In the wake of its release of a new Territory introducing a diesel option, Ford has announced the next generation of its dedicated LPG Falcon will go on sale mid-year.
The new EcoLPi LPG engine marks a major leap forward with the introduction of liquid injection LPG, a technology delivering palpable improvements in fuel efficiency and performance over older vapour injection systems.
Most LPG options take the form of dual-fuel systems bolted on in parallel to the original petrol system. This has its advantages in near doubling vehicle's range, but because the engine remains tuned to burn petrol, it also means it never reaps the full benefits of LPG.
In taking the dedicated gas path, Ford gives its trusty 4.0 litre inline six an extensive rework to accommodate LPG's different combustion characteristics. The result is win-win: Ford claims 27 per cent more power than the vapour-injection E-Gas system it supersedes, with 10 per cent more torque.
Ford claims the EcoLPi engine is good for 198kW at 5000rpm and 409Nm peak torque at 3250rpm –identical to the petrol I6 engine running 95RON PULP. By contrast, the E-Gas engine peaks at 156kW and 371Nm.
This means the new system effectively closes the performance gap that has traditionally limited the attraction of LPG against petrol, even in dedicated forms such as the E-Gas Falcon.
The company says the engine is still in testing for official ADR 81/02 fuel consumption certification, but preliminary tests suggest it's not unreasonable to expect overall improvements to fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions in the order of 12-15 per cent over the E-Gas system.
"LPG is an alternative fuel that is readily available almost anywhere in Australia and provides real benefits for Australian consumers, with reduced fuel costs contributing to a significant improvement in cost of ownership," Bob Graziano, President & CEO, Ford Australia said in a statement.
"Falcon EcoLPi offers customers the power, torque and overall engine performance they expect from a traditional Aussie six, coupled with all the space, comfort and towing capability of a family sedan, while at the same time delivering the fuel costs of a smaller car."
Liquid injection delivers similar advantages with LPG to those of direct injection petrol systems. Ford's locally developed example, a clean-sheet design specifically for the 4.0 litre six, uses a new injector-based, high-pressure fuel rail that keeps the fuel in liquid state all the way to the intake port.
High pressure liquid injection allows for more precision in the quantity and timing with which the fuel is delivered. Released into the intake manifold, it instantly expands into its normal gaseous form. Not only does it burn more efficiently but the immediate expansion of the gas on intake helps keep the engine cool, boosting combustion efficiency.
The EcoLPi overhaul reaches deep into Ford's inline six, with changes including new lightweight pistons and low-friction rings, a new catalytic converter and a compression ratio boost to 12.0:1. With high-pressure systems so reliant on throughput stability, Ford has fitted new fuel lines and filters and a new high-pressure fuel pump.
The EcoLPi powertrain will be available on Falcon sedans (XT, G6, G6E and XR6) and utes, (XL, R6 and XR6), the utes in both cab chassis and box body.
All EcoLPi variants will get the up-spec ZF six-speed automatic transmission standard.
Pricing is yet to be announced, but Ford will no doubt take it into consideration in a bid to boost Falcon sales, which have dropped in the last few months since E-Gas production ceased in late 2010.
Ford's update to what remains the only dedicated LPG system on the local market is part of a busy year which will see major upgrades take place across about 85 per cent of its local lineup. The company will introduce engines from its EcoBoost range, mid year in Mondeo, later in Falcon.
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