[McLovin]

Ford
Photo credit: Ford
June 13, 2012

STUTTGART, Germany – Ford Motor Company’s new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – which launched to acclaim this year in the Focus in Europe – today was named 2012 “International Engine of the Year.”

The small, high-tech 3-cylinder engine also hauled in two other awards – “Best New Engine” and “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” – in the awards presented by Engine Technology International magazine, and based on votes cast by 76 journalists from 35 countries around the world.

This marks the first time Ford has won “International Engine of the Year” in the 13-year history of the awards. Moreover, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost garnered the highest score in the history of the awards.

“We set the bar incredibly high when we set out to design this engine,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president, Global Powertrain. “We wanted to deliver eye-popping fuel economy, surprising performance, quietness and refinement – and all from a very small, 3-cylinder engine.”

“The team responded to this seemingly impossible challenge with some really exciting innovation,” added Bakaj. “The result is a game-changer for petrol engines globally.”

Said Dean Slavnich, chairman of the “International Engine of the Year” awards and editor of Engine Technology International: “This is a fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine.”

The engine – small enough to fit on an A4 sheet of paper – was designed at Ford’s technical centres in Dunton, UK, and Merkenich, Germany. The engine is built in Ford’s plants in Craiova, Romania, and Cologne, Germany.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost uses low-inertia turbos to deliver power quickly when the throttle is opened from low RPM and deliver high power at speeds of up to 28,000 RPM.

Further 1.0-litre EcoBoost innovations include:

* An exhaust manifold, cast into the cylinder head, lowers the temperature of exhaust gases to enable the optimum fuel-to-air ratio across a wider rev band

* A unique cast iron block warms the engine more quickly than a conventional aluminium block to cut by 50 percent the amount of “warm-up” energy required, and cut fuel consumption

* Two main engine drive belts are immersed in oil to deliver a quieter, more efficient engine

* Offsetting the engine configuration by deliberately “unbalancing” the flywheel and pulley instead of adding energy-draining balancer shafts.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost debuted this year on the Focus in Europe and will be offered next in C-MAX and B-MAX later this year. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost will be made available in Ford models in the U.S. and in Asia Pacific and Africa next year

The new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost 100 PS delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency of 4.8 l/100 km (58.9 mpg)* and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The 125 PS model returns 5.0 l/100 km (56.5 mpg) with CO2 emissions of 114 g/km.

In its first full month of sales across Europe, more than 4,700 customers ordered a Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost, accounting nearly a quarter of all Ford Focus cars ordered in Ford’s 19 traditional European markets.

Ford of Europe plans to triple annual production of vehicles equipped with efficient EcoBoost petrol engines to approximately 480,000 by 2015, from 141,000 in 2011. The company projects that more than 300,000 of those vehicles will be equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost.

“International Engine of the Year” is determined by a panel of 76 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world. Judges consider drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. The popularity of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost with judges saw it receive 28 percent more points than its closest rival and the highest points total of any engine in the competition’s history.

“For a three-cylinder to power a vehicle like the Ford Focus with such ease proves that the future is very, very bright for the internal combustion engine,” said Slavnich of Engine Technology International. “Power, response and very good real-world fuel consumption figures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this engine and what it offers drivers today. Well done, Ford!"

Other judges also praised the 1.0-litre EcoBoost.

“If downsizing is the way ahead, there is currently no better example than this. Same power as the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine it replaces, and much punchier to drive,” said UK-based journalist John Simister.

“With good torque at the very low end, this high-tech three-cylinder turbo gives the driving performance of a small turbo diesel, but without noise and vibrations,” said Christophe Congrega of French-based L’Automobile Magazine.

Ford of Europe chairman and CEO Stephen Odell said the 1.0-litre EcoBoost will play a big role for Ford globally going forward and he thanked the thousands of Ford employees involved in planning, designing, developing and manufacturing the engine.

