US: Ford announces 'EcoBoost' direct injection gasoline turbo technology
Monday, January 07, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
Ford has announced 'EcoBoost' as the sub-brand for its forthcoming range of direct injection turbocharged engines that it will sell in North America. The first of these will be available in the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan and 2009 Ford Flex minivan.
Ford originally called this technology 'TwinForce'. It announced that name for the prototype direct injection biturbo V6 fitted to the Lincoln MKR concept car at the Detroit motor show a year ago.
The company now appears to be reacting to increased environmental sensitivity among consumers and the rise in the price of gasoline, with the name change.
Ford will promote the technology with an emphasis on claims of lower emissions and fuel consumption, rather than simply more power than its existing large-capacity V6 and V8 engines.
The first engines with EcoBoost badging are set to appear at the North American International Auto Show on 13 January as alternative powertrains for the Ford Explorer America SUV concept.
Ford refers to diesel and hybrid drivetrains as "more expensive" in its statement accompanying the news of the new 16v four- and 24v six-cylinder gasoline engines, adding that "EcoBoost builds upon today's affordable gasoline engine and improves it, providing more customers [in North America] with a way to improve fuel economy and emissions without compromising driving performance".
According to Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development, EcoBoost technology could be part of the company's range from the smallest car engine to the largest light truck unit.
"Compared with the current cost of diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect to recoup their initial investment in a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine through fuel savings in approximately 30 months. A diesel in North America will take an average of seven and one-half years, while the cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup – given equivalent miles driven per year and fuel costs," Kuzak states.
Ford states that the 340hp (254kW) biturbo V6-engined Lincoln MKS, when it goes on sale later this year, will be "the most powerful and fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive luxury sedan in the market". While this would trump the Acura RL and Infiniti G sedan as well as those variants of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series sold in North America with drive to all four wheels, the Lexus GS 450h puts its torque through the rear wheels only.
Published on Monday, January 07, 2008
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