EcoBoost V8 powered Ford Shelby Mustang in the works?

Here's a rumor that actually makes a lot of sense - an EcoBoost V8 powered Mustang. We've already got 4 and 6 cylinder EcoBoost engines in the works, why now an 8 cylinder?

And the rumor is that the boosted V8 would be under the hood of a Mustang, a Shelby Mustang at that. In other works, a direct injected, twin turbo, V8 powered Mustang. Let the enthusiasts and aftermarkets of the world commence drooling now.

While there is nothing wrong with the current GT500's supercharged 5.4L, it does get pretty bad gas mileage. And with the ever looming threat of a ZR1 Camaro on the horizon, it makes sense that Ford would be ready to win the horsepower war at the top.

SEMA 2009: Ford shows off '34 with an EcoBoost V6

Hot rods with modern engines is nothing new, but this has got to be the first one that sports an EcoBoost V6. Detroit Street Rods managed to squeeze the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 under the hood of this 1934 Ford, and it packs a mighty punch with 400hp 400 lb-ft of torque.

Ford gets extra credit for incorporating this modern engine with a retro hot rod in a retro looking engine bay. The dual Honeywell turbochargers have been moved to the front of the motor among various aluminum tubing routing air and exhaust gases, and a single, large exhaust cone exits above the front fender on each side of the car.

PRESS RELEASE

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 28, 2009 – Hot rodders have always lived by the motto "There's no replacement for displacement," indicating that the more cubic inches an engine has, the better the resulting performance. Ford Powertrain and Detroit Street Rods are out to prove that thinking out-of-date with their EcoBoost™-powered '34 Ford hot rod.

To be introduced at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the Ford hot rod will be the "first" rear-wheel-drive application of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 delivering an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque – power numbers that easily rival a typical hot rod's 302-cubic-inch V-8 or even a modern-day V-8 of similar size.

"EcoBoost technology shows that there is a viable replacement for displacement," said Dan Kapp, director of Ford Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering, who will be part of a SEMA "Driving Green" technology briefing panel discussion during the show. "As consumers' demand for fuel efficiency continues to grow, and our commitment to delivering best-in-class fuel economy remains steadfast, it's important to show that performance does not need to suffer as a result."

"Hot rod builds provide blank canvases for SEMA member companies and SEMA is uniquely positioned to demonstrate that horsepower and green power can coexist without sacrificing performance or the cool factor," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of Vehicle Technology. "This '34 EcoBoost hot rod is a fantastic example of modern green technology being applied in a manner that any performance enthusiast would love."

The EcoBoost family of engines uses turbocharging and direct injection technology to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.

"The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power," said Kapp. "We're able to decrease the size of the available engine – such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 – yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque to that larger engine."

The first EcoBoost engine, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, launched this year on the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and Flex and on the Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT. The EcoBoost V-6 produces 355 horsepower (365 hp in the Taurus SHO) and 350 ft.-lb. of torque.

Ford has recently announced the first four-cylinder EcoBoost engines, launching in global applications beginning next year. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 first arrives in Europe, followed by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 launching on products in both Europe and North America.

Going forward, Ford will shift its powertrain strategy to be built around EcoBoost technology. Under the new system:

* A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would replace naturally aspirated V-8 engines
* A 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated V-6 engines
* A 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated large I-4 engines

Following the launches of the new EcoBoost I-4s will be the extension of the 3.5-liter V-6 to the first rear-wheel-drive configuration in the F-150 pickup truck late next year. Another global application, the Ford Falcon sedan in Australia, will receive a rear-wheel-drive version of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 in 2011.

The fun-to-drive nature of EcoBoost engines is leading Ford to introduce these fuel-saving powertrains in large volumes virtually across its lineup. For example, by 2013 more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology, and nearly 80 percent of Ford's global nameplates will have an available EcoBoost option.

By 2013, global EcoBoost volume throughout the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle family is expected to be 1.3 million units, with up to 750,000 sales coming from North America alone.

'34 Ford EcoBoost hot rod project
Detroit Street Rods' latest build is a 1934 Ford and is a joint venture with Ford Motor Company and Experi-metal. In this '34 application, the EcoBoost engine is configured for rear-wheel drive and is coupled with a Tremec five-speed manual transmission.

"The decision to use the EcoBoost engine for our powertrain on this project was an easy one in that it gave us the opportunity to combine the iconic '34 Ford sculpted body lines with the advanced technology of the EcoBoost powerplant," stated Robert Smith, president of Detroit Street Rods. "The result is the perfect hot rod marriage of advanced technology for power and legendary automobile design."

While the stock Honeywell turbochargers that drive the EcoBoost engine are used, they were repackaged to fit the engine bay of this all-steel replica body. The engine configuration and turbocharger packaging was dynamometer tested by Ford Powertrain for proper calibration of the engine electronic control module (ECM). In addition to the all-stock engine, other components including the fuel pump, ECM, fuel pump module, fuel pump processor and drive-by-wire throttle were utilized in their original production configuration.

