FEV displays Ford 1.0L EcoBoost engine at SAE World Congress; provided early development support

FEV, Inc., is showing the 1.0L I3 Ford EcoBoost at the SAE 2012 World Congress. (Earlier post.) FEV provided early development stage support for the engine in the area of design and CAE, combustion development, and engine build for 36 engines. We have been very fortunate to have supported Ford Motor Company in the development of this breakthrough powertrain. This is a prime example of FEV’s business model, which is designed to integrate its expertise into the development process for customer propulsion systems on an as-needed basis. The EcoBoost engine represents one of the recent trends in the automotive industry, a move towards downsized and highly boosted engines that deliver higher power and better fuel economy than the larger engines they replace. And these engines are capable of doing that with very low exhaust emissions levels. —Gary Rogers, president and CEO of FEV The three-cylinder engine is designed for Ford vehicles such as the Focus, the B-MAX and the C-MAX. The engine will initially be offered with power ratings of 73.5 and 92kW (98 and 123HP, respectively), providing the power of the 1.6L four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine in the Ford Focus. Both versions will deliver 170 nm (125 lb-ft) of torque between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm, which is an improvement over the 1.6L engine. The smaller power plant also provides an overall weight reduction of approximately 20 lbs. According to Ford, the Focus with the 73.5 kW engine achieves CO 2 emissions of 109 g/km. Source: Green Car Congress

First East Coast Shipment of 2012 Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicles Arrive at the Port of Baltimore

PRESS RELEASE

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) has received the first shipment of 2012 Mitsubishi i electric vehicles to the eastern United States. These units will be delivered to Mitsubishi Motors dealerships for use as demonstration vehicles.

This initial delivery of the Japanese auto manufacturer's groundbreaking 100% electric-powered vehicle to the Port of Baltimore – recently named by the EPA as the #1-ranked most fuel-efficient vehicle available in the United States – marks the debut of the fun-to-drive, efficient and proven 2012 Mitsubishi i to most of the eastern seaboard.

"With so many vehicles sold in different parts of the globe, Mitsubishi's 100% electric-powered vehicle has a proven record of reliability, safety and ease of use," said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa."And as the #1 selling electric vehicle (EV) in Norway, the Mitsubishi i should have no problem adapting to American households in the cold-climate northeast corridor."
Customer and fleet deliveries of the 2012 Mitsubishi i began last December on the west coast (California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii). The vehicle will be available to test drive at participating dealerships throughout the northeast, Virginia and Illinois beginning in March and will be available nationwide by this summer.

With a starting net value of $21,625* for the well-equipped entry-level ES model (the premium-grade SE version begins at $23,625*), the 2012 Mitsubishi i is the most affordably-priced mass-produced electric vehicle (EV) available in the United States and is the first of several new advanced, alternative-fuel production vehicles that the Japanese auto manufacturer plans on bringing to the North American market in the next few years.

For more information on the 2012 Mitsubishi i, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com and i.mitsubishicars.com.

* ES $29,125 MSRP less $7500 federal tax credit = $21,625 after tax credit; SE $31,125 MSRP less $7500 federal tax credit = $23,625 after tax credit

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. In November of 2011, MMNA launched the battery-powered electric vehicle Mitsubishi i as part of a corporate mission to offer consumers more environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This battery-powered electric vehicle technology addresses the need for vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions and support a growing agenda for sustainability. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.