Ford Retools Fleet Emphasizing Fuel Economy

DEARBORN, Mich., July 22, 2009— -- Hoping to meet tougher government fuel efficiency rules and build on its growing momentum in the slumping U.S. auto market, Ford Motor Co. unveiled a global plan to boost fuel efficiency across its entire fleet of vehicles.

The investment in new technologies to improve fuel economy comes as the company tries to distinguish itself from General Motors and Chrysler, and to capitalize on the problems of its two American competitors, which only recently emerged from bankruptcy thanks to taxpayer dollars and government involvement.

At the company's test drive facility on Tuesday, Ford showed reporters its 2010 lineup, describing it as the "freshest" in history.

Ford CEO Allan Mullaly called the auto maker's progress reshaping its business during the tough start of the year for the auto companies "phenomenal."

"We're so pleased to have a product line, every one of them best in class, and to have consumers responding to them the way they are," Mullaly told ABC News. "It's pretty fabulous."

Ford is building battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and plug-in hybrids that will soon hit showrooms. In doing so, the auto maker is playing catchup with U.S. rival GM, which has been dabbling with electric and hybrid developments since the EV1 was introduced in 1996.

One of the new technologies Ford is most excited about is its EcoBoost engine program.

The engine, which will be placed in vehicles across Ford's fleet, uses turbo and direct injection technology to deliver what Ford says is "V-8 performance with V-6 fuel efficiency" making it 20 percent more fuel efficient than a comparable engine while producing 15 percent fewer emissions.

Ford also says it will offer a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine next year.

Several vehicles in the company's 2010 lineup will offer the new EcoBoost. The auto maker wants to improve fleet fuel economy by 35 percent by 2015.

Industry analysts say the new technology could shake up the market because it is an inventive way to make larger cars more environmentally friendly.