November 22, 2002

Canadian-made Ford Triton V8 engine to be exported to Ford Australia

Windsor, Ontario - For the first time ever, engines made at Ford of Canada's Essex Engine Plant are being exported to Australia. The Canadian-made Triton V-8 is powering models in the new unique-to-Australia Ford Falcon range of sedans.

Since it opened in 1981, Essex Engine Plant has produced V-6 engines for Ford Windstar, Mustang, F-150 and Econoline. A recently launched state-of-the- art assembly line has added V-8 production too - a 3-valve version of Ford's 5.4-litre Triton.

Initial V-8 production is earmarked for Australia where the engine is standard on the Ford Fairmont Ghia, and optional on other models in the Falcon range. By 2003, production will increase significantly as the new engine will be fitted to the next generation Ford F-150 pickup.

Exports have been a mainstay of Essex Engine Plant's output for two decades with engines and crankshafts being produced for 10 Ford facilities in North and South America. The new 3-valve 5.4-litre Triton V-8 engines are shipped primarily by sea for the 30-day voyage to Ford's Broadmeadows Assembly Plant in Campbellfield, Victoria, Australia.

Located in Windsor, Ontario, Ford's Essex Engine Plant (EEP) opened in 1981. It produces the 3.8-litre V-6 engine for the Ford Windstar and Mustang, as well as the 4.2-litre V-6 engine for the Ford F-150 pickup and the Econoline Van and Clubwagon. In 2001 EEP began producing V-8 crankshafts for the Triton 5.4-litre V-8 and 6.8L V-10 engines. During the summer of 2002, limited production of Ford's new Triton 5.4-litre 3-valve V-8 was launched for use in the Ford Falcon range of sedans in Australia.

Customers include Ford plants in the U.S. (Dearborn, Norfolk, Lorain, Kansas City, Romeo), Canada (Oakville, Windsor), Mexico (Cuautitlan), Venezuela, Brazil and, now, Australia.

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