Three-cylinder wins Engine of the Year

[Wretched]

It’s an award winner, but not good enough for the Ford Focus sold in Australia.

An engine Ford shunned for the Focus small car sold in Australia has taken out the 2012 Engine of the Year awards.

The 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine took out the prestigious overall award as well as Best New Engine and Best Engine Under 1.0-litre categories in the awards that cover a wide range of engine capacities.

The diminutive Ford EcoBoost engine that’s claimed to fit on an A4 sheet of paper also scored more points than any other winner since the awards - published by Engine Technology International magazine and voted on by motoring journalists around the world - began in 1999. EcoBoost is the name given to Ford’s new range of fuel efficient turbocharged engines.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Making a modest 92kW of power and using a claimed 4.8 litres of fuel per 100km in the Focus the tiny engine was overlooked for the Focus locally, which instead picked up a basic 1.6-litre non-turbo engine for the entry-level model.

“We set the bar incredibly high when we set out to design this engine,” said Ford’s vice president of global powertrain Joe Bakaj. “We wanted to deliver eye-popping fuel economy, surprising performance, quietness and refinement – and all from a very small, three-cylinder engine.”

Ford Australia also decided against the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine despite a European-led trend to smaller capacity turbocharged engines.

“It’s a global engine so where appropriate we’d look at it,” said Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald. But there are no plans to introduce the much-hyped technology to the Focus for now.

“Going forward it’s certainly an opportunity but we’ve made no decisions on it.”

Instead Australians will have to wait until 2013 to experience the now award-winning 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in the new Ford EcoSport, a Fiesta-based city-friendly, high riding compact SUV.

A 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine was recently added to the struggling Falcon range as an alternative to the 4.0-litre six-cylinder stalwart that has a heritage dating back more than half a century.

But sales continue to nosedive, suggesting the Falcon’s woes are deeper than perceived high fuel use.

It is the third consecutive year a frugal, small capacity, turbocharged engine has taken out the awards; in 2011 the two-cylinder turbocharged Fiat TwinAir won the overall engine gong, while in 2010 it went to Fiat’s 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

In previous years the award has been given to the Mazda rotary engine in the discontinued RX-8, while Toyota’s hybrid technology pioneered in the Prius has won the overall award three times.

Various high performance engines from the likes of Porsche and BMW have also taken out previous Engine of the Year awards, although in recent years the gong for the overall award has been focused on more economical engines.

http://www.theage.com.au/drive/motor...613-20a2b.html
Congrats Ford

[TMC]

Is that guy in the picture kissing the engine or sucking on the exhaust pipe?

[davenl5l]

see there is good ford news even if its missing 5 cylinders

[Mad_Pom]

Originally Posted by TMC

Is that guy in the picture kissing the engine or sucking on the exhaust pipe?

"that guy" is Alan Mulally CEO Ford Motor Company. The guy that saved it from bancrupy globally and has turned it around.

"that guy" is a genius and last years CEO of the year.

He is also kissing the front of the engine where the FEAD would normally be.

[Polyal]

Good on them...now hurry up and fix GWRD you suckers.

[xisled]

HAHAHHAHAHA. Looks like he is having a gold old suck.

That Pic is funny.

But well done to Ford.

[Luke Plaizier]

And Ford wonder why they have a poor public perception in Australia.

You know, I want Ford Australia to go well, and to do well, but if the One Ford strategy causes the Falcon to go, but doesn't result in Australia getting the best engineering they have (No Fiesta Econetic, No Focus 3-Cyl Ecoboost, delayed rollout of Kuga, Focus RS only turns up as the model is being replaced), Ford in Australia is swiftly become the manufacturer with the best range of second rate models, but one heck of a profile around the rest of the world.

I mean, what's the point of One Ford if half their models just don't make it here - or when they do, they turn up a year late?

Maybe Ford Australia should start a campaign - "Ford - the best cars in the world, *(in all countries but Australia)"


Lukeyson

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Mad_Pom

"that guy" is Alan Mulally CEO Ford Motor Company. The guy that saved it from bancrupy globally and has turned it around.