The body is from Steve's Auto Restoration and is the recently released 1934 Ford 3-Window coupe. The complete body and fenders are from brand-new tooling, and are designed, stamped and manufactured by Experi-metal in Sterling Heights, Mich. This "replica" '34 features all-steel construction, full fenders, running boards, electronic power windows, air conditioning and custom bumpers.

The engine was repackaged and fitted with an engine plate adapter to mate with an aluminum flywheel, performance clutch and a Tremec TKO five-speed transmission. The turbochargers were repositioned to the front of the cylinder heads and custom aluminum tubing was used to route the air from the custom air cleaner through the air-to-air intercooler. The exhaust gases are routed from the cylinder heads through coated headers, through the stock wastegates, and pass through large custom exhaust cones located outside the engine bay and just above the front fenders.

Ford's EcoBoost shines at the dragstrip

Car and Driver, among others, recently got to try out the future of Ford's powertrains at the dragstrip. The Ford Flex EcoBoost and Lincoln MKS EcoBoost got out to make some passes at Milan Raceway in Milan, Michigan a few weeks back.

Both the MKS and the Flex sported a 3.5 liter powertrain rated at 355hp, thanks to some turbocharged power. It's so surprise then that neither proved to be a slouch, with the MKS running the quarter in 13.9 seconds at 104 mph and the Flex netting a time of 14.5 seconds at 98 mph.

Their performance is certainly a great indicator of future potential, as neither car is your typical drag racer. Just wait until these things get dropped in a Mustang, and the aftermarket gets ahold of them and starts cranking out aftermarket parts.

2010 Ford Taurus SHO revealed!

Months of speculation and rumors have proved to be true, as the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO has been revealed at the Chicago Auto Show. Ford has decided to revive the moniker once affixed to the sports sedan that wowed the automotive world way back in 1989. The original SHO survived three generations of Taurus models, was sold for 10 years straight and attracted over 100,000 buyers. But just as the Taurus itself devolved from America's best-selling car to a rental fleet afterthought, the original SHO ended production in 1999 having gone from a budget sports sedan to an overpriced, underpowered executive car.

Ford is working on rehabilitating the Taurus name with a significant redesign that debuted last month at the Detroit Auto Show. Using that sedan as its canvas, the new SHO may also restore respect to a name that has fallen too far. A 365-hp twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, all-wheel-drive and plenty of upgrades is a good place to start.

Ford is currently in the process of stuffing its new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 into any that fits. The Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and upcoming Lincoln MKT are all getting it. Being based on the same platform as the MKS, it was a no-brainer that the redesigned 2010 Taurus would also get the twin-turbo, direct-inject engine that Ford promises will deliver V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

That model designation originally meant Super High Output, which definitely applies to the modern version. Whereas the original SHO used a high-revving 220-hp 3.0L V6 (later a 235-hp 3.4L V8) developed and built by Yamaha, the new SHO's advanced engine turns a relatively small 3.5 liters of displacement displacement and a lot of pressure into 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lb of torque at 3,500 rpm. That makes this version of Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost V6 the most powerful one available with 10 more horsepower than its other applications.

Unlike the original SHO, however, this new one is about much more than just the engine. Backing up the potent powerplant is a torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system mated to Ford's 6F55 six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. The tranny is augmented by a manual mode that can be controlled either by the console shifter or paddle shifters, and will also rev match downshifts and hold gears even when the tach is bouncing off the engine's redline.

The SHO further separates itself from lesser Taurus models with a beefed up suspension that includes SHO-specific shock absorbers, springs, stabilizer bars and strut mount bushings. Furthermore, the new SHO also features Ford's new SR1 suspension setup with MacPherson front struts and a multi-link set up in the rear. The SHO's suspension should be noticeably sharper than that of the standard Taurus and its other platform-mate, the Lincoln MKS. There will even be an optional Performance Package that includes better brake pads, recalibrated steering, a "Sport Mode" for the stability control system and shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio. Nineteen-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle rubber will be standard, while 20-inchers wearing Michelin high-performance summer tires will also be available.

The grille features a dark grey finish that matches the wheels and new parking lamp bevels are SHO-only items. There's also a decklid spoiler out back along with a simple SHO/EcoBoost badge on the trunk lid. One of the exclusive colors available will also be Atlantis Green, which Ford says was inspired by the Deep Emerald Green seen on many second-generation (1992-1995) SHO models.

The seats are leather-trimmed and two-tone with Mike Suede inserts, which Ford proudly points out are produced from post-consumer yarns made of plastic soda bottles. The dash and door panels also feature acres of aluminum trim, and SHO branding appears on the floor mats and passenger-side dash panel.

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO will start at $37,995 when it goes on sale this summer. That's a lofty price tag for a Taurus, but not for a 365-hp, all-wheel-drive sedan stuffed with this much tech and luxury. The original SHO stickered for just under $20,000 in late 1988, which was also considered a big premium to pay for Ford's family sedan.

