Suppliers provide key parts for Ford 3-banger
 | Ernst: Ford's chief program engineer |
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Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have established toeholds in the United States. Now get ready for a new fuel-economy contender, the three-cylinder gasoline engine.
Ford Motor Co.'s 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder has been introduced in Europe.
In the European Focus, the engine is available in two versions: a 98-hp unit that generates 59 mpg on the European drive cycle, plus a 123-hp version that delivers 57 mpg. The European test combines city and highway driving.
This year, Ford of Europe will roll out the three-cylinder engine in the B-Max and C-Max small cars, and next year the engine will debut in North America in an as-yet unnamed Ford model.
Roland Ernst, Ford's chief program engineer for the engine, noted some of the suppliers that helped produce it:
• Eisenwerk Bruehl GmbH of Germany produces the cast-iron engine block, which provides more rigidity and strength than an aluminum block. During cold starts, a split cooling system immediately sends fluid to the cylinder head only, while coolant is temporarily shut off in the block.
• Continental AG of Germany supplies the turbocharger, a low-inertia unit that spools up quickly to deliver power at low rpm. The turbo was designed to withstand very high exhaust temperatures, which can reach up to 1,886 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany manufactures the direct-injection system, which improves fuel economy and makes possible the use of a stop-start system.
• Dayco Products of suburban Detroit makes the engine's drive belts, which are bathed in oil to reduce noise and improve efficiency.
• SHW AG of Germany supplies the mechanical oil pump, which varies oil pressure according to the engine load. That permits lower oil pressure at low speeds, which improves fuel economy.
You can reach David Sedgwick at dsedgwick@crain.com.
