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Diesel Car Magazine – Ford Fiesta is still the best

Diesel Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta has been selected Diesel Car magazine’s Best Small Car of the Year 2010. The award comes just as Fiesta has been upgraded to consolidate its number one sales spot in Britain.

Ian Robertson, editor of Diesel Car magazine said: “The Fiesta is great to drive with terrific handling, precise steering and a supple well-judged ride. The blend of good looks, frugal diesel engine and funky interior design makes it a real winner in our eyes.”

Mark Simpson, marketing director, Ford of Britain said: “This latest Fiesta is becoming another Ford icon. The British public love the Fiesta’s style but, as Diesel Car states, once they get behind the wheel, they love that experience too.”

Ford announced last month that Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) was standard across the Fiesta range. Bluetooth and USB connection are standard in Titanium models, there is more power for the stage V diesel engines and CO2 emissions are reduced.

The Ford Fiesta continues to lead the UK sales charts with 43,611 sales so far in 2010.

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Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club, TDCI Topics

Mumsnet families introduced to Diesel Ford Galaxy

Ford Galaxy TDCI
Families who use Mumsnet’s vibrant parenting forums have been introduced to the new seven-seater Ford S-MAX and Galaxy range.

Ford’s partnership with Mumsnet enabled eight families to familiarise themselves with the technology-laden MPVs. They then drove petrol and diesel models, featuring Ford’s new smooth and economical six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.

Parents reviewed the simple and secure operation of approved child seats located using Ford’s integral ISOFIX fitting points. Families soon became familiar with how the cars’ air con, audio and bonded phones can be controlled with steering wheel-mounted controls.

Mums and dads, blogging later on Mumsnet.com said: “I’ve driven a fair few people carriers in my time and have tried several of the newer ones on the market and frankly none of them compare to this. The Galaxy is the people carrier to beat now.

“We took out the 2.0 TDCi Titanium, with 163 PS option. It was an auto with the new Powershift transmission. It coped well with everything I threw at it, I could really appreciate the dual clutch – the changes were pretty much seamless. Engine was very responsive, with plenty of oomph when overtaking. As for the cabin, the kids were in heaven! They loved the space and the array of hatches on the central roof console. I remembered my iPod so the kids could bop away to their playlist thanks to the connector in the glove box.”

A draw awarded two participating families with a Ford S-MAX and Galaxy for an extended three-week test drive, which will enable them to share their experiences through a video diary on the site.

Mark Simpson, Ford Britain marketing director, said: “In a year when the new S-MAX and Galaxy will be joined by new five and seven-seat family-friendly C-MAX models in the autumn, there could not be a better time for Ford to partner a high-profile and influential site like Mumsnet.”

Co-founder of Mumsnet, Carrie Longton said: “Ford are to be congratulated for realising that, more often than not, it’s mums who are driving the decision-making process on what family car to buy. Mumsnetters have been queuing up to take part in the test drives and are loving the opportunity to road test and offer feedback on these top-of-the-range Ford cars.”

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Posted in Diesel News, Ford Owners, TDCI Topics

Win A Remap Courtesy of TDISport.com


TDISport are offering the chance to win a custom remap by CCTuning worth up to £399.
The prize will also consist of a before and after Rolling Road run, allowing you to see the power of the car before and after the tuning session.

The winner will be drawn at random at the next TDISport Rolling Road Day, currently planned for the 24th July 2010 at the CCTuning Headquarters.

Two runners up will receive an official TDISport T-Shirt.

Visit the Win A Remap Thread

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Posted in CDTi Owners, Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club, Ford Owners, HDi Topics, TDCI Topics, TDI Owners, TDISport Club News, VAG Topics, Vauxhall Owners, dCi Owners

Breakthrough Diesel Piston Design Removes Barrier to Downsized Engines with Higher Output

Southfield, Michigan, January 25, 2010 … To reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy, vehicle manufacturers are extracting ever increasing power outputs from smaller diesel engines. Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ:FDML) has developed an innovative aluminium piston design that can withstand the severe mechanical and thermal loads produced by these heavily boosted engines, allowing significant improvements in engine performance and durability.

Called DuraBowl®, Federal-Mogul’s design strengthens the crown of a diesel engine piston by locally re-melting the alloy around the bowl, significantly improving the fatigue strength of the aluminium where it is most needed. The result is an extension of component life to between four and seven times that achieved with a conventional cast piston.

During the last decade, typical performance outputs for automotive diesel engines rose from 50kW/litre (67bhp/litre) to around 70kW/litre (94bhp/litre). According to Rainer Jueckstock, Federal-Mogul senior vice president of Powertrain Energy, the trend is likely to accelerate driven by increasingly pressing legislative targets for CO2 reduction in most major global markets. “Rising specific outputs place higher mechanical and thermal loads on many of the components where Federal-Mogul has considerable expertise,” he said. “The DuraBowl piston process is an example of how we are succeeding in delivering specialised process technologies that help our customers successfully address these challenges across a range of growing market sectors.”

