The EcoBoost engine is a new technology that Ford claims will improve fuel economy and increase performance output. According to Ford, the EcoBoost engine combines advanced direct injection technology and turbocharging with a gasoline engine. The end result is an engine that can deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent lower CO2 emissions, and improved driving performance when compared to larger displacement engines.
Highlights
- 20% Better Fuel Economy
- 15% Lower CO2 Emissions
- Improved Performance over Larger Displacement Engines
- Twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5L V6 Mustang w/340-415 hp
Direct injection, coupled with turbocharging, allows for the downsizing of engines that deliver improved torque and performance. Fuel is injected into each cylinder of the engine in small, precise amounts. Compared to conventional port injection, direct injection produces a cooler, denser charge, delivering higher fuel economy and performance. A 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine has the capability of producing more torque than a larger 6-cylinder engine – nearly an entire liter larger in displacement – with up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency. Ford believes so strongly in the engine that it plans to make it available on half a million Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles annually in North America within the next five years. This will far exceed current hybrid vehicle production capacity.
Andreas R. Schamel, Ford’s chief engineer for Research and Advanced Engineering, said, “EcoBoost will provide real-world fuel efficiency benefits in the near term with a shorter payback time than other advanced technologies. We believe hybrids, diesels and technologies such as plug-ins and fuel cells have a role, but we believe that having the right mix of fuel-saving technologies over time is the best approach.” Schamel added, “The challenges of CO2 and fuel economy are complex, global issues. There is no single, universal answer around the world. That’s why we’re pursuing technology such as EcoBoost that’s scale-able to large-volume production now in the short term.”
The 2009 Lincoln MKS is the first vehicle to feature the EcoBoost engine. It features a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 that can produce the power and torque of a V8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V6. In addition, it produces 340 hp and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford says the engine results in a savings of $340 a year in fuel costs for Lincoln MKS owners.
It’s been rumored that a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 Mustang engine would produce between 340-415 hp, which is more horses than the existing 4.6L GT Mustang creates. Even better, the EcoBoost engine weighs less than a conventional engine. As for mileage gains, its been said owners could expect to see a couple of miles per gallon increase over the existing 4.6L Mustang’s 15 city/23 hwy figures.
Source: Ford Motor Company
