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Ford Racing to Offer EcoBoost Chip Tuning Without Voiding the Warranty of the Vehicle

Factory tuning programs are not that rare in this day and age, especially when you’re referring to premium or luxury automakers. Prime examples come in the form of BMW M Performance Parts, Mercedes-Benz AMG Sport models and so on and so forth. But this treatment still has a long way to come until volume automobile manufacturers will also embrace it.
1.5 EcoBoost engine of a 2015 Ford Mondeo 1 photo
Photo: Dragos Savu
Fortunately for fans of nameplates dominated by a Blue Oval logo up front, Ford will be offering chip tuning for its EcoBoost engines, but only for high-performance nameplates, ranging from the 1.6-liter Fiesta ST pocket rocket all the way to the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost and the upcoming 2016 Ford Focus RS. Ford Racing is developing the tuning pack.

An official statement from Ford Racing reads that the performance-oriented division is currently in the early stages of developing a few custom engine calibrations for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost of the ‘Stang, with a product expected by the end of 2015. Ford is adamant that the upcoming device will cost from a modest $595 and will be designed to be easily plugged into the car’s diagnostic link connector port.

Ford Focus ST owners, for example, can expect up to a 90 lb-ft (122 Nm) increase in torque, all while maintaining the factory limited warranty. That makes us wonder if the 2.3-liter EcoBoost can be hiked by at least 100 lb-ft (135 Nm). It would be nice if it were to be possible considering the gizmo only modifies parameters like the throttle response, idle speed, wastegate control, fuel curves and spark timing.

Back in the golden years of car ownership, a ‘Stang driver could replace the camshaft or fit a set of new, bigger carburetors in order to improve horsepower figures, even though he would sacrifice things like a smooth idle. With engine performance now accomplished with hand-held programmers, it’s funny when you think about how geeky both carmakers and performance vehicle owners have become.

Nevertheless, this is 2014 and it’s redundant to get teary over the past. Move on with it, Ford! ASAP!
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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