Ford’s 3-cylinder, 1 liter Ecoboost turbo engine has proven itself in road cars, racecars, and in the fast-pass lane at airport security. As such, it should come as no surprise that the blue-oval has added a second shift to the German engine plant that produces the thing. The new shift will allow the factory to churn out more than 1000 engines daily, double the 500 it can produce right now.
According to the Detroit News, the production increase is part of a plan aimed at having 300,000 European vehicles equipped with the 3-cylinder EcoBoost by 2015. The engine is currently offered in 7 models overseas, and is expected to show up in some of Ford’s American offerings in 2014, with a possible turn in the next-generation Smart cars from Daimler/Mercedes-Benz coming in the 2015 model year.
“I think it’s a sign of more to come for those engines both in Europe and in the US,” explains Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global powertrain at LMC Automotive. “There is already consumer acceptance because the engines have pretty much the same power as an entry-level four-cylinder a few years ago.”
I tend to think he means “consumer acceptance” in the “customers these days have no idea what’s under the hood, anyway” sense, but that’s besides the point. Expect to see the little 3-cylinder Ecoboost in more low-emissions, high-MPG Ford and Smart models in the coming years – and don’t be surprised if they snatch some hybrid sales along the way!
Sources | Photos: Detroit News, Motorpasion.
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