REPORT: Ford considering two- and three-cylinder engines
Ford 1.6-liter EcoBoost four cylinder - Click above for high-res image gallery
We'll see Ford's upcoming 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine show up in a number of new cars wearing the Blue Oval badge all around the world within the next few years, especially in markets that put an emphasis on fuel savings. Despite the powerplant's lilliputian size, its 180 horsepower and 170-175 lb-ft of torque will mean it's got the guts to provide more than enough power for use in small sedans and hatchbacks.
According to Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, if you think 1.6 liters is small, you ain't seen nothing yet. Speaking to Automotive News, Samardzich suggests that two- and three-cylinder engines are a very real possibility and they may only displace one liter or less (see also: VW's 1L Concept). It doesn't seem likely that Ford would outfit cars intended for American roads with such a small powerplant any time soon, but emerging markets in Europe and Asia seem like very real possibilities.
Gallery: Ford 1.6-liter EcoBoost
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
future-autos.blogspot.com 9:13AM (9/17/2009)
I don't know - gimme a 3 cylinder EcoBoost and you could have a potentially huge winner in the Focus and Fiesta.
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Mark Kiernan 9:22AM (9/17/2009)
Consider that Italy used the Fiat 500 (original version) for decades and it was only 500 and 600cc. This was old technology but considering the advancements in design, materials and efficiency a 600cc engine used as an ICE or better sill a range extender would be a great idea.
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3PeaceSweet 9:27AM (9/17/2009)
A 2 cylinder boxer EcoBoost driving the rear wheels on the same setup as the electric Focus with about 1/3 of the battery capacity.
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jim 9:30AM (9/17/2009)
I wouldn't bet against 1L engines showing up in US models. Even if EV's achieve the performance in range and re-charge times that would make them viable everyday vehicles, it very possible that the price will never become competitive with ICEs. If that turns out to be true, there would be a place for these small engines in what is today the sub $20K car market.
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B 9:53AM (9/17/2009)
I wonder if it'd not be a very good idea to combine small 2-3 cylinder ICE (less than 1l of displacement) with 100hp electric motor (not using even batteries but supercapacitors to be able provide few seconds of power for burst acceleration). Such powertrain could be light, cheap, get a very good mileage, enough highway speed, instant start-stop capability, regen braking, possibly very good acceleration too. ICE would be running for most of the time, but it'd be a very small and lean engine so gas consumption should be low, without sacrificing acceleration.
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Dave D 1:39PM (9/17/2009)
I think that is a concept really worth exploring. A small, efficient, aerodynamic car only needs about 15-17 hp to cruise along the highway at 70mph. A 40 hp motor that ran at what would probably be it's maximum efficiency of about 50%, most of the time, would be very efficient and would allow you to use the full 40hp if you needed it to climb hills, etc.
For acceleration and regen, the supercaps would do a great job on both. It takes about 110 Wh of energy to accelerate a 2400lb car from 0 to 60mph. This means that you could put in as few as 250Wh of supercaps and be able to accelerate a couple of times without waiting for regen or recharging. Looking at the supercaps going into production later this year (about 10Wh/kg), that would take about 25kg of supercaps and with any volume at all, the price could be brought down to $1000-$1500 per pack.
With the supercaps, you get better regen, and they last for approx a million cycles so they would be running happily long after the car is scrap metal.
The downside is that you don't get a plug-in to let you go for the 20-40 mile all electric range that could help save so much petroleum usage in day to day vehicles.
The upside is that it would be affordable to produce a 60-80mpg vehicle at a cost that people could afford today. That may be worth pursuing until battery prices come down where an all electric range of 40 miles is also a reasonable cost.
I love PHEVs but looking at what most people can afford and therefore the biggest bang for the buck:
Two million affordable cars that get 80 mpg in the next two years, does a lot more for saving petroleum than 50,000 cars on the road that get 40mpg all electric range. And they don't need an infrastructure change.
I would much rather have all electric vehicles using NO petroleum. Just looking at the practical side of where we are and asking "is this a better path for the short term?"
