Ford’s EcoBoost engine range was revolutionary with the combination of turbocharging and direct-injection making the EcoBoost system both powerful and eco-friendly.
In the words of Carl Newman, Vehicle Quality Manager, Ford Motor Company “The Ford 1.0L EcoBoost development in 2010 was a critical program for Ford at the time and only the best engineers were selected to work on it.” Step forward Limerick man and Automotive Engineering Consultant, Mike Keane who was chosen as the Integration Engineer on the design of the revolutionary EcoBoost engine.
When Mike Keane and his engineering colleagues were assembled by Ford at the Dagenham Design Centre, UK in 2009 they were tasked with developing a small 1.0L engine with class-leading specific power output, emission reductions and fuel efficiency.
The original engine design they produced (codenamed Fox) had a 999cc capacity and offered a 20% boost in fuel economy and reductions in CO2 emissions by 12% compared to a regular downsized four-cylinder engine. Mike and the design team developed the gasoline engine in turbocharged and naturally aspirated variants; both of which used direct fuel injection; with power options ranging from 65hp to 125hp.
In the Integration role, Mike had to balance the requirement of assembling the different engine options into a multitude of vehicle platforms for assembly around the world. The integration role requires all of the sub-systems such as air induction, cooling and exhaust systems to be able to be fitted and work together whilst achieving performance targets. For the engine to be achieve its performance and efficiency targets, it needed to reject a significant amount of heat. One of the challenges was to manage that heat under the bonnet (hood).
The party trick of the Ford EcoBoost engine incorporates cylinder deactivation technology, reducing running costs by automatically shutting down one cylinder when not needed, such as during coasting or light engine demand. This technology can engage or disengage a cylinder in just 14 milliseconds, 20 times faster than a blink of an eye, without compromising performance or refinement.
Powering Ford’s Fiesta and Focus cars the 1.0L EcoBoost won ten International Engine of the Year awards including overall winner a record three times and “Best Newcomer”.
Our thanks to Mike Keane – Hibra Design
Information sources:
www.hibra.ie
Video & Photo Credit:
1980zzy92
19Bozzy92
Ford Europe
ItalianSuperCarVideo.com
Matty2727
