most efficient non-hybrid car in its class with fuel economy of up to 75mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km. As well as its business-friendly emissions the XE also boasts the highest three-year/60,000-mile residual value* in the segment.

The 2017 model year XE also comes with a state-of-the-art InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10.2-inch tablet-style touchscreen that offers intuitive operation, super-fast response times and intelligent navigation. The system offers a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices, and is compatible with an Apple Watch app, that offers remote functions including fuel level check, lock and unlock, and even remote engine starts.

FURTHER INFORMATION

FIVE REASONS TO BUY THE JAGUAR XE:

• The XE is the most efficient non-hybrid car in its class with fuel economy of up to 75mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km.
• The XE a boasts the highest three-year/60,000-mile residual value* in the segment.
• Euro NCAP selected it as the winner in the large family car category at their Best in Class Cars of 2015 awards. The XE has already received the maximum five star rating from Euro NCAP against 2015's highly demanding test protocols.
• It’s a ‘Game Changer’ according to Autocar, Britain’s oldest motoring magazine.
• Auto Express has named it their ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ for the second year running.

The New Tiguan from Volkswagen gets a range of deals to boost it's sales ready for the September plate change.

• Take advantage of a £1000¹ deposit contribution on the versatile Tiguan
• Drive the class-leading new Volkswagen SUV from just £229² per month
• The comprehensive Tiguan range starts from £22,510 (RRP OTR)

Just in time for the debut of the new ‘66’ registration prefix on 1 September, Volkswagen is revealing a selection of compelling finance deals on its highly-praised new Tiguan compact SUV.

Tiguan instantly became a hugely sought-after Volkswagen on its debut in UK Retailer showrooms in June of this year, and since then customers have been flocking to get behind the wheel of the high-tech crossover.  In the past few months, for example, more than 25 per cent of all the configurations conducted by visitors to the Volkswagen.co.uk website have been for the sophisticated new Tiguan.

Recent group test wins for the Tiguan in both What Car? and CAR magazines have cemented its position among the most desirable compact SUVs on the market today, while the addition of these compelling new finance offers can only increase the car’s appeal among buyers keen to secure a great deal on their new ‘66’ plate Volkswagen.

Private customers who finance a new Tiguan with a Solutions Personal Contract Plan from Volkswagen Financial Services can now take advantage of a generous £1,000 deposit contribution, alongside a highly competitive finance rate of 5.1 per cent APR representative¹. 

Solutions Personal Contract Plan – representative example subject to 10,000 miles per annum for a Tiguan S 2.0 TDI 150 PS:

Duration	4 years
47 monthly payments of	£229
Deposit contribution³	£1,000
Customer deposit	£6,471.44
Retail cash price	£25,560
Acceptance fee⁴	£0.00
Optional final payment	£10,166.81
Option to purchase fee⁵	£10
Total amount payable	£28,411.25
Total amount of credit	£18,088.56
Representative APR	5.1% APR
Rate of interest p.a.	5.1% fixed
Excess mileage charge	7.2ppm

Alternatively, customers can opt for Retail Personal Contract Hire.  This brings an impressive payment rate of £229 per month over a contract of up to 48 months² and is based on the popular Tiguan R-Line with an initial rental of £9,744.  In addition, customers can sign up to Volkswagen’s optional service plan offer in which their Tiguan’s first two services will cost a total of just £149.

Right from the entry-level new Tiguan S model customers, regardless of how they choose to acquire their new car, will enjoy a high level of standard equipment.  In the Tiguan S, this includes an eight-inch colour touch-screen Composition Media infotainment system, automatic lights, and Lane Assist which cleverly helps the car to avoid straying out of line.  A multifunction trip computer, meanwhile, displays a variety of helpful statistics about each journey.

Move up to the SE model and the standard-fit equipment list lengthens to include 3Zone climate control – which enables the driver, front seat passenger and the rear passengers to set their own cabin temperatures individually.  This model also includes cruise control and Volkswagen’s Car-Net ‘App Connect’ system.  ‘App Connect’ allows, among much else, a smartphone to be connected to the Tiguan and many of its functions to then be ‘mirrored’ in the car’s infotainment screen.

