Ford Marks Milestone As 500,000th EcoBoost-Equipped Vehicle Rolls
off Line in Louisville
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
- Ford has sold 500,000-plus EcoBoost®-powered
vehicles globally since 2009 launch
- EcoBoost sales in North
America exceed 389,000 since launch
- Ford to expand lineup bringing award-winning EcoBoost 1.0-liter
three-cylinder engine to U.S.
Ford's highly successful, fuel-efficient EcoBoost®
engine technology hit a big milestone recently with its 500,000th
engine being produced just three years after its launch in
2009.
The 500,000th engine was fitted into a 2013 Ford Escape that
rolled off the line at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant.
The milestone is another step in the One Ford plan to be the
undisputed industry fuel economy leader, with more segment fuel
economy leaders than Toyota or any other manufacturer. By the
end of next month, customers will be able to choose eight
Ford-built vehicles that deliver 40 or more miles per gallon —
double the number available last year and more than any other
automaker. Ford also recently introduced the world's most
fuel efficient mid-size sedan with the Fusion hybrid, rated at 47
mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. The C-Max
Hybrid is also rated at a combined 47 mpg, which beats the Toyota
Prius v.
When EcoBoost launches on Fusion in South America early next year, the fuel-saving
engine technology will be available in every region Ford
serves.
In North America, EcoBoost
sales make Ford the leader in gasoline turbo direct-injected
engines in its core high-volume passenger vehicles, such as Escape,
Fusion and F-150.
Ford's global EcoBoost engine family includes the award-winning
1.0-liter three-cylinder, 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder
engines, and the powerful 3.5-liter V6.
EcoBoost was introduced in July
2009 with the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine in the 2010
Taurus SHO; 9,946 units were sold that year. 2010 saw EcoBoost
sales increase to 15,117, while last year Ford sold 127,683
EcoBoost-equipped vehicles in the U.S.
By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup
will be available with an EcoBoost engine. Today, Ford offers
EcoBoost engines in 11 North American nameplates, with four more
coming in 2013.
Engine control software the key
Ford's powertrains use hundreds of thousands of lines of computer
code and related parameters that are adjusted to optimize the
engine and transmission operation. It's these processes that
largely make up the EcoBoost patent contribution, and make Ford's
use of direct injection and turbocharging of its engines like no
other automaker in the world.
Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine
technology, which uses turbocharging, direct gasoline injection and
variable valve timing to boost fuel economy by about 20 percent
without sacrificing performance.
Escape and Fusion sales get turbocharged
The Ford Fusion and Ford Escape exemplify the trend at Ford of
putting the technology to work in the most mainstream, high-volume
vehicles. Fusion production will go from 0 percent
EcoBoost-equipped for model year 2012 to 60 percent turbocharged
EcoBoost for 2013. The new Escape features two EcoBoost engines, a
1.6-liter and 2.0-liter that will make up 90 percent of its
expected sales volume.
In Europe, EcoBoost is
beginning to build momentum as well. Ford plans to triple the
production of its vehicles equipped with EcoBoost engines to
approximately 480,000 in 2015, from 141,000 last year. More than
300,000 of that projected yearly output will be vehicles equipped
with the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost.
"With the sharp increase in EcoBoost production in the Fusion
and Escape – on top of the F-250 Super Duty Power
Stroke® diesel – Ford will have the best-selling
turbocharged sedan, SUV and pickup truck in North America," said Robert Fascetti, director, Large Gas &
Diesel Engine Engineering.
The limits for radical engine downsizing are undetermined. Ford
plans on continuing to offer EcoBoost engines globally, including
some innovative downsized engines. Ford has announced it will bring
its award-winning EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine to
North America next year.
After launching just this year, the Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost has
already achieved nearly 30 percent of European Focus sales.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based
in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures
or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about
172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive
brands include Ford and Lincoln.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company