One of the most significant engines of our day is ready to go into production, a powerful motor from the Ford Motor Company which will find its way into a variety of cars, trucks, vans and crossover vehicles in the years ahead. Called EcoBoost, these twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engines promise to deliver more power while retaining top fuel economy.

At the center of the technology is a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost which Ford will place in the Lincoln MKT crossover this summer. Also available in the Lincoln MKS, Ford Flex and Ford Taurus SHO, the engine will provide power equal to a V8 while retaining the fuel economy of a V6.

In order to make sure that the engine delivers quality performance, a team of Ford engineers has been subjecting it to an extensive assemblage of tests as part of the company's engine 'boot camp.'

'EcoBoost was engineered with a relentless, disciplined focus on quality that required a zero-defect mindset from engineers and our supplier partners,' said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. 'The finished product will represent the best combination of production-ready engine technologies of today, poised and ready to deliver the performance, fuel efficiency and value that customers expect.'

The testing involved three methods: using computer aided engineering models (CAE), in the lab with dynamometers and on roads in the real world. Between testing on the dyno and in the field, EcoBoost engines have racked up the equivalent of more than one million miles of customer driving.

'EcoBoost is undergoing extensive durability and reliability tests,' said Brett Hinds, Ford's Advanced Engine Design and Development manager. 'The performance we are seeing shows that the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine is a high-quality, top-performing engine that meets or exceeds all our reliability targets. Our testing is far harsher than could be achieved in the real world. We test at peak power for hundreds of hours to ensure we can reach our durability and reliability goals.'

Ford says that EcoBoost technology will be made available in ninety percent of the models it sells by 2013. Besides outfitting larger vehicles such as the Taurus, Ford is also developing an EcoBoost I4 engine which they plan to make available for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, its midsize sedans.

Author: Matthew C. Keegan

About the author:
Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Ford Mustang tail lights and Ford Mustang headlights.

Article source: Free Cars Articles.