Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is to gain fuel-efficient Continental AG turbocharger technology to help power small displacement engines courtesy of a deal with Continental.
Turbochargers use waste exhaust gases to help power engines, in itself it can be an efficiency boost. However, it is also another thing that can break, adds complexity, and so on. Continental says that their turbochargers use new technology to further efficiency, including reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
The turbochargers are aimed for use in Ford’s small displacement engines such as their three-cylinder direct injection gasoline engines that are only one liter engines. The initial car slated to receive the new engine is the 2012 Ford Focus. Later on, the Ford C-Max and in the new Ford B-Max.
“Continental’s cutting-edge turbocharger technology will make it possible for modern combustion engines to remain competitive with alternative engines over the long term with respect to efficiency, environmental friendliness and performance,” he said.
The company suggests that with Ford’s existing direct-injection technology coupled with their turbocharger technology that it increases fuel efficiency by 20%. An interesting thing to point out with Continental’s manufacturing process for the turbochargers: it’s automated with no human involvement aside from maintenance and parameter setting.
That is a leap from when they initially began turbocharger development (from scratch with no prior R&D) for gasoline engines in 2006.
Ford shares are trading at a positive gain during Friday’s intraday trading session.
