Ford reveals 2020 Fiesta with mild-hybrid tech for first time
Ford Fiesta now available with an electrified powertrain
While Ford Philippines may no longer be offering the Fiesta locally, the small hatchback continues to be a popular model elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe and the UK. Recently, Ford announced that the updated 7th-generation model will be offered with an electrified powertrain for the first time.
The Ford EcoBoost Hybrid powertrain, previously offered in the Puma, has now made its way to the Fiesta. Unlike most hybrid vehicles on the road today, the Fiesta uses a mild-hybrid system. This means that it can't run on electric power alone, similar to the Toyota Prius. Instead, the 48-volt system harvests and stores energy during braking or deceleration. It is then used to assist the combustion engine during acceleration to improve fuel economy.
Ford will be pairing the mild-hybrid system for the Fiesta with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. It is available with two power outputs – 125 PS and 155 PS. The 125 PS version of the Fiesta is said to feature fuel economy improvements of around 5% as compared to the non-hybrid version.
Meanwhile, the more powerful 155 PS motor provides a huge bump in torque, delivering 240 Nm. There is also a new 7-speed automatic gearbox which further improves efficiency by up to 15% but is only offered on the 125 PS motor. Furthermore, all engine options on the Fiesta now feature cylinder deactivation.
Aside from the engine updates, no changes were made to the exterior or interior of the Fiesta. Ford has, however, introduced new technologies like adaptive cruise control and an updated SYNC 3 infotainment system. FordPass Connect is now standard as well, allowing customers to control some vehicle functions from their smartphones.
Mild-hybrid power will be available on all but the entry-level Trend variant and the high-performance ST version of the Fiesta. As such, customers in Europe can still order a non-hybrid assisted Fiesta if they want. For those in the Philippines, it is unlikely the Fiesta mild-hybrid (or the Fiesta itself) will be offered locally anytime soon. Still, perhaps Ford can find a way to incorporate mild-hybrid tech on some of their commercial vehicles soon.
