It's a mark of how heavily Ford has been promoting its range of efficient EcoBoost engines, that the word seems to have been around for decades.
In reality, the heavy roll-out of EcoBoost-badged models in several vehicle lines means that customers have quickly taken the turbocharged motors to their hearts.
That looks sure to continue, as Ford has announced it's to ramp up production of its small-capacity EcoBoost engines in Europe--and the U.S. will also see the benefits of this increased production.
The first of these will be the brand-new 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost. It's set to be one of the smallest engines in a production car sold in the U.S. when Ford drops it into the Fiesta, also punches above its weight.
With a turbocharger, the little 3-cylinder puts out 125 horsepower, more than the older, non-turbocharged 1.6-liter Duratec you'll find in the Fiesta. The engine will appear first in the European Ford Focus--where it could deliver over 50 mpg--but it remains to be seen whether U.S. consumers will accept an engine that small in a car like the Focus.
Next in line is the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost. Produced in Wales, U.K, the 177-horsepower 1.6-liter EcoBoost will see service in the upcoming hot Fiesta, the Fiesta ST. While Ford didn't confirm the ST for U.S. sale, Ford has confirmed that the 1.6 EcoBoost is already being shipped to the U.S.
One of the recipients will be the new 2013 Ford Escape. With the demise of the Hybrid, a 33 mpg highway 1.6-liter EcoBoost Escape will be the economy champ of the range--even if it loses out to the old Hybrid in city mileage.
The two smaller engines are set to join the 2.0-liter and 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost units already used in the 2013 Explorer, Flex, Edge and Taurus, and the 2012 Ford F-150. A 2.0-liter EcoBoost will also power most of the 2013 Escape range, replacing the old V-6.
With the V-6, Ford is pushing the high economy, high performance aspect, in comparison to heavier and less efficient V-8s. As a result, you can expect EcoBoost to spread to even more models over the next few years, including the next-generation Mustang, and the Transit van, replacing the ageing V-8 powered E-Series.
By improving the economy of hundreds of thousands of regular gasoline vehicles, we think that engines like the EcoBoost range are actually more important than electric cars, for the next decade at least.
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