"that guy" is a genius and last years CEO of the year.

He is also kissing the front of the engine where the FEAD would normally be.

I didn't recognise him. There was an engine in the way.

[Mad_Pom]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

And Ford wonder why they have a poor public perception in Australia.

You know, I want Ford Australia to go well, and to do well, but if the One Ford strategy causes the Falcon to go, but doesn't result in Australia getting the best engineering they have (No Fiesta Econetic, No Focus 3-Cyl Ecoboost, delayed rollout of Kuga, Focus RS only turns up as the model is being replaced), Ford in Australia is swiftly become the manufacturer with the best range of second rate models, but one heck of a profile around the rest of the world.

I mean, what's the point of One Ford if half their models just don't make it here - or when they do, they turn up a year late?

Maybe Ford Australia should start a campaign - "Ford - the best cars in the world, *(in all countries but Australia)"


Lukeyson

I'm afraid it's a simple business equation. Release your newest and best products in the biggest markets first to reap your reward. The USA alone buys more Focus in 1 month than Australia does in 1 year.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by TMC

Is that guy in the picture kissing the engine or sucking on the exhaust pipe?

Its not diesel so its safe

I'm more excited about this engine than the rest in the Ecoboost range, would be a perfect engine for the current Fiesta.

[Polyal]

So has there been any talk of coyote + ecoboost? (not Miami)

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by Mad_Pom

I'm afraid it's a simple business equation. Release your newest and best products in the biggest markets first to reap your reward. The USA alone buys more Focus in 1 month than Australia does in 1 year.

Hey, I agree.

It's a pity that the other brands that get their newest and best models out to Australia quickly aren't as fiscally careful as Ford.....

You know, from another thread, I read that that engine has a cast-iron block like our I6. And at a time when we thought cast iron blocks were going out because they were low tech...... It makes you wonder why the tech learned from that I3 engine couldn't just be applied to the Aussie I6. A lightened Ecoboost short-stroke iron-block 3.0L I6T - ahh but to dream.


Lukeyson

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by Polyal

So has there been any talk of coyote + ecoboost? (not Miami)

Only rumours.


http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/r...-the-pipeline/


Lukeyson

[Luke Plaizier]

Grr. Repost

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Its not diesel so its safe

I'm more excited about this engine than the rest in the Ecoboost range, would be a perfect engine for the current Fiesta.

He's obviously very passionate about the product.

And so he should be. The whole Ecoboost thing is brilliant.

Now for an I6 and V8 version and we'll all be happy. A 500kW V8 would be great.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

And Ford wonder why they have a poor public perception in Australia.

You know, I want Ford Australia to go well, and to do well, but if the One Ford strategy causes the Falcon to go, but doesn't result in Australia getting the best engineering they have (No Fiesta Econetic, No Focus 3-Cyl Ecoboost, delayed rollout of Kuga, Focus RS only turns up as the model is being replaced), Ford in Australia is swiftly become the manufacturer with the best range of second rate models, but one heck of a profile around the rest of the world.

I mean, what's the point of One Ford if half their models just don't make it here - or when they do, they turn up a year late?

Maybe Ford Australia should start a campaign - "Ford - the best cars in the world, *(in all countries but Australia)"


Lukeyson

Excellent post.

FoA are second class citizens in the Ford world in terms of supply, or they make bonehead decisions and don't take products they should.

And then they probably wonder why inferior cars outsell theirs?

[geehaa]

Originally Posted by TMC

Is that guy in the picture kissing the engine or sucking on the exhaust pipe?

It's a new dutch water pipe

[Wretched]

First drive review: Ford Focus EcoBoost

Usually an overseas sampling of a new model signals its arrival in Australia within months, but there is no official confirmation the new Focus Ecoboost Drive got behind the wheel of in Germany this week will get here.

The smart money says it will and let’s hope so, because the tiny three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol-turbo that powers it is a small wonder and worthy winner of the 2012 International Engine of Year Award.

