Ford EcoSport: Lightweight construction like in nature
FORD ECOSPORT Beehives inspired engineers to develop the so-called "Honeycomb Shelf" - a lightweight cellulose cargo floor cover that can support 100 times its own weight. The new Ford EcoSport marks the first time Ford has used the cargo floor cover to hide valuables in the vehicle out of sight. The [...]
In the new Ford EcoSport, the load floor cover is used for the first time by Ford to hide valuables in the vehicle outside the visible area. Weighing just 3 kilograms itself, the cover can carry loads totaling more than 300 kg - heavier than three average adult men plus a beekeeper's box.
For the "Honeycomb Shelf," engineers inserted honeycomb-like cells made of recycled paper and a water-based adhesive between two layers of lightweight and durable fiberglass. This particularly lightweight design also benefits fuel efficiency.
Ford's SUV sales in Europe could exceed the 200,000 mark for the first time this year. Already in 2017, 24 percent more SUVs were sold than in the previous year. In terms of individual models, sales of the compact Ford EcoSport increased by 12 percent, around 25 percent for the mid-size Ford Kuga, and the Ford Edge even increased by 94 percent.
