Focus Joins The LPG Line-Up
Published: 20th August 2003
The inside story
On the inside, Ford LPG vehicles receive unique instrument clusters with twin fuel gauges on Transit models and dual functional fuel gauge on Focus and Transit Connect. A fuel select switch displays petrol or LPG fuel tank contents in the same gauge.
Research has shown that car customers prefer to retain the vehicle's load capacity and so Focus Bi-fuel has the LPG tank in the spare wheel well and a tyre repair kit if required. This leaves the customer with 0.23m3 litres of boot space, and 0.385m3 on the estate. In 2 seat mode, boot space is 1.085m3 for the 5-door and 1.445m3 for the estate.
On Transit and Transit Connect the spare wheel is located on the side of the rear load space.
Cost of ownership
Clearly, the benefits of owning an LPG vehicle are both financial and environmental. The cost of ownership currently includes a 70 per cent rebate on all Ford LPG vehicles, and the price of LPG fuel, which is roughly half that of petrol, is fixed until the end of 2004. LPG is also easier on the environment, as it burns more cleanly, which significantly reduces the emissions that lead to ozone formation.
Add to this the fact that LPG fuel stations are being introduced at the rate of one per day and the case for switching to LPG becomes stronger with each passing week.
London congestion charging
By way of highlighting this, the full-sized Transit LPG offers
huge potential savings for inner London drivers in particular. It
will save its operator £1,250 a year in congestion charges,
£700 or more on fuel and qualifies for a grant of £1,250
against its purchase price. Over a three-year cycle, this will result
in savings for a typical CV user of over £5,000. This is because
Transit LPG meets the most rigorous emissions requirements set out
by the government- funded Energy Saving Trust (EST), thereby qualifying
for a 70 per cent Powershift rebate and zero rating for the London
congestion-charging Band 4.