PabloKoh 10:00AM (9/17/2009)
I am amazed with the excess power that comes standard with most cars. My Jeep has 120 HP and at 2800# vehicle weight and 4 passengers I am still surprised with the acceleration when I stand on the gas to merge. I just cant believe that a Honda Civic needs 140HP or a Yaris needs 106HP.
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inteller 10:52AM (9/17/2009)
yeah, but you are "standing on the gas" and that is unacceptable for something as basic as merging. I stand on the gas when I want to merge AND stay ahead of Captain Asshole who is trying to speed up behind me and cuf me off in the merged lane.
J 11:57AM (9/17/2009)
Inteller, why do you stay standing on the gas is unacceptable?
I agree with Pablo that the average car is much more powerful than it needs to be.
As for you preventing Captain Asshole from driving as fast as he wants...that's me. If my '99 Taurus didn't have 200 horsepower, perhaps I wouldn't be such a burden to people like you.
Viper.23 2:30PM (9/18/2009)
Okay does everyone have their skirts on today? *shaking my head*
Too much power in a Jeep? That is the CRAZIEST statement I've ever heard. It only weighs 2,800lbs. incl. 4 people. Yeah right! The curb weight on a Jeep Wrangler is 3780lbs. A jeep carrying 4 people (600lbs. on the lighter side) would be almost 4,400lbs. and it has a 120hp engine? That's called getting your butt handed to you all day long by ANY car that wants to race you. The Prius will leave you in the dust. My sister has a Jeep Wrangler stickshift with a 4 cylinder engine. When I had it for a month the only time I could beat any car off the line was when there was fresh snow on the ground.
You had to stand on the gas to merge. Well that I DO believe. What I don't believe is that you were surprised by the acceleration. Unless you mean you can't believe how slow it is.
--Inteller,
Standing on the gas is something you have to do if you're driving a Jeep Wrangler.
jim 10:10AM (9/17/2009)
I have a snow machine with an 800cc engine that produces 148 hp stock. no turbo no after market parts. what is so great about these ones.
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nrb 11:25AM (9/17/2009)
Is your snow machine 2-cycle?
jim 11:46AM (9/17/2009)
Yes, I know your going to say its dirty. but the new E-tek two strokes are clean and fuel efficient.
J 11:55AM (9/17/2009)
What's a snow machine? Is that a machine that makes snow?
I'm not sure what your question really is, but I'll also point out that motorcycle engines often produce horsepower figures up in car territory from much smaller displacement (four stroke).
nrb 12:31PM (9/17/2009)
Actually I was going to say that 2-cycle engines do better on hp/displacement than 4-cycle engines. They don't do all that well on torque.
As far as being dirty, I know many have gotten a lot better, but I don't know if they'd meet automotive emissions requirements. Muffle it properly and you'll drag the HP down even further.
I think it's an apple v oranges type of thing. I'm far from an expert (hell, I post on the internet), so I expect to be corrected. :)
tchamp 3:50PM (9/17/2009)
FYI, a snow machine is what Alaskans call what we call in the lower 48 - a snowmobile.
gorr 10:18AM (9/17/2009)
I said from years now that a small ice plugged directly into an electrical generator don't need to be huge, it can even be smaller then this oversized 1 liter ice + plus costly and innadapted transmission. A 200-300cc ice and a small battery might just be the ideal solution for a el-cheapo car of 4000$-6000$. A light car made of aluminium, carbon fibers and plastic can be made into the usa and do 100 mpg.
These 2 and 3 cylinders ices that ford is proposing cost 3x the ice i said to install. They need variable air runners, variable camshaft phasing , etc, etc and sophisticated and costly and weighthy transmission differentials , driving shafts , etc.
I said this from years now to ford, put a green car of 6 000$ - 10 000$ full features
put on sale at wallmart or home depot or lowes, available for cash. And do the maintenance and check-ups with a simple usb port and gps satellite connectivity that monitor the car functions and security like accidents or theifs.
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jamesFF 10:38PM (9/27/2009)
Reminds me of the old Geo Metro. I think a small 3 cylinder would be great to save money on the plug ins.
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