Ford Invests $155M in Engine Plant to Support New 3.7L V-6 for Mustang
26 February 2010
Ford Motor Company is investing $155 million at its Cleveland operations to build a new more fuel-efficient V-6 engine for the 2011 Mustang. The all-aluminum dual-overhead cam (DOHC), 3.7-liter Duratec 24-valve V-6 engine with Twin Independent Variable Valve Timing (Ti-VCT) delivers a projected 30 mpg US (7.8 L/100km) on the highway, with 305 hp (227 kW) of output.
The investment and jobs at Ford’s Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 brings the company’s investment in powertrain engineering and facility upgrades in North America to $1.8 billion to support its 2011 vehicle launches, with more to come. The new Mustang engine is one of nine new or upgraded engines or transmissions for 2011 model Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1’s V-6 engine is expected to represent two-thirds of Mustang’s volume this calendar year. Ford’s $155 million investment there includes $121 million in manufacturing investment at the plant and $34 million for launch and engineering. Sixty new jobs have been added to the plant to support the new engine.
Specifically, the $121 million for the manufacturing facility supports continued investment in developing and re-tooling the plant’s flexible manufacturing systems in the assembly and component (cylinder block, head and crankshaft) areas.
This Ohio plant is one of 11 Ford facilities in the US participating in the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentives Program initiated by Congress and implemented by the Obama administration. The program is helping to develop advanced technology vehicles and strengthen American manufacturing across the country. This project is also supported by Ford’s state and local government partners primarily through training funds.
Opened in 1951 as Ford’s first engine plant in Ohio, the facility has produced more than 35 million engines.
In 2004, Ford invested $350 million into the plant for redesign and installation of an all-new assembly line as well as block, crankshaft and cylinder head machining lines. The plant also led the way in 2009 with the introduction of Ford’s first EcoBoost engines, which use gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20% better fuel economy, 15% fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger displacement engines.
A Corvette will get 16/26 mpg with a 6.2L V8
that can create 430 HP. A Camaro will get 17/29 mpg
with a 3.6L V6 that can create 304 HP.
It is the real world around town mileage numbers that are the big thing.
Posted by: SJC | 26 February 2010 at 01:14 PM
Wouldn't an up-to-date higher performance turbo 4 cyls do as good a job while using less fuel?
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 February 2010 at 01:53 PM
"Opened in 1951 as Ford’s first engine plant in Ohio, the facility has produced more than 35 million engines."
That's a lot a horses..
Posted by: kelly | 26 February 2010 at 04:43 PM
HarveyD:
Yes, which is why a 2.0L turbo will relatively soon become the base Mustang engine, tuned to beat the 3.7L in fuel economy while matching the performance of the 4.0L that engine replaced.
Look for a V6 turbo special edition (Mach 1) Mustang first to incrementally introduce the tech to the muscle car market. Ford isn`t going to rush a 4 cylinder into their muscle cars, it just doesn`t make sense but they will do so when it is timely, probably the next oil spike, because the engine is already in development.
Posted by: joookes | 27 February 2010 at 02:42 PM