Producing 310 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine fits the bill for a true Mustang powerplant, with the highest power density yet from a Ford engine.
The AJAC 2015 EcoRun concluded the final leg of its two-day drive on March 26, finishing up the final leg of the two-day driving event at the Coast Coal Vancouver Hotel with a group dinner and an award of the Michelin Green Jersey for most fuel-efficient driving.
The EcoRun is an annual AJAC event that shows off a variety of eco-friendly vehicles, which include pure electrics, plug-in and conventional hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, diesel-fuelled powertrains and highly-efficient gasoline options.
The purpose of the EcoRun is to help inform consumers of these alternative options, as well as providing accurate road testing fuel economy numbers. These new vehicles are driven on real-world road conditions in order to fully test for fuel efficiency and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Thirteen manufacturers participated in the two-day drive from Vancouver to Nanaimo, via BC Ferry, then south to Victoria, returning by ferry to the mainland.
The 20 vehicles participating represented a range of models, from subcompacts, compacts, family sedans and sport utility vehicles to sport coupes and pickups. The powertrains included pure electric, plug-in and conventional hybrid, diesel fuelled, high-efficiency gasoline and, new to the consumer market, hydrogen fuel cell.
Participating vehicles were:
Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD
BMW X3 xDrive 28d (diesel)
Chevorlet Colorado
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
Chevrolet Volt
Ford F-150 2.7L
Ford Focus 1.0L
Ford Mustang EcoBoost
Hyundai Rucson FCEV
Infiniti Q50 Hybrid
Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel
Kia Soul EV
Mazda CX-5
Mazda3 Sport GT
Mazda6 GT i-ELOOP
Nissan LEAF SL
Nissan Micra S
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Golf TDI Clean Diesel
With more than six different driving legs over the course of the two days, the 21 participating journalists swapped cars at each leg, selected at random, so that everyone was able to drive a variety of vehicle entrants over the course of the event.
The AJAC EcoRun Green Jersey has always been a highly sought-after award since its inception, following the inaugural showcase run. Last year’s winner, Toronto Star journalist and Motoring TV personality, Jim Kenzie, presented Autofocus.ca’s Chris Chase with the coveted Michelin Green Jersey for the best results in adhering to fuel-efficient driving techniques. The scores were very close, and only off by one point, with Jim Kenzie at 86.1 and Chris Chase at 87.0.
Michelin Canada joined forces with the 2015 AJAC EcoRun to supply the Canadian journalist with a brand-new set of Michelin tires, to go along with the Green Jersey.
The 2015 AJAC EcoRun was supported by Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), Vancouver AutoShow, Fleetcarma, the New Car Dealers Association of BC, the BC Clean Energy Vehicle program, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. and the Canadian Fuels Association.