Ford Fights Back Against Rising Fuel Prices

WATERTOWN, MA (03/10/2011)(readMedia)-- As consumers face growing pain at the gas pump, Ford is taking steps to keep spiraling gas prices from draining drivers' wallets. Ford now offers one of the most fuel-efficient lines of any automaker, with 12 models that lead their segments in fuel economy, ranging from small and agile compacts to powerful pickup trucks that deliver greater efficiency without sacrificing performance.

This month, the 2012 Ford Focus arrives with an available Super Fuel Economy (SFE) package that boosts highway mileage to 40 mpg, offering buyers an efficient gas-powered alternative to diesels and hybrids.

"At a time when gas prices keep going up and up, people are always looking for ways to save on fuel costs," said Peter King, general manager of Greater Boston Ford dealer Watertown Ford. "Ford is actively pushing its engineers to find new ways to improve fuel economy, and the EPA estimates for the 2012 Focus SFE show they're doing a fantastic job."

The base model 2012 Focus equipped with an automatic transmission has been rated by the EPA at 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, numbers that beat the 2011 Chevy Cruze automatic's 24 mpg/city and 36 mpg/highway. With the available Focus SFE package, highway fuel economy grows to 40 mpg with the auto transmission. The new Ford Focus will have four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles and four trim levels: the S, SE, SEL and Titanium. Buyers can get the SFE package in any trim or body style.

Ford kicked up fuel economy for the 2012 Focus without reducing its power thanks to an advanced powertrain. The Focus's new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine uses high-pressure direct fuel injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to generate 160 horsepower from smaller amounts of gas.

While 40 mpg may be the new gold standard for fuel efficiency, the Focus SFE is not the only Ford model to reach that level. The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid receives 41 mpg in the city, and the 2011 Fiesta, like the Focus SFE, is rated at 40 mpg highway.

The automaker has also found ways to keep its popular pickup trucks away from the gas pumps. Ford's 2011 F-150, featuring an available V6 EcoBoost engine, improves fuel efficiency over the 5.4-liter V8 by 20%, even as it maintains a towing capacity of 11,300 pounds.

As the new Focus arrives at Ford dealerships, Ford will expand its SYNC voice-controlled connectivity system by adding to its roster of compatible languages. When it was first launched in 2007, SYNC accepted input in three languages; 2012 Ford Focus models for Europe will respond to 19. Newly added languages include Italian, Arabic, Japanese, European and Brazilian Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese. Developed with Nuance Communications, SYNC's speech engine is able to recognize different accents and dialects as well as a larger vocabulary. Even the abbreviations commonly used in text messaging are supported by the software, so owners can LOL in 19 languages.

"Voice recognition is one of those futuristic features that does a lot to improve the driver experience, but very few automakers are actively pursuing ways to make it more accessible," added King. "By adapting SYNC technology to all these new languages, Ford is making a safer and more convenient driving experience accessible to a new array of drivers, both here in Massachusetts and around the world."

About Watertown Ford in Watertown, Massachusetts:

Watertown Ford is where Greater Boston Ford lovers head for the best deals on new and used Fords. No other Massachusetts Ford dealer has the same dedication to the customer, and that dedication has earned Watertown Ford the loyalty of Ford owners all over the state. Their extensive inventory, as well as information about their premier Ford dealership, can be viewed online at www.watertownford.com. You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyWatertownFord, reach them by phone at 800-584-6486, or visit their showroom at 625 Pleasant St. in Watertown, MA, just minutes from Boston.