Ford invests £1 billion on ‘green’ cars

Motor manufacturer Ford is to spend £1bn in the UK developing more environmentally friendly vehicles. It says “unparalleled collaboration” between its 9,500 UK-based engineers will lead to “over 100 models that offer improved emissions or fuel economy performance”. One example, it says, will be a Ford Focus with a fuel consumption of more than 70 miles per gallon. “By pooling our engineering investment, our brands will develop a broader range of technologies than they could afford individually,” said Lewis Booth, executive vice president. The project – which is expected to last over the next six years – will focus on five key technology areas. In one, it will look to reduce vehicle weight by extending its use of lighter materials such as aluminium. Ford’s Jaguar division has developed this as a core competency – which Ford hopes to transfer across the rest of its business. The other technology areas are: advanced direct-injection engines; hybrid petrol/electric cars; alternative fuels (such as bio-fuels); and other efficiency improvements that improve fuel economy.