04-16-08: The fruits of Ford’s monumental turnaround effort which we have been watching and talking about for the last two years are finally starting to bloom. All the talk is starting to turn to walk as rollout of new products and technology from every corner of Ford is reaching a fever pitch.
While the all new cars and trucks have been stealing the headlines and will continue to do so, one of the biggest stories in Ford’s recent history will be under the hood of all these new cars. As everyone knows, gas prices and new government regulations will be changing the automotive landscape before we know it. Ford has been hard at work developing the next generation of high tech engines long before gas prices rose to $3.50 a gallon and well before the new CAFÉ legislation was hatched. They saw it coming.
We recently had the opportunity to see Ford’s new EcoBoost engine technology up close, touch it with our hands, and chat with Ford engineers about how it works and where it will be used. EcoBoost, which mates advanced direct injection technology and turbocharging with a gasoline engine, can deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent lower CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger displacement engines. The technology will be spread across Ford’s lineup from small cars to large pickups.
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“The challenges of CO2 and fuel economy are complex, global issues,” says Andreas R. Schamel, Ford’s chief engineer for Research and Advanced Engineering. “There is no single, universal answer around the world. That’s why we’re pursuing technology such as EcoBoost that’s scale-able to large-volume production now in the short term. Programs like EcoBoost.”
The EcoBoost family of 4- and 6-cylinder engines builds on today’s affordable gasoline engines allowing the technology to be applied across a wide range of engines and vehicles types. In the next five years, EcoBoost will be available on a half a million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles annually in North America, far exceeding current hybrid vehicle production capacity. That means a significant impact on fuel consumption, Schamel says.
“EcoBoost will provide a real-world fuel efficiency benefits in the near term with a shorter payback time than other advanced technologies. We believe hybrids, diesels and technologies such as plug-ins and fuel cells have a role, but we believe that having the right mix of fuel-saving technologies over time is the best approach.”
In 2009, Ford will first introduce EcoBoost on the Lincoln MKS featuring a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that will produce the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6. With an estimated 340 horsepower and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque, the Lincoln MKS will be the most powerful and fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive luxury sedan in the market – while saving customers about $340 a year in fuel costs compared with a standard V-8 model luxury sedan.
Direct injection coupled with turbocharging allows for the downsizing of engines that deliver improved torque and performance. A 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine has the capability of producing more torque than a larger 6-cylinder engine – nearly an entire liter larger in displacement – with up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency.
EcoBoost – combined with six-speed transmissions, advanced electric power steering, weight reductions and aerodynamic improvements – is a key part of Ford Motor Company’s near term strategy to deliver affordable, sustainable, quality vehicles that customers want and value .
In discussions with engineers we are told that the power potential for the EcoBoost 3.5 V6 can easily approach 400hp for rear wheel drive applications. In the aforementioned FWD and AWD cars, power output is only limited by the ability of available transmissions to handle the power reliably.
The big question for many Ford enthusiasts is whether or not the 3.5 EcoBoost twin-turbo engine headed for the Mustang. Many leading publications like Motor Trend have speculated as such. The people at Ford we have spoken to say it is under consideration, but not officially a "go" at this time.
We suspect that we will indeed see EcoBoost at some point in the future to compliment the Mustang V8 engine options. It may not be as soon as the 2010 model year, but rising gas prices and tightening government rules will make it very attractive from all angles. This is a good thing. When you consider a lighter powerplant offering better handling with more efficiency and the same or higher power than a V8, it can be a win win for both the Mustang image as well as driving pleasure.
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