EcoBoost coming to a Ford dealer near you very soon
Last year at the Detroit Auto Show, Ford announced its intention to introduce a lineup of EcoBoost engines as a cost effective means of getting a significant improvement in fuel efficiency. The first of those EcoBoost engines is a turbocharged and direct injected version of the 3.5L V6 used in many of Ford's larger cars. Those engines will launch into production in just a few weeks and should start appearing in first in the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS well before summer solstice arrives. Later this summer, it will also provide power to the new Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKT. While we're not yet allowed discuss what it's like to drive cars and trucks powered by EcoBoost you can draw your conclusions from the torque graph that compares it against the output of the 4.6-liter Cadillac V8 in the STS.While 3.5-liter EcoBoost has impressive power production, it also substantially reduces the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to competitive V8 engines. Relative to the 4.2-4.8-liter V8s used in other luxury sedans, the V6 is near the top in terms of power and torque while CO2 emissions are only 218 g/km. The V8s range from 227 g/k for the Lexus GS450 to 272 g/k for the Infiniti M45. Learn more about EcoBoost after the jump.
Note: The Ford provided table above erroneously lists the Lexus GS450 which should be the GS460 with a 4.6-liter V8.
Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
The 3.5-liter V6 is just the first step. When Ford first announced EcoBoost last year the plan was offer up to 500,000 such engines annually within five years. That plan has now been significantly accelerated. The V6 will be targeted as a premium engine option in the larger vehicles this year but with significantly better efficiency than the competition. In 2010, the same engine will be available in the F-150 pickup as lower consumption alternative to the 5.4-liter V8 while offering comparable or better performance and an 11,000 pound towing capacity. The V6 should be able to achieve up 20 percent better fuel efficiency than the larger V8.
Late this year, Ford will also start production of a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four cylinder in the UK for vehicles like the Focus. In the next couple of years, Ford will also launch a mid-level four cylinder, likely a 2.0-liter to supplant the current 3.0-liter V6 as well as smaller 1.2-liter EcoBoost engines. By 2013, 90 percent of all vehicles that Ford builds will be available with EcoBoost engines. The company plans to sell 1.3 million such powerplants globally and 700,000 in the U.S. every year by that time.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 3:23PM (4/03/2009)
Kudos Ford. You kicked their ass on this one! Keep up the good work. We are counting on you.
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paulwesterberg 5:37PM (4/03/2009)
Big deal, their v-6 engine gets 1-5mpg better than the competition's V8 engines.
Their I-4 gets better mileage than a V6. Smaller engines are often more efficient. Comparing your small engines to last years gas hogs makes for good marketing spin.
Lets compare apples to apples. The best new eco engines from different manufactures.
What I want to see is a chart comparing fords I4 ecoboost, 2009 prius I4, 2010 prius I4, 2010 vw golf TDI, in terms of power and fuel economy. Then you will be able to see whether this engine is the new gold standard or just catching up to the 2004 prius.
paulwesterberg 5:40PM (4/03/2009)
It would be nice to see how the 2012 volt engine stacks up too, but gm is probably a year away from releasing the specs.
harlanx6 6:03PM (4/03/2009)
I can't argue with that, Paul. That being said, You would hardly compare a Prius with a 355 HP Lincoln, now would you? Toyota is the confirmed hybrid leader, which they deserve, and the Germans are the top of the heap in Turbo Diesel tech. I applaud them also. I am a Prius fan, A TDI fan, and a Ford fan. I am livid we have to buy a foreign product to get the best efficiency.
I still like what Ford is doing. My next car will likely be a Ford. (but not a 355 hp Lincoln, or any V-6!). Ford is my home team. I would like to be prejudiced in their behalf. For their part they will have to produce very efficient, very good cars or I will not buy them.
As for the new economy standard, it will likely be whatever the Prius gets (and VW TDI is not that far behind). As for which technology gets my vote, it's TDI, hands down. That will change when the plug ins get a little better.
Julius 4:44PM (4/04/2009)
Of course, there's more to efficiency than just the engine.
Note that the Corvette's 6.2L engine gets 430 hp AND 25 mpg highway as well (with the automatic even - the manual gets 26).
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Andrew 2:56PM (4/16/2009)
Congrats Ford! You successfully invented the FSI system that Audi has been using since its debut on the R8 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001, production roll out to the A2 and A4 in 2002 and subsequent use in turbo-charged form on many Audi and Volkswagen vehicles from 2005 onwards. Superb technological leadership there.
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Jeepmb 6:11PM (8/15/2009)
Harlanx6, you said it perfectly. The ecoboost might not be the most efficient, but it is certainly a welcome improvement to an american auto company.
Now, being someone who owns a Volkswagen TDI, and an Audi A3 2.0T FSI, I can say that this ecoboost technology is nothing revolutionary, but Ford has created a much different and refined feel from either of those, which I believe is a decent accomplishment.
Carry on Ford
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