“In these challenging times for the European economy and our business, we should take a moment to celebrate this achievement. This is Ford at its best – working together to deliver innovation for all of our customers.”

[McLovin]

Bravo Ford, for yet another class leading powertrain.

Have to say though, I had my hand in this design all the way back to 2007. So a little pat on my back too…hehehe.

And soon America too will be able to get 59mpg in a Focus, and without the cancer causing Diesel toxins in the air, much, MUCH quieter and smoother and affordable.

That's called, win-win-win and win.

[McLovin]

dup

[lengnert]

There are many (it would appear) that have downplayed the significance of the EcoBoost technology that Ford has brought into the mainstream.

I have not been one of those detractors.

It has accomplished exactly what Ford said it would.

The benefit is that unlike other manufacturers that have employed similar tech, Ford is sticking with it and improving it with every iteration it would seem.

The added benefit is that as long as it remains a fairly trouble free technology Ford will be known as the pioneer of it (whether it is rightly or wrongly applied).

If indeed they can successfully make the Focus be a 55+ mpg car, then I don't really see any good reason to buy a Prius, Volt or even the Focus BEV.

[McLovin]

lengnert;212240 Wrote:There are many (it would appear) that have downplayed the significance of the EcoBoost technology that Ford has brought into the mainstream.

I have not been one of those detractors.

It has accomplished exactly what Ford said it would.

The benefit is that unlike other manufacturers that have employed similar tech, Ford is sticking with it and improving it with every iteration it would seem.

The added benefit is that as long as it remains a fairly trouble free technology Ford will be known as the pioneer of it (whether it is rightly or wrongly applied).

If indeed they can successfully make the Focus be a 55+ mpg car, then I don't really see any good reason to buy a Prius, Volt or even the Focus BEV.

Well, high mpg and low CO2 are attractive, but many still want zero or near zero CO2, and much greater mpg.

PHEV and BEV allow that.
Something for everyone.

[lengnert]

McLovin;212245 Wrote:

lengnert;212240 Wrote:There are many (it would appear) that have downplayed the significance of the EcoBoost technology that Ford has brought into the mainstream.

I have not been one of those detractors.

It has accomplished exactly what Ford said it would.

The benefit is that unlike other manufacturers that have employed similar tech, Ford is sticking with it and improving it with every iteration it would seem.

The added benefit is that as long as it remains a fairly trouble free technology Ford will be known as the pioneer of it (whether it is rightly or wrongly applied).

If indeed they can successfully make the Focus be a 55+ mpg car, then I don't really see any good reason to buy a Prius, Volt or even the Focus BEV.

Well, high mpg and low CO2 are attractive, but many still want zero or near zero CO2, and much greater mpg.

PHEV and BEV allow that.
Something for everyone.

Oh, don't get me wrong Wings. I can definitely see why Ford (or any other manufacturer) would want to build the electric/hybrid alternatives.

I just consistently shake my head at the people that buy them over the better more conventional choices.

Worse from a manufacturing standpoint for the environment..... Check

Worse from a performance standpoint...... Check

Much more expensive so that it will almost assuredly never make sense to buy one from an economic standpoint .... Check


Bragging rights at the eco weenie parties you might attend ..... Ahhhhhhh, yes finally a check mark that 'means' something . Check

[McLovin]

This is the first time Ford has ever won this prestigious award and our victory was by a wide margin over some of the world’s best engines. Indeed, never in the 13-year history of the awards has the winning engine received so many points from the journalists around the world who vote on the award. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost also was named “Best New Engine” and “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” at the event.

The awards chairman made the following comment: “A fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine.”

[McLovin]

This is the first time Ford has ever won this prestigious award and our victory was by a wide margin over some of the world’s best engines. Indeed, never in the 13-year history of the awards has the winning engine received so many points from the journalists around the world who vote on the award. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost also was named “Best New Engine” and “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” at the event.

The awards chairman made the following comment: “A fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine.”