In a diesel engine, combustion takes place in a hollow bowl in the top of the piston, where temperatures can reach over 400 degrees Celsius (750 degrees Fahrenheit) and pressures over 200 Bar (200 x atmospheric pressure). Federal-Mogul says that under these increasingly difficult conditions, the rim of the piston bowl has an increased risk of failure. Following extensive analysis, the company has identified that both thermal and mechanical failures of the piston bowl can be traced to the presence of free primary silicon particles distributed throughout the aluminium matrix. Aluminium expands eight times as much as silicon, creating stresses within the piston as the temperature fluctuates. Furthermore, each time the cylinder fires repeated mechanical loads could initiate fatigue failure from the corners of the silicon particles. Silicon is a necessary constituent of the aluminium alloy, offering favourable properties such as low expansion and good castability, so it currently cannot be eliminated.

The only potential solution to this problem, until now, has been fiber-reinforced pistons. “Fiber-reinforced pistons increase manufacturing complexity as the molten alloy has to infiltrate the fibres during casting,” said Frank Doernenburg, Federal-Mogul director of technology, pistons and pins. “Furthermore, there is not yet a reliable, non-destructive way to test the integrity of the finished part whereas, with our DuraBowl process, we can do an Eddy Current test to ensure the quality.”

Federal-Mogul’s solution is to pre-machine the cast piston and then re-melt the alloy around the rim of the bowl. The re-melted alloy cools a thousand times faster than it did when originally cast, which leads to much smaller silicon particles; only one tenth of the previous size. Metallurgists refer to this as refinement of the microstructure; a technique known to increase the strength and durability of metal alloys.

“The strength and efficiency of our solution is that the process is physically simple,” said Doernenburg. “The sophistication is in the control of key parameters, which ensure consistent quality. The result is a technically advanced, high-performing and very cost-competitive product when compared with both fibre-reinforced and steel pistons.”

The technological and cost benefits have been validated during extensive engine testing, both by Federal-Mogul and its customers. Doernenburg concluded, “The re-melting process certainly increases piston life and performance substantially, making a significant contribution to improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2. A conservative estimate would be a fourfold improvement in the life of any cast piston which suffers from bowl rim failures.” The first application of the DuraBowl process is on a high-performance diesel engine recently launched for a leading global vehicle manufacturer.

About Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Corporation is an innovative and diversified $6.9 billion global supplier of quality products, trusted brands and creative solutions to manufacturers of automotive, light commercial, heavy-duty and off-highway vehicles, as well as to the power generation, aerospace, marine, rail and industrial sectors. It is recognised as a premier global innovator in the areas of powertrain, sealing, safety and protection and a leading source of advanced technologies that help increase vehicle performance, improve fuel efficiency and reduce engine emissions for a cleaner world. Federal-Mogul employs nearly 39,000 people located in 36 countries. More information can be found at www.federalmogul.com.

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Posted in CDTi Owners, Diesel News, HDi Topics, TDCI Topics, dCi Owners

THE NEW 2010 FORD S-MAX AND GALAXY DEBUT AT BRUSSELS SHOW

Ford Galaxy TDCI

Ford S-MAX and Galaxy get a fresh new look for 2010
New designs and features enhance the distinctive character of each model
S-MAX and Galaxy debut Ford’s new high-efficiency EcoBoost four cylinder advanced turbocharged petrol direct injection engines
New 115PS and 163PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines with Stage V emission rating – updated 140PS version arriving later
Latest Ford PowerShift transmission enters range: standard with 2.0-litre EcoBoost, optional with 140 and 163PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi
Enhanced technologies include new Blind Spot Information System to boost driver and occupant safety and comfort
BRENTWOOD, Essex – Wednesday, 13 January 2010 – The new Ford S-MAX and Galaxy models, unveiled at the Brussels Motorshow, herald the arrival of a series of new and innovative technologies and features that will challenge established perceptions of what Ford cars feel like to sit in and to drive.

With fresh designs, they feature new interior materials and features, a range of more efficient powertrains and a host of driver-focused technologies aimed at improving safety and comfort.

The 2010 S-MAX and Galaxy are the first cars to be available with Ford’s all-new, high efficiency, 2.0-litre 203PS EcoBoost petrol engine. This joins new 115PS and 163PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, with an updated 140PS version arriving in the UK later. Additionally, the latest Ford PowerShift double wet-clutch transmission system is available for the first time on Ford’s large car range; it will be standard equipment with the EcoBoost petrol engine and optional with the 2.0 140PS and 2.0 163PS Duratorq diesels.

A range of innovative new safety and convenience features debut on versions of the new S-MAX and Galaxy, including a Blind Spot Information System.

More Distinctive Outside
With the new S-MAX and Galaxy, Ford’s design team has achieved significant changes to enhance each vehicle’s individual and expressive kinetic design styling.

S-MAX
From launch in 2006 the S-MAX quickly established itself as a sporty, high quality and well-equipped crossover that provided the benefits of a people mover, but without sacrificing style or driving enjoyment. The new model includes a strongly sculptured bonnet and all-new front facia, emphasised by the bolder graphic of the gloss black, lower front trapezoidal grille. A new lower front bumper includes distinctive LED daytime running lights on high series models.

