Eco-drivers shift up a gear

Eco-drivers shift up a gear

THE cars we will be driving in a few years could be very different to our most popular models today, according to two significant developments in the past few days.

The latest Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf models, which are Europe's most popular, are among those indicating the new way forward.

They show that motorists are prepared to adopt completely different driving methods in order to save fuel and protect the planet, possibly led by a new generation of more environmentally-aware motorists.

The two important developments are the adoption of Ford's revolutionary new PowerShift automatic transmission system and Volkswagen's latest BlueMotion technology, which are both proving to be soaraway successes.

The UK has traditionally been resistant to the adoption of automatic transmissions and just a few years ago Volkswagen was the first to introduce stop/start technology, which was a disastrous flop.

Now both are back with a vengeance and Ford is planning to roll out its PowerShift system across all of its ranges.

It achieves the performance and economy of a manual gearbox with the convenience of an automatic.

The PowerShift system consists of two separate electronically-controlled gearboxes that work in tandem to achieve completely seamless transmissions.

When the driver moves the gear stick into the D (drive) position, first gear is selected in one gearbox and second gear is automatically pre-selected in the other.

As the throttle is applied, the car pulls away in first gear and at the appropriate moment drive is switched automatically to the pre-selected second gear, at which time third gear is automatically pre-selected in the first gearbox.

The ingenious system means that the first gearbox contains first, third and fifth gears, whilst the second gearbox consists of second, fourth and sixth. Sophisticated electronic control enables gears to be pre-selected according to whether the car is accelerating or decelerating.

Ford spokesperson Pat Oldani, says: ``'The double-clutch technology gives the best of both worlds with the efficiency of a manual and the effortless, two-pedal operation of a conventional automatic.'

The six-speed Ford PowerShift transmission is available with a 136bhp two-litre turbodiesel diesel engine, which in the Focus achieves economy of virtually 50mpg and CO2 emissions of 154g/km.

The strong pulling power of the turbodiesel engine allows a high top gear ratio, which means low engine revs when cruising plus high economy and the whole system can be manually overridden.

The only downside is that it adds £1,500 to the cost of the car but Ford reckons that this differential will drop on the basis of economies of scale as an increasing number of drivers continue to opt for it.

It is also expected that other major motor manufacturers will follow Ford's lead.

Meanwhile Volkswagen is enjoying spectacular success with its high-efficiency BlueMotion models, with the Golf Plus being the latest best-selling model to get it as an option from October.

It adds £325 to the cost of the car but the combination of stop/start, low rolling resistance tyres and other features enable the car to achieve economy of 65mpg and an ultra-low CO2 figure of just 144g/km.http://www.ayrshirepost.net/lifestyle/motoring-car-news/2009/08/17/eco-drivers-shift-up-a-gear-102545-24465168/