Ford Focus ECOnetic is Green Car of the Year
Ford fought off BMW, Toyota, Volkswagen, NICE and Fiat to win
Author: MotorTorque Team
Published: 25 June 2008
Whatgreencar? has awarded its first Green Car of the Year award to the Ford Focus ECOnetic.
The site's lifetime impact rating covering cars' use and manufacture scored the 1.6-litre ECOnetic Focus better than the benchmark hybrid.
Judge and Whatgreencar.com editor Dr Ben Lane said: "With the fuel-efficient Ford Focus ECOnetic, all new car buyers have the opportunity to purchase a more environmentally friendly car that meets the average motorist's needs."
Whatgreencar ratings range from 0 for the greenest vehicles to 100 for the most polluting, with the Ford Focus judged best in class. With a rating of 33, the 65.6mpg Ford Focus ECOnetic (110PS), emitting 115g CO2/km, sits between a 1.0-litre model and the lowest-rated hybrid.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Drivers want to be green but without giving up comfort and performance or paying a high price. Ford ECOnetics answer that demand and I'm delighted that Whatgreencar? has recognised this."
Ford Focus ECOnetic was the first of Ford's low CO2 models to go on sale, followed by Mondeo ECOnetic, capable of 53.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 139g/km, in July this year. A sub-100g Fiesta ECOnetic will appear early next year.
ECOnetics boast improved aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres and enhanced lubrication to achieve best possible CO2 and fuel consumption.
Its aerodynamics kit, comprising modified front bumper skirt, rocker claddings and rear spoiler, helps to deliver an aerodynamic drag coefficient (cd) of 0.31. Tyres are 195/65R15 spec and new low-viscosity transmission oil was developed with Ford's fuel partner BP.
Shortlisted Green Car of the Year cars are as follows:
• Citycar: NICE Mega City - WGC? rating: 6, CO2: 0 g/km
• Supermini: VW Polo 1.4 BlueMotion 1 - WGC? rating: 29, CO2: 99 g/km
• Supermini: MINI Cooper D - WGC? rating: 30, CO2: 104 g/km
• Family: Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic - WGC? rating 33, CO2: 115 g/km
• Family: VW Golf BlueMotion TDI - WGC? rating 34, CO2: 119g/km
• Family: Fiat Bravo 1.6 Multijet ECO - WGC? rating 34, CO2: 119g/km
• Family: BMW 118d Saloon - WGC? rating: 34, CO2: 119 g/km
• Family: Toyota Prius - WGC? rating: 35, CO2: 104
• Executive: BMW 318d Saloon - WGC? rating: 35, CO2: 123 g/km
• MPV: VW Golf Plus BlueMotion TDI - WGC? rating: 36 (est), CO2: 127g/km
With climate change awareness growing and governments determined to cut CO2 emissions from transport, the hunt is on for greener cars. Our rundown presents the least polluting vehicles by emissions.
With cars emitting less than 120g/km of carbon dioxide exempt from the Congestion Charge and paying less road tax, car buyers are increasingly looking to small, green cars.
The future is Blue when it comes to green motoring.
BlueMotion, Ecomotive, EfficientDynamics, ECOnetic, Blue Lion. All are fuel-saving systems installed on the greenest cars from the biggest car manufacturers - but are they worth it?
New Ford Fiesta Econetic is one green son of a diesel gun. Ford’s upcoming earth-embracing supermini will leave planet in tact and driver in pocket with sub 100g/km CO2 emissions and a staggering 76.3mpg, from £11,845.
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