News
Diesel additive shock
Top up with new additive, or eco diesels could come to a standstill ■ Warning about new AdBlue additive ■ Cuts NOx emissions, but needs top-ups
MIX IT UP Special additive should help make diesel engines cleaner, but will need to be topped up by dealers or car owners
Chris Chris_Ebbs@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer
14 Special Issue
OFFICIAL
New 2.3-litre Focus RS features four-wheel drive
Chris Ebbs
DRIVERS of diesels compliant with new Euro VI emissions standards could find themselves stranded at home or in the supermarket car park if they don’t keep their vehicles topped up with a new additive. As part of the stricter engine rules, which affected any new model after September 2014 and were applied to cars already on sale a year later, a solution called AdBlue is added to the exhaust gas of diesels to reduce harmful NOx emissions. The solution – a mixture of water and urea – is kept in a separate tank in the car. If it needs topping up, a dash warning light will appear, and if drivers ignore this, the engine won’t restart once it’s turned off. On average, affected cars will warn drivers three times before refusing to start, although some will give longer and more regular warnings. A number of models already use the AdBlue solution in their cars: the Peugeot 308; Audi A4, A5, A6 and other cars in the range; BMW’s 1 Series, X1 and 3 Series; Citroen’s C4 Cactus; and the Mercedes B, C and E-Class. According to Peugeot, its cars’ AdBlue tanks will need to be topped up every 12,500 miles, and for most drivers it’ll be done as part of the model’s servicing schedule. However, a spokesman told us this might not always be the case: “Depending upon driving style, for a small cost it can also be topped up at a Peugeot dealer while you wait.” That cost is £9.99 for a 10-litre top-up. “Our training material includes useful videos and bulletins, which clearly explain the AdBlue-based emissions reduction system and its implications for customer vehicles.” When Euro VIb standards are
Focus RS to bring host of AWD firsts
“As part of stricter engine rules, AdBlue is added to the exhaust gas of diesels to reduce harmful NOx emissions” implemented, with even more stringent rules regarding emissions, AdBlue tanks are likely to be made smaller in a bid to save weight. This will also mean they’ll need topping up on a more regular basis. Confusion about AdBlue is an issue, according to Halfords product manager Jemma Billings: “Drivers can be forgiven for not knowing what AdBlue is, or whether their car has it on board, because it isn’t highlighted in manufacturers’ sales literature or by dealership staff selling the car.” She continued: “There’s also no standard size or location for the tank that holds the AdBlue solution. Where to find the filler cap varies between manufacturers, too, making it difficult for customers to get to grips with.” While most drivers are expected to get their tanks filled by dealers, from April Halfords is set to sell four-litre packs of AdBlue for motorists to top up their tanks themselves.
THE new Focus RS hot hatch was designed with four-wheel drive in mind, Ford has revealed. Speaking to Auto Express, Raj Nair, vice president global vehicle development, told us that the car’s clever all-wheel-drive system debuts a host of innovations for the brand. He said this was needed to cope with the high power level of the 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost turbo. “Cost didn’t come into it,” explained Nair. “It wasn’t a case of engineers vs accountants; we wanted to make an affordable performance vehicle with the best technology possible. It needs to be a percentage above an ST. That’s what an RS should be about.” The first major innovation is the hottest Focus’s electronically controlled, twin-clutch, 4WD system. Essentially, this allows up to 70 per cent of power to be sent to the rear, with as much as 100 per cent of that driving torque sent to one wheel. “You get great steering response but incredible pull out of the corner – and we can use the torque vectoring to keep the car stable all the way through a bend,” added Nair.
AdBlue will be available on high street for DIY motorists to buy
GROUNDBREAKING Hot Focus’s all-wheel drive debuts a host of innovations for Ford, says development boss Nair
‘Real-world’ emissions testing on the way EUROPE is set to become the first place in the world where car makers are forced to carry out ‘real-world’ emissions tests. Regulations are expected to be introduced by 2017 to ensure all new vehicles are tested to reveal what emissions – and thus what
economy – they’re likely to achieve when driving on roads and in traffic, not in ideal lab-like conditions. The tests are designed to enforce a limit of 80mg/km of nitrogen oxide – a level currently met by only one car in 16, according to researchers.
www.autoexpress.co.uk
