DEARBORN, MI – Ford announced how its “One Ford” plan, part of which focuses on building “global” vehicle platforms, is bringing more fuel-efficient vehicles to the U.S. marketplace each year. The automaker noted it will be offering eight vehicles that get 40 mpg or better by the end of 2012. The automaker said this number of models is double the number it offered in 2011. Ford stated that platform consolidation allows the company to build more models for customers more quickly.

One area Ford is focusing on making its EcoBoost gasoline engine technology what the company describes as a “mainstay” in its lineup. Ford said it increased global production of its EcoBoost engines to nearly 1.6 million units, which is nearly 100,000 more than the company’s original target. Ford noted that its smallest engine ever, its 1.0L EcoBoost used in the European version of the Focus, will make its way to the U.S. next year. The automaker hasn’t yet stated which vehicles will be utilizing this engine.

Related to its focus on providing fuel-efficient models, Ford said it will triple its electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013 and will increase the number of electrified vehicles (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and full electric vehicles) to six models. One of the specific vehicles it mentioned was its upcoming 47 mpg C-MAX Hybrid, slated to go on sale in the fall. Ford plans for 10% to 25% of its global sales to be of electrified vehicles by 2020.

Some of Ford’s fuel-economy achievements include improving its highway fuel economy by 21% between 2007 and the 2012 model, boosting the fuel economy of its all-new 2013-MY Ford Fusion by 28% over the 2007 version, and improving the F-150’s fuel economy by 21%, to 23 mpg city, when comparing it to the 2007 version of the pickup. In the sport utility arena, Ford’s new EcoBoost-equipped Escape gets 32% better fuel economy when compared with the previous V-6 version of the Escape. Ford’s Explorer achieved a 40% fuel economy improvement, to 28 mpg highway, for the 2.0L EcoBoost when compared with the previous model's V-6 engine.

Lastly, Ford noted its success in reducing the total number of vehicle platforms it manufactures. It had 22 separate vehicle platforms in use around the world in 2011. By 2017, Ford said it will have 10, which is ahead of its goal for the One Ford plan. In addition, Ford said that by 2016, 80% of its planned 8 million vehicles will be based on five global platforms.