FORD Motor Company has unveiled a new concept in pursuit of ultra-high fuel economy and environmentally friendly vehicles for the future.

This breakthrough research vehicle programme will produce the world's lightest midsize family saloon car, with an advanced propulsion system later this year.

Weighing nearly 40 per cent less than today's comparable vehicle and about 900 kilograms in its lightest configuration, the vehicle - called P2000 - targets fuel efficiency up to three tines better than that of today's family car.

It is also expected to qualify as an ultra-low emisions vehicle, which meets or exceeds the most stringent regulations presently in existence, short of zero emissions.

"This is a tremendously important programme and I am personally committed to the goals we are pursuing with P2000," said Alex Trotmen, chairman and chief executive officer.

"This work is greatly advancing the state of the industry towards achieving breakthrough fuel efficiency and very low emissions transportation that also gives the customer what he or she wants and demands in a car or truck."

Hybrid vehicles offer two main advantages. Their range is not dependent solely on batteries and emissions are reduced because smaller heat engines can be used.

A hybrid electric vehicle has a combustion engine or fuel cell and an electric drive system that draws power from an energy storage device such as an advanced battery, flywheel or ultracapacitor.

Hybrids can also capture energy that usually is wasted as brake heat through regenerative braking. The electic drive motor acts as a generator during braking, converting mechanical energy to help charge the batteries.

For the P2000 program, Ford is working on two parallel hybrid approaches, both using an advanced compressed-ignition, direct-ignition engine.

In a parallel system, a heat engine is the primary power source and the electric motor is used as a power assist. The electric motor can operate most on-board systems and help in acceleration and uphill driving.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.