A convergence of cutting-edge technologies comes together for our first true 21st century powerplant.
In a recent blog, I listed a manifesto of new engine technologies that I thought would be the future of internal combustion performance, and that prediction has come true even sooner than I’d hoped. It’s called the Ford Ecoboost. The Ecoboost isn’t so much a single breakthrough technology, but a refinement of a group of technologies that heretofore haven’t been employed together in a domestic powerplant. You’ll recognize things like turbocharging and intercooling, but they’ve been tweaked to work with one of my favorites: direct injection.
Direct injection is a topic I’ve addressed here before in the 2010 Camaro’s new V-6 engine, which makes 304 hp in naturally aspirated form. Instead of injecting fuel upstream of the combustion chamber in the intake runner, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber at a pressure over 2,000 psi. The timing of the injection is precisely timed to improve economy and eliminate cold start-up emissions. Ford has taken this a step further by adding twin turbos and intercooling. The Ford Ecoboost V-6 displaces 3.5 liters and makes 355 peak hp at 5,700 rpm, but the real kicker is that it makes 350 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm, and holds it all the way through to 5,250 rpm. Incredibly, the Ecoboost V-6 has a 10:1 compression ratio, and runs on 87 octane fuel.
Ecoboost technology is coming to other engines too, like in-line fours. The idea is to replace V-8s with Ecoboost V-6s, and naturally-aspirated V-6s with Ecoboost fours. Ford says that Ecoboost technology will be in 90 percent of its domestic car line-up by 2013. Translation: look for it in the Mustang in the next year or two. If Ecoboost were to hit the Mustang GT at the current curb weight, it would dish out a nasty beating to the current Camaro, and be able to pass the gas station without stopping.
Right off the bat, the Ecoboost will be available in the new Lincoln MKS. When so equipped, the MKS will be paired with a 6-speed automatic transaxle with all-wheel drive and steering wheel paddle shifters for manual control. The MKS (with Ecoboost and AWD) tips the scales just over 4,400 lbs, and runs the quarter mile in about 13.8 seconds. MKS pricing starts just north of $47k, and gets 17/24 (city/hwy) mileage. Look for Ecoboost to be available in the new Taurus SHO and Flex later this year.
We’re working on a comprehensive story on the Ecoboost right now. Check it out in the October issue of PHR which goes on sale in late August.