EcoBoost engine for Falcon?

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford will exhibit a concept vehicle, the Explorer America.

The concept, which has been designed to run either a four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-litre V6, illustrates the means by which Ford will steadily reduce the fuel consumption of its entire product range, to comply with the latest legislation from the US Congress (more here).

That 3.5-litre V6 developed for the Explorer America concept is based on an existing engine, presumably the same Cyclone engine that will power the Australian Falcon from 2010 (more here).

With Ford rationalising its different engine architectures around the world -- the Barra inline six fitted to the Australian Falcon being one casualty of this program -- any current four-cylinder or V6 production engine remaining in production beyond 2010 will likely be re-jigged in line with Ford's EcoBoost principles. The 3.5-litre Cyclone V6 for the Falcon could thus be EcoBoost-ready.

Ford is committed to introducing a twin-turbo V6 in the American market Lincoln MKS for 2009 and lesser vehicles such as the Ford Flex, so that same engine could be a possibility for the local Falcon application.

Whilst Ford is continuing to work on diesels, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells, the company sees the EcoBoost engines (in four-cylinder and V6 configurations) as an inexpensive alternative to hybrids and diesels. The new engines will be up to 20 per cent more economical, providing a viable -- ie: cheaper to build and buy -- alternative to diesels.

Ford anticipates the EcoBoost engines will power products ranging from small cars to trucks and deliver a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. The company will roll out the technology for up to half a million vehicles over the next five years.

In the Lincoln MKS, the EcoBoost V6 will develop 254kW of power and 460Nm of torque. That's slightly more power than the current Falcon XR6 Turbo and about 20Nm less torque.

Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak said about the new strategy: "Compared with the current cost of diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect to recoup their initial investment in a 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine through fuel savings in approximately 30 months.

"A diesel in North America will take an average of seven and one-half years, while the cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup -- given equivalent miles driven per year and fuel costs."

Ford plans to offer the EcoBoost engines with advanced transmissions and other measures to reduce weight or improve efficiency in other areas. Such measures would include improved aerodynamics and the adoption of electric steering assistance -- a tactic already adopted widely in Europe.

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