Ford Motor Company Global Auto Shows

As fuel prices go up and concerns about climate change escalate, alternative fuels and engine types are on the minds of drivers and designers alike.

“We’re interested in hybrids” Mike Smyth, a father of four, said at the NAIAS in Detroit last weekend. He said that “hydrogen, hybrid, and electric cars are important to me. I’m thinking about renewable resources.”

Ford Motor Company is responding to concerns about the environmental impact of its vehicles from customers like Smyth, while still delivering the performance all customers expect. For instance, Lincoln MKR Concept’s V6 TwinForce engine delivers the performance of a V8, but has 15% better fuel economy.

When asked about the MKR Concept, Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company’s Executive Director of Design for the Americas, said that “the Lincoln driver wants to spend money and enjoy their vehicle, but not at the expense of other people or the environment.”

Ford’s commitment to fuel efficiency and alternative fuel and engine types is not new. With the Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford introduced the world’s first full hybrid SUV. Ford now offers both Escape and Mariner as hybrids, and has plans to offer other hybrid models in 2008. In addition, Ford Motor Company offers 14 vehicles that vehicles get over 30 mpg and a line of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), which run on ethanol, gasoline or a combination of the two.

As for alternative fuels, the NySeries Drive plug-in hydrogen fuel cell featured in the Ford Airstream Concept is already on the road in a Ford Edge prototype. Ford also has test fleets of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and vehicles with hydrogen internal combustion engines on the road.

The Symths are glad that automakers are developing more cars with alternative engines, and they’re hopeful about the future. “Maybe by the time we’re in the market for another car, we’ll be able to purchase one that runs on an alternative
to gas,” says Smyth.