MELBOURNE, Australia, 30 November, 2011 – The FG Falcon EcoLPi has been voted the country’s Best Large Car Under $60,000 in the annual Australian motoring organisations’ annual Best Cars Awards.

It is the first time an LPG-powered car has won the award.

“In considering the Falcon EcoLPi, the majority opinion of the judges was that Ford’s efforts in producing an LPG Falcon that was as good to drive, if not better than a comparable petrol Falcon deserved recognition,” the judging panel said.

“One of the key advantages of the EcoLPi is its liquid phase LPG injection system, which was a major step forward from the venturi-style vapour system used on the previous E-Gas Falcons.”

The EcoLPi beat several leading European finalists for the award, which combines the expertise of Australian Motoring Clubs including the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT and AANT.

Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano, said the award was a validation of Australian engineering knowhow and a great result in what had been a busy year for the brand.

“The Falcon EcoLPi is part of a suite of new technologies we’re delivering for customers, which now encompasses a diesel engine in the Territory SUV and soon outstanding EcoBoost technology in the FG Falcon MkII – all world-class technologies,” Graziano said.
“Importantly, the Falcon EcoLPi engine was developed locally for Australian conditions and customers.

“It delivers better fuel economy and substantial increases in both power and torque outputs compared to the previous E-Gas engine – providing real benefits to our customers.”

The Best Large Car award was also a credit to Ford’s engineers, designers and workers, he said.

“The FG Falcon represents the best of local Ford engineering and design,” he said. “We set out to develop a new LPG system for Falcon because we saw a clear place for it in this market.

“Falcon EcoLPi is all about offering Australian consumers choice and showcasing that it is, in fact, possible to have it all with outstanding performance, five-star safety and family packaging, features and comfort.”

The EcoLPi engine develops 198 kW of power at 5000 rpm and 409 Nm of torque at 3250 rpm, which is identical to the petrol I6 engine when operating on higher octane 95 RON unleaded fuel (versus regular 91 RON unleaded).

For EcoLPi that represents a 27 per cent improvement in maximum power and a 10 per cent improvement in peak torque compared to the previous generation E-Gas LPG engine, which produced 156 kW and 371 Nm. Despite the significant increases in power and torque, fuel efficiency has also improved, along with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions.

Australia’s Best Cars is one of the most comprehensive and independent consumer-focused vehicle testing and awards programs.

Source: Ford Australia Website
Published: Wed, Nov 30, 2011

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The all-new Ford Focus has earned a maximum five-star crash safety rating in the latest European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), including the highest possible dynamic score for child protection in both frontal and side impact collision tests.
Focus also excelled in the adult and pedestrian safety categories.

Euro NCAP’s five-star safety award for new Focus confirms the structural excellence of Ford’s global C-Car platform. The Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX available in Europe share the same architecture as the new Focus and were both awarded five stars by Euro NCAP last year.

The all-new Focus, which goes on sale in Australia in August, is engineered to meet or exceed safety standards around the world and has been crash-tested more than 12,000 times in real and virtual worlds to ensure the best possible protection for occupants of various ages and sizes.

"We were committed from the beginning with the all-new Focus to design and engineer a vehicle that leads the way both in terms of technology and safety," said Gunnar Herrmann, Global C-Car Vehicle Line Director.

"The inherent strength of our new Focus is the structural rigidity of the body and our extensive use of high-strength steels." Fifty-five per cent of the body shell is made of high-strength steels, of which 31 per cent is ultra-tough boron steel, more than any other Ford built to date. Boron features in the A-pillars, B-pillars, rocker panels and door reinforcement beams to create an extremely rigid, crush-resistant passenger cell.

Meanwhile, high-strength steel is used in the integrated door opening reinforcement rings and door load paths to provide excellent protection from side impacts.

New Focus also features a patented front chassis subframe, which de-couples during severe frontal impacts, avoiding deformation in the passenger cell footwell area. Pedestrian protection has been boosted by the addition of a "soft" cowl design in the front body structure and Ford has also relocated the windscreen wiper system to help further reduce injury risks.

Intelligent Protection

New Focus is equipped with Ford's Intelligent Protection System restraint system that includes next-generation front airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as unique side airbags complete with shoulder vents that stay open and reduce pressure for smaller occupants.

A 'horizontal stroking' steering column reduces loads on head and chest as it collapses and retracts away from the driver in high-speed frontal impacts. Both front seats are fitted with more effective retractor pretensioners, along with belt load limiters. Rear seat passengers are protected by three-point seat belts.

Source: Ford.com.au