Automaker plans to triple production in 2012.
The Ford Taurus gains a 2.0-liter EcoBoost for 2012.
The Ford Motor Company used the backdrop of the 2012 Washington Auto Show to announce that it will be boosting its EcoBoost engine product three-fold this year in bid to keep up with availability and demand. EcoBoost will now be available in 11 vehicles this year, up from 7 last year.
Advanced Technology
EcoBoost is technology that incorporates direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to deliver engines that are more powerful, but smaller. Ford’s proprietary technology has been in use since 2009 and has recently found success in its F-150 pickup trucks. Those trucks are powered by two V-6 or two V-8 gasoline engines, with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 making 365 horsepower while still delivering good fuel economy.
Ford had already announced that 2012 versions of the Ford Edge and Ford Explorer, crossover sport utility vehicles this writer drove last August. Ford reports that it sold 127,683 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles in the United States last year and will be adding the technology to its compact Focus, midsize Fusion and even in its large Taurus sedan this year.
Class-Leading Efficiency
“EcoBoost expansion and availability in high-volume nameplates such as the all-new Ford Escape and Fusion will take this affordable, fuel-saving technology to the heart of the market,” said Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering Sue Cischke. “Ford is committed to delivering class-leading fuel economy for our customers, which benefits the environment and helps the U.S. move toward greater energy independence.”
Placing a four cylinder engine in a large car sounds like utter madness. However, Ford like some other manufacturers has put to death the time-honored saying that “there is no replacement for displacement.” The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four that will be optional in the Taurus will make 231 horsepower. That compares to the 263 horsepower the standard 3.5-liter V-6 makes. The Taurus SHO, however, will continue to be powered by a 365-horsepower EcoBoost V-6 engine.
Police Interceptor
Besides the Fusion, Focus and Taurus, Ford says that it will place its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine in its Police Interceptor model. That engine will represent the first-ever turbocharger used in a police pursuit model.
Until 2011, Ford hadn’t offered a six cylinder engine since retiring its 4.9-liter inline-six a few years earlier. A normally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 was introduced along with an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Together, those engines accounted for 56 percent of Ford’s F-150 sales, demonstrating that customers will buy a fuel efficient truck, especially one that has enough horsepower and torque to pull a big load. Equipped with EcoBoost the F-150 can pull up to 11,300 pounds.
Ford says that the updated Taurus will offer improved driving dynamics. That will be in evidence through it hard-mounted steering rack with a faster ratio, springs and dampers, which have been optimized to offer improved sedan handling, combined with improved ride quality. Torque vectoring control, is an important safety enhancement, a nearly seamless method of increasing braking force on the inside front wheel while cornering. On the exterior, the 2013 Ford Taurus was benchmarked against the Audi A6 for fit and finish. The look is similar except for larger wheels and tires and a more robust hood, but the new Taurus makes use of auto high beam technologies that utilizes a sensor to switch headlamps to high beam when no oncoming traffic is detected. Rain-sensing wipers also detect moisture penetration and pick up or reduce speed based on the amount of rain or snow that is falling.