The smallest gasoline burning engine developed by Ford Motor Company has begun production. The 1.0 liter three cylinder EcoBoost will first find work in the European-spec Focus early 2012. It may be small, but Ford’s latest block is packed with new-age technology such as direct injection and turbocharging to produce 123 horsepower. To date, little EcoBoost is the most horsepower dense engine that the company has made. It’s also excessively efficient with ultra low emissions. With a ‘smog’ rating of 114g/km, the 1.0 liter Focus will have an unmatched carbon foot print compared to the rest of its segment.
“The new 1.0-litre EcoBoost – and our entire family of EcoBoost engines – represent technology breakthroughs that deliver power, fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions through turbocharging and direct injection,” said Alan Mulally, Ford President and CEO. To break ground on the new engine, Mulally was present and launched the block’s production himself. At first, production will take place at the Cologne, Germany assembly plant but early 2012, the Craiova, Romania plant will also take on EcoBoost responsiblity. Annual European production is set to hover around 700,000 blocks and when the 1.0 liter becomes worldwide, global production should reach 1.3 engines. The Ford C-Max and upcoming B-Max are set to be the next recipients of the little EcoBoost. Word is still out on which U.S.-spec Ford will be the first to get the engine, but the Fiesta and or Focus are prime candidates.
Source: Ford
