Ford Maverick - the first 4x4 off-roader to really step on the (natural) gas
Arlesheim/Wallisellen - Strictly speaking one of the few, genuine world premieres at this year's Geneva International Motor Show is being displayed on gasmobil/GVM and Rinspeed's Stand 4131 in Hall 4: this is the Ford Maverick 2.3i XLT, the first SUV that is also able to use natural gas as a fuel. The conversion will be carried out at the customer's request by the Swiss Ford Garage Wehntal in Sünikon (ZH) on behalf of the manufacturer. This sees the start of a new era in the key light 4x4 vehicle segment and so enables the President of the company, William Clay Ford Jr., to come a major step closer to achieving his global objective of building the world's most envi-ronmentally- friendly vehicles.
Externally, the only difference in the five-seater is the special paint finish for the Geneva Motor Show plus the eye-catching natural gas beech leaf logos on the sides. The vehicle has the same equipment as the standard models. The interior is finished in ebony black. By contrast, the picture on the underside of the vehicle and in the deep boot is totally different. This is where the tanks are installed for the natural gas which is transported through pipes underneath the vehicle to the engine at the front. It can be driven using natural gas or petrol as required.
The four-cylinder engine 16 valve engine with 2.3 litre cubic capacity delivers a maximum 135 bhp (petrol driven engine 150 bhp) with the maximum torque being reached at 180 Nm (petrol driven engine 200 Nm). The maximum speed for both fuel types is 171 km/h. When run purely on natural gas the Ford Maverick has a range of approx. 270 kilometres, with petrol 600 kilometres, giving a total operating radius of 870 kilometres. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: natural gas approx. 12 seconds, petrol 11 seconds. The average fuel consumption is 11 litres per 100 km. When powered by natural gas the SUV reduces environmental pollution. The CO2 emission levels are a good 15% lower by direct comparison with petrol and make a further contribution towards the country's CO2 overall emissions target.
For Switzerland the Ford Maverick is one of the most important vehicles at the Motor Show. Up to now no other manufacturer has been bold enough to combine a 4x4 vehicle with natural gas as a fuel. If you take into account the marked reduction in running costs and the versatility of an SUV, in the 4x4 segment the Ford Maverick is a vehicle that makes alternative automobile history.
Contact:
Kurt Schmidlin, Executive Management
Untertalweg 32, P.O. Box 360
CH-4144 Arlesheim
Tel. +41/61/706'33'33
E-Mail: kurt.schmidlin@gvm-ag.ch
Internet: http://www.gvm-ag.ch
http://www.erdgasfahren.ch