Ford produces 3 millionth small diesel engine in Europe

Ford has produced its three millionth, small-capacity low carbon diesel engine in Europe. The milestone 1.5-litre TDCi, part of a new family of Euro Stage VI-compliant Ford engines, was manufactured at Ford’s global diesel engineering centre of excellence, Dagenham Diesel Assembly Plant, in the UK.

“It is particularly fitting that we achieved the milestone with Ford’s most fuel-efficient and technologically advanced diesel unit ever – the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that will be introduced to some of our most popular passenger vehicles,” said Dirk Heller, Ford of Europe’s director for manufacturing and powertrain operations.

The latest version of the 1.5-litre engine will first be available for new Focus, followed by all-new Mondeo, and new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX. The pistons, pins and seals are covered with a six-micron layer of diamond-like carbon coating that reduces friction, and improves economy and refinement. A revised Variable Nozzle Turbocharger helps increase airflow, and Nitrous Oxide emissions are reduced by a NOX trap in the exhaust after-treatment system.

Also produced at Dagenham is Ford’s 1.6-litre TDCi engine which powers the Fiesta ECOnetic model with Auto-Start-Stop and emits just 85 g/km. The same 1.6-litre engine will be available in the all-new Ford Mondeo ECOnetic, delivering a class-leading 94 g/km CO2 emissions.

Production of diesel engines at Dagenham, which also will soon include the all-new high performance 210bhp, 2.0-litre TDCi unit to debut on the Mondeo, accounts for more than half of Ford’s global diesel engine output. The biggest diesel markets for Ford in Europe are Britain, Germany, Italy and France, with a diesel share of 47 to 60 percent, demand for Ford vehicles equipped with diesel engines is particularly strong in Portugal, Ireland and Romania, where they account for around two-thirds or more of all passenger vehicle sales.