FORD CANADA - The new 2014 Ford Fiesta on sale next year will be the first vehicle available in North America with Ford's award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. Though the car has not yet undergone EPA testing, it is expected to be certified as the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car available in the United States.
The smallest engine available in its class, Ford's patented 1.0-litre EcoBoost won't be short on power, torque or refinement. The smooth, quiet-running engine is projected to produce 123 horsepower and peak torque of 148 lb.-ft.
"Customers are going to be pleasantly surprised at what the smallest member of the EcoBoost engine family can do," said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of Powertrain Engineering. "Most customers are not going to be thinking about the number of cylinders under the hood when they drive the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost Fiesta. They'll notice an extremely smooth and quiet idle, terrific acceleration accompanied by a sporty sound at high revs, and – most importantly – outstanding fuel economy."
The newest member of Ford's global EcoBoost engine family, the 1.0-litre will join the most fuel-efficient lineup in Ford Motor Company's history. Next year, Ford will offer eight vehicles rated at 40 mpg or higher – double today's total, and more than any other automaker. Ford tops Toyota in fuel economy in every segment in which both companies compete.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in the Fiesta expands Ford's power of choice strategy by giving customers interested in a very fuel-efficient car a new alternative.
Pricing is not yet set, but as with the other EcoBoost engines available across Ford's car, truck, SUV and crossover lineup, the 1.0-litre will be a very affordable option.
"Many customers would like the fuel efficiency of a modern diesel or a hybrid, but can't stretch their budgets to cover the cost premium," said Bakaj. "That's where the EcoBoost Fiesta fits in. It will offer a highly fuel-efficient alternative at a lower cost."
Newest EcoBoost engine – a game changer
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is unlike any engine in Ford's 109-year history. Not only is it the company's first three-cylinder engine, but it debuts many new technologies never before seen in a Ford vehicle. These include an offset crankshaft; variable oil pump; split cooling system; external-balancing, super-small, responsive turbocharger; and a timing belt immersed in engine oil.
The result of the 1.0-litre's advanced design is a quiet, smooth-running engine that develops roughly the same output as a 1.6-litre four-cylinder. But with about 25 per cent fewer moving parts, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost is able to deliver higher fuel economy and lower emissions.
"We really focused on reducing the amount of energy the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine uses by paying very close attention to such things as bearing sizes, piston ring tension and thermal management," said Bob Fascetti, director, Ford Global Engine Engineering. "For instance, we decided not to use a balance shaft in the engine because it adds weight and increases friction or parasitic losses. So we balance the engine externally with the crankshaft pulley and flywheel."
Super-successful debut
Since being launched in the spring in the Ford Focus in Europe, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has established itself as one of the most noteworthy engines of 2012. In April it was voted International Engine of the Year by a jury of 76 journalists from 36 countries. In June it set 16 land speed records at a racetrack in France. In October, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost was given a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine, and this month the engine won the prestigious DeWar Trophy in Great Britain.
In Europe, where the diesel engine is king, the 1.0-liter engine now accounts for about 30 percent of sales in the Focus. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is just now launching in the B-MAX and C-MAX, and will also be offered in the all-new Mondeo.
The 1.0-litre engine is the fourth member of Ford's global EcoBoost engine family. Since launch in 2009, Ford has sold more than 520,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles globally and expects volume to grow to 1.6 million in 2013.
Ford has more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology, and the number of patents continues to grow.
EcoBoost combines turbocharging with gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing to allow a smaller engine to replace a larger one with no loss of performance and at least a 20 per cent gain in fuel economy.
"We're extremely proud of the amazing success the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has achieved in such a short time," said Bakaj. "We think it will do extremely well here in the United States. With the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine in the F-150, we learned customers will embrace smaller engines as long as you don't ask them to sacrifice performance. The 1.0-litre will deliver three things that matter most to our customers – value for the dollar, terrific fuel economy and great performance."