Save Fuel: How can my driving style improve my fuel efficiency?

1. Anticipate traffic situations.  Maintain a consistent, safe speed and accelerate and brake smoothly.  Don’t pump the accelerator only to slam the brakes a few seconds later.
2. Keep an eye not only on your speedometer but also on your tachometer.  A lower engine speed means lower fuel consumption.
3. When you’re idling, you’re getting zero mpg.  If you’re waiting for your kids at school or paused at a drive-through window, turn off the engine.
4. If you’re traveling faster than 50 mph, close your windows–even if you need to put the air conditioning on.  Keeping them open will increase aerodynamic drag.

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Breaking Down the Ford Ti-VCT

Ford Ti-VCT makes its debut in the 2011 Mustang this summer and will quickly follow in the 2011 Fiesta, 2011 Edge and 2012 Focus. While improved fuel economy, peak horsepower and reduced emissions are tangible Ti-VCT benefits, it’s important to understand the whys and hows behind this engine evolution.

Camshafts

It all starts with the camshaft. Camshafts play a key role in engine power and efficiency. They regulate the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, letting the air/fuel mixture into the cylinders and the spent exhaust gases out. The timing of the induction/exhaust events is critical to achieving a good balance of power and efficiency.

Regardless of engine design-overhead valve, single overhead cam or dual overhead cam-for many engines the cam and valve actuation is fixed.

With a fixed camshaft, engineers design and engine to perform well, but ultimately the engine is tuned with a specific purpose in mind. For example, fuel-efficient vehicles with fixed camshafts are tuned to perform fuel-efficiently. Many truck engines with fixed camshafts are tuned for maximum power and torque, and of course, performance vehicles are tuned for high performance.

Variable Cam Timing (VCT)

VCT was the next evolution of camshaft design and brought with it the ability to adjust cam performance. With VCT, the cam, depending on demand, can be shifted between advanced or delayed in milliseconds, resulting in enhanced efficiency under low-load conditions like highway driving and increased power for brisk acceleration.

Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT)

What Ti-VCT brings to the table is the ability to have the best of both fuel efficiency and performance.

With Ti-VCT the camshaft and valve timing are continuously monitored and automatically adjusted as engine demands change, hence the term “variable cam timing.” Ti-VCT technology is flexible, allowing the engine to operate at peak efficiency across an entire range.

The independent adjustment of intake and exhaust valve timing significantly contributes to maximum fuel efficiency when driving under regular conditions and it also allows the delivery of optimized power when full throttle is demanded. In other words-the best of both worlds!

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2011 Mustang Performance Package

Image via Wikipedia

The new V6 Performance Package of the 2011 Ford Mustang.  Right from the factory, the new performance package will bring enhanced driving features previously only considered for the GT.

In addition to the V6s enhanced suspension, the V6 Performance Package adds these components:

• 3.31:1 rear axle ratio, for quick off-the-line acceleration
• GT suspension components (front springs, front and rear stabilizer bars) for enhanced performance feel and control
• Upgraded front and rear calipers with performance brake pads
• Strut tower brace adds to overall vehicle rigidity
• AdvanceTrac Sport mode is a unique calibration of the AdvanceTrac system, allowing for more spirited driving with AdvanceTrac still enabled
• 19-inch painted aluminum wheels and Pirelli summer compound performance tires grip the road and enhance driver control

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Best-In-Class Towing on the 2011 Ford Super Duty

The 2011 Super Duty offers projected best-in-class towing capability and new technology to help the customer tow with confidence.  A new class-exclusive trailer sway control is a component within AdvanceTrac with roll stability control designed to monitor the truck’s performance while towing and works to correct unwanted trailer sway.  If the vehicle is equipped with the available Trailer Brake Controller and the trailer has electric brakes, the trailer brakes will also be activated to help reduce the sway condition and help the driver regain control of the trailer.

The Integrated Trailer Brake Controller ensures smooth and effective trailer braking by powering the trailer’s electric brakes with an output proportional to the towing vehicle’s brake pressure. The Message Center user indicators include Trailer connection, GAIN setting display and OUTPUT bar graph.

The Integrated Exhaust Brake improves trailer control by increasing engine back pressure to help slow the vehicle without generating additional heat in the brakes of transmission.

The New Hill Assist Feature makes it easier to pull away on a slope or grade greater than degrees by keeping the vehicle from rolling downhill.  The vehicle remains stationary on a slope for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal.  Brakes are automatically released once the engine has developed sufficient power to prevent the vehicle from rolling down the slope.

The New Class-Exclusive 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Hitch Prep Package is factory installed with Ford factory warranty coverage, innovative and robust frame-mounted crossmember located “under-the-bed” to maintain a flat cargo bed floor, convenient 7-pin trailer wiring connector located on the driver-side cargo box wall, five factory-cast attachment points accommodate both 5th-wheel hitches and gooseneck balls with safety chains, and five factory-cut mounting holes are primed and painted at the factory and include trim-bezel close-out covers to maximize corrosion protection when not in use.

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Greater Productivity of the 2011 Super Duty

Super Duty offers the most efficient mobile office with features to help the customer stay connected and simply get more done.

The new LCD Productivity Screen has features such as a Gauge Mode - Configurable compass, real-time engine and transmission (gasoline engine) oil temperatures and turbo-boost gauge (diesel engine). Trip A/B - Trip time and mileage information; can track two trips. Fuel Economy - Fuel comsumption history and selectable displays for miles to empty, average and instantaneous.  Settings - Turn features on or off, change lamp, compass and maintenance schedule settings, and monitor oil life percentage. Truck Applications - Off-road and training info including: Off-road screen with lateral, vertical and turning radius info, Electronic Locking Differential, Hill Descent Control, 4×4 system nad traction control status, Track and store info for up to 10 trailers, includind mileage and Trailer Brake Controller settings, Trailer connection checklist for increased safety and Information- MyKey, System Check and key system warnings for Trailer Sway Control, Hill Descent Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and diesel engine-specific messages.

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