The Tiguan SE Navigation comes with Volkswagen’s Discover satellite navigation system with a variety of route display options and branded points of interest.  The system is completed by a three-year ‘Guide and Inform’ subscription which provides online access to a range of useful information such as local traffic, fuel pricing, parking space availability, weather and news feeds.

Stepping up the range again, the luxurious Tiguan SEL includes a wealth of technology that takes the strain out of longer journeys.  This includes Active Info Display – a 12.3-inch high-resolution TFT screen housed within the dash that can be configured in a variety of ways including a wide-screen satellite navigation display with 2D or 3D route guidance.  Meanwhile, the Adaptive Cruise Control monitors the Tiguan’s distance from the car ahead and adjusts its speed accordingly.

The range-topping Tiguan R-Line has the most overtly sporty styling of the current range, including unique and eye-catching body-coloured front and rear bumpers.  The R-Line’s standard-fit 20-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels provide a striking contrast to the black wheel arch extensions, while a body-coloured roof spoiler contrasts with the ‘Piano Black’ front air intake and rear diffuser to further expand the new Tiguan’s already impressive kerb appeal.  Inside, the R-Line model gets ‘Race’ cloth seating with ‘San Remo’ microfibre and the ‘R-Line’ logo on the front seat headrest.  A black roof lining and stainless steel pedals are among the subtle touches that complete the look.

A choice of seven EU6-compliant engines, including three petrol and four diesel units, add to the variety of combinations available through the Tiguan range,*  while Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology brings a range of features that reduce fuel consumption and save fuel.  These include start/stop functionality and brake energy recuperation.  In addition most of the new Tiguan drivetrain combinations include two- or four-wheel drive options, and the choice of a manual or a DSG automatic gearbox. 

This arguably, best DS in the world is coming up for sale at the Silverstone Auction Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace.

• The multi-award winning car and unrivalled European show winner is regarded as the finest Citroen DS in existence
• One owner from new and treated to an exceptionally high quality restoration
• It will be auctioned on 3^rd September at Salon Privé with a sale estimate of £75,000 to £90,000

A 1973 Citroen DS Super 5, believed to be the finest Citroen DS in the world, is set to be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale on Saturday 3^rd September at Blenheim Palace.

With its aerodynamic, futuristic shape and innovative technology, this Citroen DS didn’t even have to leave the dealership showroom to find its first owner. The CEO of the supplying dealership is the first and only registered owner of the car, which is now one of the most decorated examples on the classic Citroen circuit anywhere in the world.

This truly stunning, right-hand drive DS is presented in period white (Blanc Meije) bodywork with original Red Targa upholstery. Having been restored to an exceptionally high quality standard, the dedicated owner entered this exemplary classic Citroen into the most prestigious of concours level shows and competitions.

Such is the car’s success, it possesses its own display cabinets that bulge with in excess of 200 awards. As the unrivalled European show winner, the car has collected multiple concours trophies including National Champion at both the Welsh Benson & Hedges Concours and Popular Classics Roadshow. The Citroen has also achieved victories at the Scottish Benson & Hedges Concours, was an NEC show winner, and a national Meguiars Concours display car. It also featured prominently at the Paris Concours and Citroen World Championship.

This star car even boasts a television career, with appearances on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear. It has even been offered a permanent place at the national Citroen Museum in France.

“Words are not adequate to convey the condition of this important piece of motoring history, it simply must be seen to be believed,” explains Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. “This DS is the kind of car that really gets people excited, and we’re delighted to be offering a car of this staggering quality and reputation in our sale. It’s one of the star cars in the Salon Privé Sale and fits in perfectly as part of our most exclusive sale.”

This award winning 1973 Citroen DS Super 5 will be offered for sale with an estimate of between £75,000 and £90,000. Documentation supporting the car's history fills a number of storage boxes, full photographic restoration folders and at least 150 magazine features will accompany the car.