From the side, S-MAX is instantly recognisable with a new chrome strip which surrounds the whole glass area to enhance the car’s sleek and sporty lines. The new S-MAX has also been re-designed with a more dynamically profiled tailgate, lower facia and new LED tail lights. Further distinguishing the new SMAX is a horizontal satin chrome bar, which runs between the LED tail lights and is embossed with the distinctive S-MAX logo.

Galaxy
The new Galaxy also features a re-designed frontal section. A new, more sculptured bonnet combines with a new front fascia design incorporating a bolder lower trapezoidal grille with inserts featuring subtle chrome bars – and new-look fog lights. Titanium and Titanium X models are differentiated further with chrome bars in the upper grille.

The roof incorporates new bolder integrated silver rails for cross bars, while at the rear, distinctive new LED lights and body-coloured lower fascia are standard equipment.

More Luxurious
Carefully balanced new colour and material choices deliver a luxurious and dynamic feel.

For both vehicles, the Ford Fold Flat System comes as standard for the second and third row of seats.

S-MAX high series models get a new multifunctional overhead console with sunglasses holder and child-watch mirror, and a new one-piece panorama roof equipped with power sun blinds. For the first time high series S-MAX models, and all models fitted with the panorama roof, get a new LED interior lighting system.

New interior colours, graphics and materials are offered across all series.

Power and Economy: EcoBoost SCTi, Duratorq TDCi and PowerShift
Ford’s new S-MAX and Galaxy are the first vehicles to offer an all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine, which heralds a new era in Ford’s petrol engine development.

Featuring lightweight all-aluminium construction, the latest-generation high-pressure direct injection system, low-inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing, the 2.0-litre EcoBoost has an advanced combustion system which brings new levels of performance and fuel efficiency to petrol engines in this power range.

“EcoBoost is Ford’s new global family of efficient petrol engines. New Galaxy and S-MAX are the first models in Europe to adopt this technology. The 2.0-litre EcoBoost SCTi combines petrol direct- injection, turbocharging and twin variable camshaft timing to deliver a great blend of efficiency, low emissions and performance feel.”

Graham Hoare, Executive Director Powertrain, Ford of Europe

The 2.0-litre EcoBoost SCTi engine has a maximum output of 203PS at 5,500rpm, combined with maximum torque of 300Nm, which is delivered across a broad 1,750-4,500 rpm range. With this new powertrain, the S-MAX achieves 0-62mph in 8.5sec (8.8sec for the Galaxy) and a top speed of 137mph (135mph for the Galaxy.)

Yet even with this responsive performance, fuel economy and CO2 emissions are significantly improved. Compared with the previous 161PS 2.3-litre automatic powertrain, CO2 is reduced by 19 per cent to 189g/km, even though the new 2.0-litre SCTi engine has over 25 per cent more power. This translates into a combined fuel economy of just 34.8mpg* and an extra urban figure of 44.1 mpg*.

At the same time Ford’s diesel offering for the new S-MAX and Galaxy has been significantly improved. The latest 2.0-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi engine family is now available in three power levels – 115, 140 and 163PS – for the first time. The new 115PS and 163PS Duratorq TDCi engines, with Stage V emission rating, also deliver impressive fuel economy and CO2 performance.

With a combined consumption of 49.5mpg* and an average CO2 emission of 152g/km the new S-MAX and Galaxy, with six-speed manual transmission, prove that it is possible to combine driving fun and compelling performance with high efficiency. The upgraded 140PS version with Stage V emission rating arrives in the UK later.

The efficient and smooth-changing Ford PowerShift double wet-clutch transmission is a perfect match for both the new petrol direct injection and common rail diesel engines. It is standard with the new EcoBoost SCTi and available as an option with the 140 and 163PS versions of the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi.

New Features Further Enhance Safety and Comfort
From the outset the new S-MAX and Galaxy were designed and developed to offer customers a first-class travelling experience with updated features for even greater safety and comfort.

The new S-MAX and Galaxy are Ford of Europe’s first vehicles to feature the new Blind Spot Information System. This radar-based technology warns drivers of vehicles in their blind spot area. Also, the Adjustable Speed Limiter Device (ASLD) is designed to help drivers set, and then not exceed, specific speed limits unintentionally.

High series versions of the new S-MAX feature LED daytime running lights as standard and LED illumination inside. All versions come with LED tail lights as standard.

The climate control system, which now features a new ventilated temperature and humidity sensor mounted in the steering column shroud, adds to the improved comfort of passengers.

Additional trademark technologies are also now being made available on S-MAX and Galaxy for the first time. These include the Ford Keyless System and the award-winning Ford EasyFuel capless refuelling system.

Jörg Beyer, Vehicle Line Director for Large and Luxury Vehicles, Ford of Europe, said: “The sheer number of milestones we have delivered with the new Ford S-MAX and Galaxy in terms of vehicle design, powertrain technology and features is big enough to make you think they are all-new vehicles. Our European Ford flagships deserve this treatment – and we are convinced that our customers will appreciate it.”

The new S-MAX and Galaxy will be on sale in the UK in April this year and prices will be announced closer to launch.

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Posted in TDCI Topics

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