Ford's EcoBoost 1.0 liter and three-cylinder engine. Photo: automania.be
Once American car manufacturers took pride in releasing bigger and bigger engines each season. Now it’s time for a turnabout: Ford is in the midst of a global launch for the 1.0-liter and three-cylinder EcoBoost.
This is not only a positive step forward in global climate news, it will represent a huge leap forward in improved gas mileage and a lowered dollar output every week at the gas pump.
“No one has ever built a three-cylinder engine quite like this”, claimed Ford’s vice president of powertrain engineering Joe Bakaj. “It’s one of the most technically advanced and efficient engines we’ve ever designed. The new engine introduces many new technologies that could be part of the DNA of future Ford engines.
The EcoBoost series is reputed to deliver 20-30 percent better fuel economy. Many people see this engine as a more affordable alternative to hybrids and diesel engines.
The EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine was designed at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K. where engineers focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction, particularly during warm-up when engines emit higher pollutant levels.
The new three-cylinder engine will feature an offset crankshaft for improved fuel economy, plus a split cooling system that allows the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head. Additionally, the exhaust manifold is cast into the cylinder head to lower exhaust gas temperatures and save weight.
Though no specific figures have been released, Ford claims the new engine will deliver performance equivalent or better than most normally aspirated 1.6-liter petrol engines.
According to AutoBlog, Ford will announce more information about the 1.0-liter engine at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, including exactly what vehicles will be powered by this mill. “Since Ford is benchmarking its 1.6-liter engine here — the powerplant used in the Fiesta — we’d expect that this EcoBoost three almost certainly slot into Ford’s smallest offering here in the States.”
Pricing has not yet been announced but it is reasonable to expect many test drives will soon be scheduled by the curious. If successful in consumer appeal, the roadway may soon be filled with EcoBoost engines and other one-liter competitors.
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
