Post by TonyV on Apr 23, 2010 9:17:35 GMT -5
Updated: April 23. 2010 1:00AM .
Beijing Auto Show
Ford takes urban driving down a size
Four-passenger car driven by 3 cylinders
Scott Burgess / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. went small at the Beijing Auto Show today.
The Ford Start Concept was designed with city dwellers and features the newest member of Ford's turbocharged, direct injection EcoBoost family: a 1-liter, three-cylinder inline engine.
The tiny engine could power small, urban vehicles with aplomb, such as the four-passenger Start Concept.
Ford's powertrain philosophy has been to use performance-enhancing technology such as turbos and direct injection to downsize engines, creating a six-cylinder engine to replace a traditional V-8 and a four-cylinder to replace a V-6.
The introduction of the three-cylinder EcoBoost demonstrates Ford's commitment to seek a replacement for a four-cylinder engine.
The Spark Concept addresses the need for more urban-oriented vehicles, as the world's population shifts further from rural life.
Just 144 inches long, the Start Concept uses a hybrid aluminum and high-strength steel to create a lightweight frame and spacious interior. The Start uses Ford's My Touch system that integrates its infotainment Sync system to LCD gauges on the dash.
Ford did not release the car's mileage capabilities, other than calling it highly efficient.
"Our ambition with the Ford Start Concept was to design a car that transcends the practical realities of commuting in these mega cities and goes beyond just dressing the technology," design director Freeman Thomas said in a prepared statement.
"We wanted to design a car you would also love."