When it comes to thinking green in B.C.’s Interior area, the focus is on gaining greater fuel economy from better engineered combustible engines, especially in trucks, says the sales manager of Canada’s oldest Ford dealer located in Vernon, B.C.
“EcoBoost is the new series of engines that Ford has come out with,” said Gerry Bowbell, general manager at Watkin Motors, as it is finding favour with consumers who commute longer distances and who also use pickups as work vehicles or for hauling goods.
The EcoBoost series of turbo-charged, direct injection gasoline powered engines, offered by Ford, have the ability to deliver power and torque consistent with larger engines yet yield approximately a 20 per cent better fuel economy and 15 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions.
“The pickups are getting 32 miles to the gallon. It is the hottest ticket around here where you are used to getting 21-22 miles to the gallon,” said Bowbell. In addition, consumers do not need to embrace a new technology such as that found in hybrids or electric vehicles nor does the community need to provide a new level of infrastructure such as charging stations.
The Ford trucks with the EcoBoost engines are also popular with those who are hauling recreational trailers. “People who are snowbirds like them. They are hauling a trailer down south and getting 25-27 miles per gallon,” he said.
“Ford is really the first car manufacturer to have redone all their engines,” he said, plus there are various powertrains that can be matched to the vehicle’s usage.
This year, Ford will offer EcoBoost engines in 12 Ford and Lincoln nameplates — Focus ST, 2013 Fusion and Escape, Taurus, Interceptor, Flex, Edge, Explorer and F-150, as well as the latest Lincoln MKT and MKS models and the all-new Lincoln MKZ. By 2015, the company plans to offer an EcoBoost engine on 90 per cent of its North American nameplates.
