Ford Fusion auto start-stop system technology delivers thousands of dollars in fuel savings

With the national average price of gasoline nearing $4 a gallon, the new Ford Fusion offers yet another way for consumers to save money at the pump as the first non-hybrid mid-size sedan available with auto start-stop.

The fuel-saving technology will be offered for only
$295, allowing more buyers to opt for the new technology and underscoring Ford’s commitment to make fuel economy affordable for millions. Similar systems in other competitive cars can cost several thousand dollars.

“We expect the average Fusion driver with the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine and auto start-stop will save about $1,100 more than other mid-size sedan owners during five years of driving,” said Samantha Hoyt, Fusion Marketing Manager. “That’s cash in their pocket and time saved with fewer trips to the pump.”

Auto start-stop saves fuel use when the car is standing and running at idle. Savings vary depending on driving patterns, but owners who spend most time in heavy urban areas and city traffic will benefit the most – up to 10 per cent. On average, auto start-stop improves fuel efficiency by about 3.5 per cent.

Wasting gas while we wait
A study by the United States Department of the Treasury estimates that congestion consumed an extra 1.9-billion gallons of fuel in 2011, approximately 5 per cent of all the gasoline used.

Communities across America – including Denver and Ann Arbor, Mich., – are considering ordinances banning excessive engine idling.

“Idling vehicles are consuming energy without doing any work,” said Birgit Sorgenfrei, Ford’s Auto Start-Stop Program Manager. “They’re also producing exhaust gases in a concentrated space that can contribute to air quality problems like smog.”

Studies show drivers encounter an average of 10 to 15 red lights and stop signs on a typical 20 mile commute, which can add 5 to 15 minutes of idle time and wasted gas.

Fast, seamless, no added maintenance
Ford is making auto start-stop – one of the most popular features of hybrid vehicles – available with the new 1.6-litre EcoBoost-powered Fusion. When the Fusion comes to a stop, the engine can automatically switch off, consuming no gasoline and emitting no exhaust gases. As soon as the driver releases brake pedal, the engine seamlessly re-starts itself and is ready to go by the time the driver presses the accelerator pedal.

“Our team has put a lot of effort into calibrating the auto start-stop on the Fusion to make it as transparent as possible to the driver and passengers,” says Sorgenfrei.

Auto start-stop is the latest addition to the new Ford Fusion’s industry leading suite of affordable, fuel saving technologies, including:
> EcoBoost engines, which combine turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing or Ti-VCT, with downsizing to deliver outstanding fuel economy without sacrificing performance
> Electric power steering eliminating the engine-driven hydraulic pump, lines and fluid
> Six-speed transmissions, which enable engines to run more efficiently by always selecting the best gear for top fuel economy

On sale this fall, Fusion offers customers the Power of Choice with the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the mid-size car segment – two EcoBoost-powered gasoline engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Fuel-economy includes:
> 2013 Fusion 1.6-litre EcoBoost: Delivering a projected 37 mpg highway
> 2013 Fusion Hybrid: Delivering at least a projected 47 mpg – 4 mpg  better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid
> 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid: Delivering at least a projected 100 MPGe-plus rating – making it the world’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan

Posted in: 2013 Ford Fusion,Auto Start-Stop,Birgit Sorgenfrei,EcoBoost Engine,Ford,Ford Fusion,Fuel-Saving Technology,Mid-size Sedan,Non-Hybrid,Samantha Hoyt,Sedan