 Ford EcoBoost engine. Click image to enlarge |
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Follow CanadianDriver on TwitterBy Jim Kerr; photos courtesy Ford Motor Company
May 19, 2009 marked the start of production of Ford’s new high tech EcoBoost engines. Available this summer in the 2010 Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT, Ford Taurus SHO and Ford Flex, the EcoBoost engines will eventually be offered in up to 90 per cent of all Ford models over the next few years. What makes the EcoBoost a big deal is that this engine produces lower emissions, more performance and up to 20 per cent better fuel economy.
The EcoBoost isn’t a flash-in-the-pan design. Ford engineers have been working on this for a few years along with suppliers such as Bosch, who supply fuel system parts. Ford’s Cleveland engine plant has had US$55 million dollars invested in new tooling and facilities to build this engine (building new engines isn’t cheap even in an existing plant!). When fully ramped up, Ford expects to deliver 750,000 vehicles a year with this new engine in North America and almost double that worldwide. Initially, the EcoBoost will be a 3.5-litre V6 design but inline 4-cylinder models will follow soon.
The 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 has the power of a V8 engine but the economy of a V6, according to Ford. With 355 horsepower it will be responsive, but it is the broad torque band that will really make the engine noteworthy. To accomplish this, the engineers have integrated three key technologies: direct fuel injection, turbocharging and computer aided design (CAE).
Designers looked at even the small items: for example, the fuel line on most fuel injected engines runs to one fuel rail and then on to the other fuel rail on a V style engine. On the Ecoboost, the fuel line splits into a Y design and feeds both fuel rails at the same time. This may not seem like a significant change, but it reduces the fuel pressure pulsations that occur every time an injector fires, so fuel delivery is more accurate and engine noise is reduced. At the 2150 PSI the Ecoboost fuel system operates (about 35 times more than conventional port injection) this feature takes on new importance.
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at 11:31 am
I wonder if everyone realises that forced induction engines must run on premium gas because of detonation fears ? I personally will never buy a vehicle that must be fed premium gas.
at 3:56 pm
It is disappointing that Ford’s described testing was so limited. Per the article, the test “can represent more than 100,000 km of customer operation.” I expect a car engine to easily last double that, on a highly predictable basis.
at 4:52 pm
I wonder if you realise that Saab has made regular fuel turbo cars for decades
at 5:02 pm
TREVOR
I just checked my cousin’s Saab 9/3 aero sedan and it calls for premium fuel.
I also checked my neighbour’s Saab Vigen and it also calls for “premium fuel or serious engine damage will occour” ??
at 5:20 pm
There are aeros and vigens but there are linears that take regular fuel
at 6:33 pm
Excellent article. Its good to see that Ford is coming out with much improved engines. I came across another article on the Taurus SHO http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/american_performance/2010_ford_taurus_sho_car_news which places the cost of the SHO at around $38000 US. At that price range, you could be in an Infiniti G37 instead which is just as fast and much more luxurious.
I understand that a considerable amount of investment and time has gone into developing this engine for Ford. However, Ford might have to rethink if people would justify paying premium prices for the “sleeper car” image.
Still, I think Ford is miles ahead of GM and Chrysler in terms of producing better cars. I just hope its not too late. And that brand perception changes fast.
at 11:34 am
Thanks for the great article Jim. I for one think that Ford is producing cars of better quality than ever before.
While I’m a fan of the EcoBoost initiative, I wish that Ford would also adopt the use of modern diesel tehnology for North America as well. I’ve driven Ford products in Europe fitted with TDI diesels and can report that they are very fuel efficient, quiet, powerful and fun to drive. Sadly, in Canada it is only Volkswagen that has bothered to exploit this technology and ‘affordable diesel’ market niche. I encourage Ford to get on board. The Canadian market has always been more diesel-friendly than the U.S., but even there the winds of favouarble change are blowing.
at 1:55 pm
Since they are using direct injection premium fuel is not a requirement, as the fuel is being injected later in the compression stroke and there is a cooling effect at the same time. There is less of a chance of detonation. you will also notice that direct inject engines also run at much higher compression ratios then engines that don’t have direct injection. I would not be surprised if most of the engines will run fine on regular and that it the recommended fuel too.