EcoBoost to Boost Sales

Andrew Augustine

With recent increases in fuel prices and all the pressure to “go green”, it’s really no surprise that automotive manufacturers are trying to downscale vehicle size and utilize smaller engine configurations.  Ford Motor Company has devised a strategy to avoid many of these traditional methods while still delivering what the customer wants.  They have combined two technologies, turbo-charging and direct injection, which allows them to increase fuel efficiency (without decreasing vehicle size) while increasing horsepower at the same time.  Ford’s new technology comes in the form of the all-new EcoBoost engine.  It is the first North American production, twin-turbocharged, direct injection, V-6 engine—impressive, I know.   “The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power,” claims Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development.  The engine also produces fewer emissions as compared to a V-8 engine.

 The first in a wave of new Ford EcoBoost engines makes its debut in the Lincoln MKS, and MKT, as well as the Ford Flex and all new Taurus SHO next month.  The launch of the EcoBoost engine is part of Ford Motor Company’s global initiative to provide powertrains that deliver the fuel efficiency and power customers demand.  This engine technology is expected to migrate into many of Ford’s mainstream vehicle lines.

Wow- Impressive

The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine delivers the performance found in a naturally aspirated performance built V-8, while maintaining the fuel economy of a V-6 engine.  “By injecting the fuel directly into the combustion chamber and under high pressure, the fuel is sent exactly where we want it to be for a given combustion cycle, which aids burning of fuel more efficiently  and effectively” said Joseph Basmaji, direct injection fuel system technical specialist.  In addition to increased fuel efficiency through direct injection, the turbos use wasted energy from the exhaust gas to help drive the turbines.   Improved transient response enabled by the direct injectors reduces “turbo lag,” while overcoming the traditional disadvantage of downsizing and boosting.  With help from the dual turbo configuration, this efficient, fire-breathing V-6 is able to reach an impressive 365 horsepower and nearly 350 foot pounds of torque. 

EcoBoost equipped vehicles should be surfacing in the next few weeks with an average of 20% better fuel economy over traditional vehicles.  The V-6 engine and six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission combination achieves an EPA-estimated 17 city/25 highway fuel economy rating.  Ford expects within the next five years, a half-million vehicles will be on the road sporting the groundbreaking technology.  Ford also plans on developing four-cylinder configurations of the engine that will likely be used in the popular Focus and Fusion models.

For the complete story of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and this revolutionary engine technology can be accessed on the Internet at www. Fordvehicles.com/cars/Taurus/.

Transforming the Way We Drive

Keilan McInnis

Most North Americans will tell you that the biggest difference between domestic and European vehicles is size. Europeans’ reluctance to use automatic transmissions has fueled this difference. Because vehicles have remained smaller, the desire for automatic transmissions has not been created.  There is however a growing trend among manufacturers to fuse the desire for more control (e.g. manual transmissions) and the better fuel efficiency of automatic transmissions into one comprehensive design.

Dual-clutch transmission combines the control you get from a manual with the reduction of engine and transmission wear you get from an automatic. This technology has manifested itself in vehicles from manufacturers around the world.  Some use an up/down or tiptronic system that allows the driver to shift the gear lever back and forth in order to control the gear selection without the use of a clutch pedal, while others offer the use of paddles located either on the steering wheel or steering column to shift gears.

It should not be any surprise that technology with roots in the racing world has made its way into the lives of daily drivers. Where once it was the realm of the F1 driver to focus on the path ahead with both hands on the wheel and no worries about missing a gear, now drivers of all ages and all abilities can feel the rush of gripping the wheel and shifting gears at the touch of a finger.

There is debate over which system works the best because each system works slightly differently. The premise behind these systems is that when you are on the open road, you will want to control as much of the speed or responsiveness of the engine as you can. On the flip side of this you can leave the vehicle in automatic mode when in traffic and conserve fuel while reducing the strain placed on your engine and transmission.

A further aspect of the dual-clutch transmission is its ability to shift gears faster than the driver. As fast as your reflexes can tap a paddle or move a gear selector up or down, you can change gears without the worry of catching the clutch or grinding the gears. Now even the most novice drivers can feel like they are in the pole position.