Ford says its hybrid technology is advancing faster than Toyota's

This game of technological leap frog is good for everyone. GO Ford, GO Toyota, GO Ford, GO Toyota..............

 

Glad to hear Ford is advancing faster than Toyota. SO . . . when will THEY release their Prius killer.



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The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at: $25,900
The 2012 Current Ford Fusion Hybrid starts at: $28,775

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid will need to be competitively priced.

 

I have no doubt Ford's new hybrid tech will fare well. Even so, the "advancing faster" label has gotta be a term that Ford is reluctant to bandy about. After all - look what happened to Honda recently. They released the Gen II "Prius killer" ... only to find that its reception was somewhat underwhelming. That was followed by their hybrid battery failure snafu.

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The ability to downsize and modify engine cycles is a significant part of the reason for hybrid efficiency so it's good engineering to reduce displacement.. The new engine actually has more power and only slightly less peak torque, so it doesn't really seem that they've made any significant compromise.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the performance is the same. The use of a lithium battery plus other weight saving engineering should mean the new FFH is significantly lighter, with the reduced weight offsetting required torque. So people might find it harder to hit EPA in more challenging conditions such at higher speeds and hilly areas, but, like the c, city performance will benefit and hypermilers should find the upper limits of efficiency improved.

Ford are actually going to downsize the regular Fusion engines too with 2.0L and 1.6L turbocharged engines. It's good news for people who drive sensibly although I'm sure we'll hear whining from brainless and lead-footed drivers.

 

The problem with turbocharged engines is that 99% 0f the time, partial throttle operation, they run in derated/detuned mode insofar as base/native compression ration is concerned.

 

Citation needed.

 

Excellent point! Fusion being heavier, it'll be noticable. Camry hybrid will feel like a small V6 while Fusion hybrid would feel like a big I4.

 

Back to the original point. I would point out that Ford is the car maker with a CEO that has an established engineering background. Undoubtably, the claim Ford is making is driven by a CEO focus on innovation. And anyone who has lived in the corporate environment knows that the CEOs focus works it's way into the larger corporation.

Now does the Toyota CEO have as established engineering background?

Todays cars are the result of the company thinking a decade ago. The cars a decade from now will be the thinking of today's company.

 

Claim Ford is making now, is the same claim they were making in 2007/2008.
Hopefully this time around they start selling some hybrids.

 

absolutely. Without competition there is no advancement of technology.

 

the difference in mileage seems to be from: smaller ICE displacement, higher EV operation and use of Lithium.

 

Let me know when they start selling Taxi's all around the world.........

 

dup

 

lots of fusion and escape hybrid taxis. Does it really matter if there are any in Africa?

These are the older tech, we need to wait until the fall to see the latest and greatest in test drives.

 

I've heard the same of Fiat's, and thus Chrysler's, CEO. It'll be interesting to see what comes from them in the next few years.

Ford was in a bad patch not long ago, thus the new CEO, and plans likely had to be put on hold. The NA market had to settle for a refreshed Focus at the time instead of the new generation released in Europe do to costs.

I remember a blurb from an auto rumors column back in 2005 or 2006 about Ford releasing not just a hybrid, but also a DI turbo engine(this was years before ecoboost was coined) option for an upcoming Fusion. It stuck among the useless facts in my head because it would nice to see a direct comparison between the technologies. 2010 was the expected release for this.

Well, it's a few years late, but it is coming to market along with a PHV model.. I wouldn't bet on it, but the same column also had a line about a full size hybrid car being available around the same time as the multiple drive train option Fusion. I'm not expecting anything since the Taurus gets the 2.0L ecoboost this year for a mileage boost,but the Fusion Energi announcement was a surprise.

The new Focus was designed with a hybrid as a possibility. It is the same platform as the C-max. I think once Ford has gained some experience with lithium batteries and their in house hybrid production with the Fusion and C-max hybrids, they will then introduce a Focus hybrid to compete with the Prius

 

Toyota's control algorithms for traction battery use have always favored battery health over best energy efficiency. While Ford *may* have improved efficiency while not harming the long-term health of the battery, I'll remain skeptical until long term data is available.

How quickly people forget the Honda story.

 

Has Ford had any issues with their hybrid battery in past? Even considering the hybrid taxis?

There is an element of risk with anything new. Does Ford's past with their hybrids warrant going beyond the normal prudence that a new car model should be given?

 

didnt Ford use Toyota batteries before?