Ford Announces 2.0L EcoBoost Engine; First Production EcoBoost with TI-VCT
22 July 2009
| The 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 Ti-VCT. Click to enlarge. |
Ford has officially announced the second member of its turbocharged, gasoline direct-injection EcoBoost family, a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder version that will go on sale next year. The first engine in the EcoBoost line, a 3.5L, V6 engine (earlier post), is being applied in the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and Flex and Lincoln MKS and MKT.
At the debut of the 3.5L EcoBoost engine at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, Ford had also shown a Lincoln C (C-size) concept car powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine mated to a dual-clutch Powershift Transmission. (Earlier post.) The 1.6L engine in the concept featured twin independent variable camshaft timing (TI-VCT)—a powertrain system also being used in the production 2.0L engine, the first EcoBoost production engine to include the system.
TI-VCT varies the phase of the intake and exhaust cams independently for improved airflow through the engine, which delivers more torque while reducing average fuel consumption by up to 5%.
The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine will deliver a 10 to 20% fuel economy improvement—depending upon the application—versus larger-displacement V-6 engines without compromising performance, according to Barb Samardzich, Vice President Global Powertrain Engineering.
The 2.0L EcoBoost will be comparable in performance to a 3.0-liter V-6, with at least 230 hp (172 kW) and 240 lb-ft (325 N·m) of torque, she said.
Ford is projecting a shift in its I-4 powertrain mix from 10% in 2005 to 31% in 2010.
In addition to the new EcoBoost engine, Ford will also debut its Powershift 6-speed dual clutch gearbox next year (also applied in the Lincoln C concept). The 6-speed dry-clutch automatic transmission delivers a 7-9% fuel economy improvement vs. traditional 4-speed automatic transmissions.
The 2010 Product Plan
Ford announced the new EcoBoost at a media overview of its 2010 product lineup at which it described plans for 30 new powertrain actions globally—22 in North America alone—by the end of 2010.
New vehicle introductions for the 2010 model year include:
- 2010 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO
- 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid
- 2010 Ford Mustang and Shelby GT500
- 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost
- 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
- 2010 Ford Transit Connect
- 2010 Lincoln MKT and MKT with EcoBoost
- 2010 Lincoln MKZ
- 2010 Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost
- 2010 Mercury Milan and Milan Hybrid
With investments in new engine, transmission and driveline components, Ford plans to improve its average US vehicle fuel economy by approximately 20% fleet-wide through the end of 2010 versus 200—with plans to increase car and truck fuel economy by more than 35% by 2015 via powertrain advancements.
We are absolutely committed to delivering new products with the best fuel economy in every segment in which we compete, driven in large part by substantial advancements in powertrain technology.
—Barb Samardzich
By 2012, the company plans to produce 750,000 EcoBoost units annually in the US and 1.3 million globally. By 2013, Ford will offer EcoBoost engines in 90% of its product lineup.
In 1979, I bought a new Ford Mustang with a 2.3l turbo and 5 speed. That car ran on the open highway like a V8, when the boost kicked in you were going for a ride.
It was very affordable and I was having so much fun with the car, I never bothered to check the mileage. My point is, you can make a car that performs well and does not cost a lot. Now if they can get the mileage up, they may have a winner.
Posted by: SJC | 22 July 2009 at 08:47 AM
Not too shabby if this gets the top end Fusion FWD from 18/27 to either 20/30 or 22/32.
I'm anxious to find out if this motor is making those numbers on 87 octane.
I'd also love to know if they plan a 1.4L ecoboost for the Focus. It seems it would have enough power and torque (if people can get over the "image" of the small engine).
Posted by: Patrick | 22 July 2009 at 10:01 AM
2004 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
Engine: 1.8-liter in-line four
Curb weight: 3250 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 22/30 mpg
This little supercharged 1.8L gets up and goes with an average of 25 mpg. A smaller displacement engine with forced induction gives you the best of both economy and performance.
Posted by: SJC | 22 July 2009 at 02:35 PM
This democratization of the turbo charger should prove interesting. American experience with the technology has been basically through premium vehicles (with or without diesels) or niche players (i.e. some Volkswagens). Having experienced one directly, turbo charged engines deliver all that is promised-lots of go power and if you are light on the peddle, good economy. The down side is that when these things go, and they will go and most likely in fewer miles than Americans are used to for a major component to bite the dust (my experience was just under 50k miles), you are talking serious (four digit) money. Annoying for someone who can afford to own an Audi, but this could ruin a Focus buyer. All of these engines could probably work very well non-turbo charged in their assigned vehicles but Ford is anticipating (correctly) that the American buyer will not be willing to give up the gobs of horsepower “headroom” he or she has become use to. Remember, the V-8 achieved high and reliable power. Ford seems to be prepared to ditch the reliability part.
Posted by: RD | 23 July 2009 at 09:10 AM
Turbos do not fail in 50,000 miles without serious user error (failure to do maintenance).
Even old Chrysler/Dodge cars of the 80s with their plethora of turbocharged engines (2.2L and 2.5L) never really had issues with the turbochargers themselves - though they did have issues with leaky head gaskets exacerbated by the turbo induced high pressures.
hundreds of thousands of Omni, Daytona, Mustang, Merkur, Eclipse, Supra, Celica, 3000GT, 300ZX, 280ZX, Probe, I-mark, Volvo, Saab, and Isuzu owners would tell you they have never had a problem with the turbochargers in their vehicles.
Posted by: Patrick | 24 July 2009 at 02:15 PM