Mark Fields, Ford’s president of American operations, announced at a Center for Automotive Research meeting that Ford will begin eliminating gas caps on all production vehicles. No it is not some bizzare strategy to save on fuel costs, but rather an engineering and design upgrade. The tried and true twist off gas cap design will be replaced with a “capless fuel filler “. This first appeared in 2005 on the GT supercar but will go mainstream beginning with the 2008 Lincoln MKS sedan.

The idea has practicality in addition to elegance. It is said to eliminate the potential of losing the gas cap, but also offer a more secure seal and prevent fume emmisions into the environment. When the nozzle of a conventional gas pump is put into the fuel filler point, it pushes on two tabs that open a spring-loaded metal flap. That allows the pump to sit in the tube that delivers gas to the tank, just as a pump does after the cap is unscrewed. After the nozzle is removed, the spring-loaded door seals the pathway shut.

Apparantly Ford’s marketing research has shown that people of all ages and drivers of all makes and models dislike touching their fuel cap and the potential of gasoline smell on their hands. It also eliminates the hand pain for arthritis sufferers.

Ford may likely be the first auto-maker to put this technology on all production vehicles in the near future.