While the primary point of the drive was to sample the engine, which will be first seen here in the new Ford EcoSport mini-SUV that goes on-sale in Australian in late 2013, it is also yet another example of the constant engine downsizing underway across the car industry.
Advertisement: Story continues below

The naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder entry-level engine in the Australian Focus range is no dud, but nor is it a standout and it can’t offer the combination of low-rev torque (or pulling power) and fuel economy that simply make the 1.0-litre EcoBoost a better engine.

Consider the figures; the 1.6 produces 92kW at 6300rpm, 159Nm at 4000rpm and averages 6.2L/100km. The Ecoboost 1.0 (or 999cc to be exact) produces 90kW at 6000rpm, but more importantly, 170Nm between 1400 and 4000rpm (with an extra 30Nm available under hard acceleration) and averages an exceptional 5.0L/100km.

Of course the fuel figures are claimed and in everyday driving both will likely use considerably more.

Still, the upshot is better performance while drinking less from a smaller, lighter package. Some very clever technology delivers this capability, including a tiny turbo that spins at up to 248,000rpm, dual variable cam timing and direct injection.

But come on, only three cylinders? That’s an engine more commonly associated with motorcycles. It’s also a configuration renowned for vibrations.

Rather than add a balancer shaft, which is the normal method of resolving this issue, Ford has unbalanced the flywheel and pulley to counter-act this issue, a solution that saves weight, money and fuel.

But enough of the theory, let’s press the starter button and see what happens.

After an initial momentary judder, not a whole lot. The triple has a very quiet and smooth idle which occasionally makes you wonder if the start-stop system has kicked in to automatically shut the engine down when the car is stationary. In our well-equipped Focus hatch it actually had sometimes.

Press the throttle and there’s obvious and solid response that backs up the torque claim. There’s also a distinctive beat that any Volvo five-cylinder owner would think familiar. It’s gravelly but not coarse.

On a varied and sometimes steep drive in the countryside around Cologne it became clear this engine did not lack for performance. It would happily potter through villages or pull cleanly out of uphill corners at 1000-1500rpm in fourth gear. And that’s not because it’s short-geared either, the top two gears overdrive in the six-speed manual gearbox.

But you couldn’t call it the sportiest engine going around either. It is quite slow progressing toward its redline, something a long stroke and significant flywheel weight contribute to. Still, the 11.3 secs 0-100km/h claim is respectable and believable.

Where the EcoBoost does improve the sportiness of the Focus is the dynamics.

Because it is 33kg lighter than the old 1.6 in the Focus, the steering and handling feel that tad surer and more responsive. And that means an already very enjoyable small car gets that much better.

So, whetted your appetite? Before there’s a bunch of indignant posts at the end of this story decrying Ford Australia’s unwillingness to embrace downsizing technology for Focus – a fair point as it could have taken the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol Ecoboost from launch of the current generation – there are positive indications we will see the 1.0 in Focus here, just don’t expect anyone to say it on the record.

For a start it’s only been on-sale in Europe for a few months, so even if it’s on the schedule it’s going to take some time to arrive. Secondly, an auto option is still being tested with this engine.

It will be a dual-clutch auto and should be on-sale in 2013. Only then would you think Australia would become a candidate given the take-up of automatics.

Eventually, it seems, not only the 1.0 but the 1.6 turbo will sell here in Focus. The EcoBoost family will also flow into the Fiesta mini and eventually into Australia.

Drive understands Fiesta will be equipped with both naturally-aspirated and turbo versions of the 1.0-litre, although what we get here remains unspecified.

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...628-213mz.html

[Nic85]

33kgs lighter than the NA 1.6L engine - that is significant.

[tqure]

well done to ford!

[Buntz]

Imagine what the engine could do to the Ford Ka?

[RASER]

Funny that, downsizing is serious business these days

Last year Fiat Group won the same world award with a twin cylinder donk, its also the cleanest and most economical petrol engine in the world.

How long before we see a single cylinder engine?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by RASER

How long before we see a single cylinder engine?

I've got one of those bad boys on my lawn mower, Briggs and Stratton, best in the business.