Ford Puma, Escape, Focus and Fiesta ST on list of cars with petrol particulate filters in Australia
Every European-built Ford passenger car or SUV currently on sale in Australia features a petrol particulate filter, designed to reduced harmful emissions – at the cost of mandatory premium fuel.
Ford Australia has fitted petrol particulate filters to more than 13,500 cars sold locally since late 2018 – unbeknownst to many owners and enthusiasts – across its latest-generation Fiesta, Focus, Puma and Escape model lines.
Petrol particulate filters (PPFs) – emissions-busting devices used widely in Europe to meet stringent emissions regulations – were long considered incompatible with Australian fuel, given a high level of sulphur content in local petrol compared to its European counterpart.
However, by mandating premium unleaded – which contains 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, compared to 10ppm in European fuel, or 150ppm in Australian regular unleaded – brands such as Audi, Peugeot, Volkswagen and Skoda have been able to introduce the emissions-reducing technology to Australia.
That list can now be extended to Ford, as the brand’s Australian division confirmed to Drive all examples of the latest-generation Puma city SUV, Escape mid-size SUV, Focus small car (including ST variants) and Fiesta ST city hot hatch have been fitted with petrol particulate filters.
With the first of these cars (the Focus) rolling off the production line from October 2018, this amounts to more than 13,500 vehicles – comprising approximately 3900 Puma ‘light’ SUVs, 2500 Escape medium SUVs, 6600 Focus small cars and 600 Fiesta ST city cars.
The fitment of the petrol particulate filter has seen Ford Australia “recommend” 95-octane premium unleaded for these vehicles, as the use of 91-octane regular unleaded petrol – which contains up to three times as much as sulfur as 95-octane fuel, or 15 times European levels – is likely to eventuate in damage to the PPF.
Other car makers in Australia have cited a cost of replacement for a damaged petrol particulate filter of as high as $4000. Drive has contacted Ford Australia for a figure specific to its brand, and will update this story with its response.
In excess of 50 new models and variants in Australia feature petrol particulate filter, research by Drive has found. Click here to read everything you need to know about what petrol particulate filters are, and how they affect Australian consumers.
A Ford Australia model that will not sit on that list is the upcoming Ranger Raptor super ute which, unlike versions sold in Europe, will not feature a petrol particulate filter – and as a result is believed to be capable of supporting 91-octane regular unleaded fuel.
The previous-generation Escape, Fiesta and Focus are not believed to feature petrol particulate filters, as most only require 91-octane unleaded petrol.
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