Prepare for an onslaught of three-cylinder cars

[doh]

Prepare for an onslaught of three-cylinder cars
CTV News
January 27, 2013
by Michael Vaughan

Are you ready for a Ford with a tiny, one-litre, three-cylinder engine? There’s a Ford Fiesta soon to go on sale with an engine so small it will fit in a large suitcase. I’ve driven the car and it’s brilliant.

Alan Mulally, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company, is the man who brought Ford back to profitability after years of billion-dollar losses. Under Mulally, Ford was the only major American car manufacturer to avoid government-sponsored bankruptcy.

In 2008 he said: “Everybody says you can't make money off small cars. Well, you'd better damn well figure out how to make money because that's where the world is going.”

Tough fuel economy regulations are forcing the issue for sure, but people are also finding out for themselves that small cars are comfortable and safe these days. And who doesn’t want to pay less for fuel?

When I spoke with Mulally at the Detroit Auto Show I mentioned that I was impressed with their three-cylinder engine. He was even more enthusiastic. “What an engine! What efficiency! I’m so in love with it. There’s a picture of me kissing it at the official launch. Well, a lot of people were wondering about that,” he said.

The 1-litre, 3 cylinder is the latest in the line of engines Ford calls EcoBoost. Mulally explained, “EcoBoost is going across all our product lines. Direct fuel injection plus turbocharging gives a 30 per cent improvement in fuel economy and a 20 per cent reduction in CO2. That’s technology that is going to be available to everyone.”

You get improvements in that order when you downsize from a V8 to a V6 or even to a four cylinder. The point is that now you can get more horsepower from a smaller, more efficient engine. Soon you’ll have the option of going all the way down to a three-banger.

Full article at link.

[All Star]

50 mpg highway? We'll see...nothing has yet to even beat the Cruze's 42 mpg without hybrid technology.

[mjd1001]

I read a couple other articles from name "publications" estimating it with an epa rating of about 30 city, 43 highway. If it is higher than that, great, it will force other automakers to strive to reach that bar that ford is setting.

[MCGARRETT]

Thats the thing, it all sounds really good, but if it doesn't produce significant FE gains, then whats the point?

[HermPerez]

I doubt you will get any economy if you dip into the boost portion of the hp curve, so again it depends on the driver.. the EPA test drivers usually have a light foot, except in the hwy merging test.

"To keep the engine noise down, they ran the bottom of the timing chain through an oil bath. "

Timing BELT, but its a long life one, designed to last the life of the car then ensuring you get a new engine

[ponchoman49]

They better not get too carried away with these undersized lightweight engines. A bit of weight over the front wheels is what gives FWD car's the traction benefit over RWD versions in snow and sleet etc.

[jzchev28]

The output and economy sound impressive, we'll see what it ends up being... $1000 extra to get the 3 over the 4? I dunno about that part of it.

[demonspeed]

Um... Geo Metro, anyone?

[impala02]

Sounds almost too good to be true.

The output and economy sound impressive, we'll see what it ends up being... $1000 extra to get the 3 over the 4? I dunno about that part of it.

Less is more!

[jzchev28]

Sounds almost too good to be true.


Less is more!

Yup, you've got to pay to save!

[70AARCUDA]

...don't TELL us the improvements, SHOW us! [paraphrasing of Cuba Gooding Jr quote "...show me the money..."]

[44 mpg by 2010]

50 mpg highway? We'll see...nothing has yet to even beat the Cruze's 42 mpg without hybrid technology.

Sorry to tell you, our '95 Civic has been running 45~46 mpg(US) highway at 65 mph with A/C on (summer) and standard tire inflation.

Does that count?

[F14CRAZY]

Hopefully they figured the mounts and NVH out. My buddy's Chevy Sprint with the 3 cyl was quite diesel-like, even though it shook in the engine compartment as if the mounts were made of preserved cheese

[Canuck]

Sorry to tell you, our '95 Civic has been running 45~46 mpg(US) highway at 65 mph with A/C on (summer) and standard tire inflation.

Does that count?

The Geo Metro Chevy Sprint was even better in terms of fuel economy. However, I would rather be in a crash with the Cruze than either the Civic or Sprint.

[Neanderthal]

"Past is prologue." --Wm Shakespeare