In a Monday announcement, leading automaker Ford said that it intends introducing fuel-saving `Auto Start-Stop' technology - which turns off the engine of a car when it is idling, and quickly restarts it when put into motion - on its non-hybrid vehicles by 2012.

The `Auto Start-Stop' technology - which Ford will show at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, has been available on gasoline-electric hybrid cars since 2004.

The feature will be added to the Ford Escape Hybrid, Fusion Hybrid, and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid next year; and by 2012, it will be added to non-hybrid vehicles in North America. The global rollout of `Auto Start-Stop' is already in progress in Europe.

According to Ford, `Auto Start-Stop' makes use of an enhanced 12-volt car battery and upgraded starter motor and does not require much of additional maintenance. Ford also elaborated that an electric pump facilitates the circulation of the engine coolant via the heater, so as to keep the drivers stay warm in cold weather.

With Ford estimating that `Start-Stop' systems can save between 4 percent and 10 percent fuel, Barb Samardzich, the company's VP of Powertrain engineering, said: "For the driver, Ford Auto Start-Stop provides extra fuel efficiency without inconvenience, as it works completely automatically. And, just like in our hybrid vehicles, the heater and air conditioner work as normal so drivers will not sacrifice comfort."