Ford Motor Company announced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show that it would produce 1.3 million units of its fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine by 2013. This projected goal was adjusted last Tuesday by Ford representatives during the 2010 SAE World Congress in Detroit. The automaker says that it will achieve global distribution of 1.5 million EcoBoost engines within the next three years. Half of these 1.5 million units will be incorporated into North American cars, trucks and SUVs. By reaching this goal, Ford would be able to outfit 80% of its global brands with highly efficient engines.
In order to achieve 1.5 million EcoBoost models, Ford plans to introduce three new versions of the engine by December 2010. The 1.6-liter, four cylinder EcoBoost engine will be used in the C-Max model available in Europe. Ford also developed a 2.0-liter, four cylinder to be incorporated into the Explorer and the Edge. The 2011 Ford F-150 will be available with a 3.5-liter, V6 EcoBoost engine that maintains the model’s power while reducing fuel consumption by 20%. This trio of engine options joins existing EcoBoost engines available with the Ford Flex, Ford Taurus and the Lincoln MKS and MKT.
The EcoBoost engine allows Ford models to achieve high fuel mileage through turbo charging, direct fuel injection and lighter components. Ford plans to introduce other design elements into future models to make the EcoBoost engine more efficient. The automaker wants to reduce vehicle weight across the board by up to 750 pounds. Ford says that 20% of its brands will feature a stop/start system by 2014, thus eliminating fuel consumption during full stops. The company’s six-speed automatic transmission will be added to 98% of North American models by 2012 to increase fuel efficiency through smoother gear shifts.
Ford’s EcoBoost rollout still leaves the company behind in terms of fully hybrid models. The automaker’s showing at the 2010 SAE World Congress showed that it could take a step past the competition as myriad elements are combined. With the EcoBoost engine at the center, a majority of Ford models could feature all of the components of existing hybrids by 2013. Ford has also noted that it could scale down EcoBoost technology for 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter engines. Ford’s EcoBoost technology seems poised to cut across different market niches while raising fuel economy expectations along the way.
