(January 4, 2012) NEW DELHI, India — Ford is bringing its global EcoBoost powertrain technology to India for the first time in the form of its newest and smallest-ever EcoBoost engine. With only three cylinders and 1.0 liter of displacement, the latest EcoBoost engine will provide fuel-efficient power for the all-new Ford EcoSport.

The EcoSport and the EcoBoost engine made their global debut at the Auto Expo this week in New Delhi.
 


Despite its small capacity and proportions, the engine delivers power and performance that will rival a traditional 1.6-liter gas engine. It will have 118 horsepower and be mated to a five-speed manual transmission, giving the Ford EcoSport a footprint that is small enough for urban driving yet robust enough for a trip out of the city.
 
The new 1.0-liter is the latest addition to Ford’s global family of EcoBoost engines, which currently range in capacity from 1.6 to 3.5 liters. Downsized EcoBoost engines feature turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies and replace larger engines with no loss of performance and with lower fuel consumption.
 
Ultimately, this all-new engine will be made available in Ford models in China, Europe, North America and other regions.
 
“The capable EcoSport is a perfect showcase for the advanced small-displacement petrol engine, demonstrating the strength and breadth of Ford’s development and engineering capabilities,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering.
 
Developed at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K., this direct-injected EcoBoost engine features a new compact, high performance turbocharger design. The extremely fast response of the turbocharger and its ability to reach nearly 250,000 rpm results in virtually no turbo lag and peak torque of 125 pound-feet from 1,300-4,500 rpm.
 
The EcoSport is the second of eight new global models that Ford plans to launch in India, the company said in a statement, as it targets Asian and African markets in a push to increase annual global sales to 8 million vehicles by 2015.

Ford will invest $142 million in its 200,000 vehicles-a-year plant in Chennai, where the carmaker builds its Figo and Fiesta models, to buy equipment required to manufacture the EcoSport, said Michael Boneham, managing director of Ford India.

The new model will eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets around the world. With the road presence of a larger vehicle, it has a hardy character and strong stance yet is an SUV which is more friendly than aggressive.
 
The all-new EcoSport, about the size of a Ford Fiesta and considered too small for the North American markets, has a contemporary shape that conveys confidence while combining refinement and an adventurous spirit in an intelligent and modern package. It sports key SUV cues such as a confident stance, command driving position and signature spare wheel mounted on a swing-gate at the rear of the vehicle.
 
“EcoSport has a tough, robust attitude that says ‘I can play with the big boys’,” said J Mays, group vice president, Design, and chief creative officer, Ford. “But it also makes you want to play. It’s friendly and sociable, and this unique mix is its secret formula. That’s why it is so appealing. EcoSport is perfect for crowded urban streets and it inspires you to seek adventure away from the city too.”

More EcoSport details will be released in the coming months.