Torotrak to fit KERS into Caterpillar wheel loader

Torotrak has secured funding to fit KERS technology into a wheel loader programme in collaboration with Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Illinois.

Torotrak to visit OEMs with V-Charge

Torotrak is to begin a programme of visits to pan-European vehicle manufacturers and Tier One suppliers to conduct a series of test drives.

CGI offers boost for small diesels

Development of small-displacement diesel engines using compacted graphite iron (CGI) and offering over 100 bhp/litre is under way.

Ford set to build more cars in Mexico

By 2018 Ford will have shifted production of its next-generation compact cars from its Wayne sited assembly plant in Michigan to Mexico in the next couple of years.

Revised engines give Focus new edge

The new Ford Focus delivers the car’s most fuel-efficient powertrain line-up with improvements of up to 15 per cent, and a significant CO₂ emission reduction across the line-up.

Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to offer Ford’s new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and it will also be available for the first time with Ford’s 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

Peugeot to cut reliance on diesels

Peugeot is hoping a sales boost from two new small turbocharged petrol engines will reduce its traditional reliance on diesels.

The new PureTech petrol engines - 1.2-litre three-cylinder direct-injection units developing either 110bhp or 130bhp, with diesel-like torque figures of 205Nm and 230Nm respectively - debut in the new 308 and 308 SW and are destined for the 208 and 2008 later in the year.

More three cylinder engines

Peugeot and Renault are expected to reveal further details of their next-generation three-cylinder engines at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

With three cylinders now much in vogue, both French automakers will be vying for attention in the small-car stakes.

Bridgend to build 1.5-litre EcoBoost

Ford has named its Bridgend Engine Plant as a further location to source its new 1.5-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost gasoline engine.

In parallel with the news, Ford has announced a £24 million investment in the facility, £12 million of which will be provided by the Welsh Government in the form of a ‘support package’.

The investment will bring valuable work to machine tool companies and equipment suppliers. Ford adds that the investment will also ‘help safeguard and create high-quality production and engineering jobs in Wales’.

Ford tops Polk charts

Sales of the Ford Focus totalled 1,020,410 in 2012 according to Polk global market registration data making it the world’s best-selling vehicle overall.

Polk also confirmed the Ford Fiesta as the best-selling sub-compact car globally with registrations of 723,130 in 2012.

The Ford Fiesta and Focus are the UK’s one and two best-sellers providing the foundation for Ford’s UK car sales leadership which the company claims it has held for 36 consecutive years.