EcoBoost engines are close to reaching a decade in production, but Ford still thinks diesel can be useful and has developed a new family of units called EcoBlue.
This engine probably couldn't have come at a worse time, as the Dieselgate scandal is leading us down a path without any internal combustion. But if you like Fords and you want a 2-liter lump under your hood, it's all good.
The first big job of the EcoBlue was to replace the 2.2-liter Duratorq, which was used even by Jaguars and Land Rovers. It also plays a role in commercial vehicles, such as the Transit series. However, there's a 1.5-liter EcoBlue in the updated EcoSport crossover as well.
It's designed to comply with Euro 6 regulation, which requires 55% less NOx out the pipe than Euro 5. Carbon Dioxide is also down by 10%.
There are benefits to efficiency as well. The official video released today gives us a graphic demonstration of how the offset crankshaft and modular camshafts work. Together with the belt-in-oil system, these changes reduce fuel consumption by 13%.
The turbocharger has its wheel made from a material called Inconel, used in the aerospace industry. The integrated inlet manifold uses a mirror-image porting design for more precise airflow into the cylinders. And aren't the swirls cool to look at?
Last year, Ford announced that the 2.0 EcoBlue engine would be available in three stages of tune : 105, 130 and 170 HP. The four-cylinder 2.0-liter diesel engine delivers 20 percent more torque at 1,250 rpm compared to the 2.2 TDCi. Today we can talk about 200 or 240 HP versions found in passenger cars.
Around mid-2018, the smallest Ford crossover will get a 1.5 EcoBlue four-cylinder with up to 125 HP and optimized CO2 emissions. Eventually, the TDCi units will all be replaced. Even the next-gen Focus ST and Kuga will have one.
“Ford’s EcoBoost created a new standard for petrol engines – smaller, more efficient with surprising performance. That same obsession to innovate for the customer is behind our new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine range,” said Jim Farley, chairman, and CEO of Ford of Europe. “This new engine lifts fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 by over 10 percent in Transit, part of Europe’s best-selling commercial vehicle line-up, lowering costs for our customers.”
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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