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Ford is investing £70 million at its Bridgend engine plant in Wales to produce next generation low CO₂ 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines.

The additional investment, which includes £13.4m of support from the Welsh Assembly government, will boost the plant’s production capacity to 1,000,000 units a year. This year employment rose to over 2,000 for the first time in the plant’s 28-year history.

The new 1.6-litre engines will go into production within two years and will be among the first of a new generation of global petrol engines, known as EcoBoost. EcoBoost engines will join the existing Ford Econetic range of diesel-engined vehicles. The new engines are expected to provide up to 20% better fuel economy and 15% lower CO₂ emissions.

“The continued investment in UK manufacturing by vehicle and engine manufacturers is good news for the local economy,” said Paul Everitt, SMMTchief executive. “The UK produced over three million engines in 2007 and is an important contributor to the economy.”