When
we've talked about Ford's
EcoBoost turbocharged engines in the past, it pertained to
four-cylinder and six cylinder engines. Ford claims that its
four-cylinder EcoBoost engines give the power and performance of a
six-cylinder, while the six-cylinder EcoBoost engines give the power
and performance of an eight-cylinder engine.
So
we're assuming that Ford's new three-cylinder EcoBoost will give the
performance of a small four-cylinder engine. The new 1.0-liter
three-cylinder engine is expected to have CO2 emissions of less than
100g/km -- it is also said to generate around 120 hp.
According
to Ford, the EcoBoost three-cylinder engine would be a prime
candidate to replace the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder
engine in the upcoming
Fiesta. The 1.6-liter engine in the Fiesta generates 119 hp and
delivers fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
The
numbers generated by the 1.6-liter engine are already quite good
compared to its competition, but with the added cost and complexity
of using turbocharging technology, we'd hope that the EcoBoost
three-cylinder would be able to net at least another 5+ mpg in both
the city and on highway.
“Ford
engineers have experimented with the idea of a three-cylinder engine
for the past twenty years, but felt the power that could be achieved
from such an engine configuration couldn't be made substantial enough
to offer a practical solution for smaller vehicles,” said Ford in a
press release. “That's
all changed with the advanced yet affordable Ford EcoBoost
technology.”
While
the EcoBoost three-cylinder engine is the main news here, the engine
is featured with a futuristic design study from Ford: the Start
Concept. The Start Concept is merely a design exercise and has no
chance of seeing future production.
"As
a team, we engaged in a philosophical discussion that yielded a
common vision. To create a beautiful object that spoke to us
emotionally as well as intellectually", explains Freeman Thomas,
design director. "The exterior design is simple with purposeful
proportions and refined surface language normally found on vehicles
in premium segments."
The
exterior of the Start Concept is definitely interesting, but
hopefully this design language won't filter down to future Ford
vehicles.
