Ford adds hybrid option to Fiesta range

Ford has revealed details of the first electrified model in the Fiesta range.

As part of a series of upgrades to its best-selling supermini, Ford has added a mild hybrid option to the line-up.

The 48V system introduces a belt-driven integrated starter/generator to the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in 124bhp and 153bhp tunes, and offers up to a five per cent improvement in fuel economy.

The system harvests energy from braking and reapplies it under acceleration to boost torque and reduce strain on the three-cylinder engine. Ford says that in the 124bhp version, CO2 emissions have been reduced to 109g/km and fuel efficiency improved to 52.3mpg.

The EcoBoost Hybrid starts at £19,860 in Titanium trim.

“Adding EcoBoost Hybrid technology to Fiesta’s best-in-class driving dynamics means customers can have even more power and still go further on a tank of fuel,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president of marketing, sales and service for Ford of Europe. “The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid will help Ford bring the benefits of electrification to more drivers than ever before.”

The addition of the mild hybrid system is part of Ford’s pledge to electrify its entire range before the end of 2021 and comes as part of a series of updates to the Fiesta.

Also new is an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, available with the 124bhp 1.0-litre, which replaces the six-speed auto paired with the 99bhp version of the EcoBoost engine. The automatic gearbox is also offered on the 84bhp 1.5-litre diesel.

Fiesta Active gets two new drive modesFiesta Active gets two new drive modes
Fiesta Active gets two new drive modes

Among technology upgrades for the Fiesta are the introduction of adaptive cruise control with speed sign recognition, which will alter the car’s speed according to roadside and overhead displays. Cars fitted with the automatic transmission add stop and go functionality to the cruise control, allowing the car to come to a complete standstill in traffic and then pull away again without driver input.

All Fiestas now feature the FordPass Connect modem to allow the car’s infotainment system to connect to the internet and allow owners to check their vehicles status, fuel levels, tyre pressures and more via the FordPass app.

Other updates include the addition of perpendicular parking to the active park assist system on Active and ST-Line variants; cross traffic alert with active braking and sport and trail drive modes to the selectable modes on the Fiesta Active.

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