Spied: Ford Taurus ST

While the current Ford Taurus is nothing more than a rebadged Ford 500, the next generation will be an all new car based on nothing more than the much beloved Ford Mondeo. Ford has already announced that a version of it's upcoming Ecoboost engines will be available in the Taurus.



Now the word is that the Ecoboost version will be a 350hp twin turbo V6 to be badged as the ST, and it's got us thinking SHO all over again. The news is music to the ears of owned and enjoyed Ford's much beloved SHO.



The spy pictures taken by the folks at World Car Fans are quite a scoop. It looks like Ford designers opened up the lower air dam to help feed the force-fed powerplant. The next generation of the corporate grille is partly visible, too, and it appears as though the bars got thinner and less cartoonish in execution.



Headlights visible through the heavy camo appear to be of the LED kind, and they look far more modern than the current Taurus' 1990's design. Massive, MKS-like 20-inch rims help show this undercover Taurus has sporty pretenses, as does the duel exhaust out back. Also evident from the spy pics is the fact that the bulbous roofline from the current Taurus has been replaced with something far more shapely and contemporary.



We still have several months before we will be able to see the car without camo, but it's good news that there is already a performance counterpart in the works.



Source: World Car Fans

Ford to charge $700 for EcoBoost option, F-150 to have 340+ horsepower

Image by Ford Motor Company via Flickr Ford will reportedly charge $700 for it's upcoming EcoBoost engines as an option on many of it's future vehicles when the engine goes on sale in 2009. The first of the EcoBoost engines will be a 3.5L V-6 that will first find its way into the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and the 2010 Ford Flex crossover.



A version of the engine is on it's way for the 2010 F-150 that will reportedly develop in excess of 340 hp and at least as much torque, easily besting the present the F150's 300 hp 5.4L V-8.



Ford is heavily promoting it's EcoBoost engines, which are turbocharged four and six cylinder engines, as an alternative to V8 power with much better gas mileage. Ford will use the increased efficiency of the smaller engines as an explanation of the increased premium in price.



Six cylinder EcoBoost engines will feature direct injection and twin turbos. The smaller four cylinders will use single turbos. The EcoBoost has produced a lot of positive PR for Ford, but we'll have to reserve judgement until they finally hit the road next year.



Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their line of Ford F150 Truck Parts.

Ford to delay the release of Fusion GT and F-100

In some more discouraging news to enthusiasts, Ford has recently decided to focus (no pun intended) all of it's efforts towards it's line of Ecoboost engines. This means a delay in two of the expected recipients of said turbocharged engines, the Fusion GT and F-100.

The F-100 is a downsized version of the company's F-150 pickup, which has been rumored to replace the Ranger. It was scheduled to debut in three years. As part of its restructuring efforts, Ford is looking to double its hybrid and four-cylinder engine production by as late as 2011 and is planning the introduction of a number of EcoBoost powered models beginning next spring.

Through the use of direct-injection and turbocharging, engineers claim the EcoBoost units produce fewer pollutants, achieve greater fuel efficiency figures and make enough power to rival bigger displacement (and gas guzzling) engines.

First to get an all-new EcoBoost powerplant will be the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan when it hits U.S. showrooms next spring.

Ford's ultimate goal is to increase the efficiency of the F-150 to the point where it doesn't need to build the F-100. So for now the project remains on the back burner.

"We have no intention of giving up our leadership in trucks," Ford's global product development chief Derrick Kuzak told reporters. "Fuel economy (will be) a reason to buy -- no longer a reason to reject -- Ford vehicles."

Ford powertrain head barb Samardzich told company officials the shift from V-8s and V-6s to four-cylinder engines will be a top priority despite initial capacity restraints. "You are going to see more four-cylinder capacity," Fields said. "The key is having the flexibility to respond to the marketplace, whichever way it goes."

In other, related news, the planned Fusion GT is off until the vehicle's next interation in 2012. The biggest obstacle in producing the GT isn't the fact that Ford is afraid to introduce a new performance vehicle, but rather the fact that the company is trying to roll out the EcoBoost for the Lincoln MKS first. The original plan was to produce the GT as an end of production, limited volume performance car. It will be more of an image car for Ford.

Ford is also discussing the possible use of ethanol technology to double the efficiency of it's EcoBoost engines. Produced by Massachusetts company Ethanol Boosting Systems LLC., the system utilizes an additional ethanol tank that automatically injects a small amount of the alternative fuel into the car's gas tank. According to the manufacturer, the ethanol only has to be refilled every 5,000 miles and will add $300 to $400 to each EcoBoost engine -- two compromises Ford is excitedly willing to deal with if the system does what it claims to achieve.

Apocalypse Now - Ford and GM to team up?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife
The domestic automakers are in a rut right now, with the exception of Chrysler, which just posted a healthy profit for the quarter. Ford and GM are bleeding money fast, trying to keep up with the rapidly changing consumer needs.

The struggle facing both companies is the high cost of developing new, fuel efficient engines to meet customer demand. In a move that could help fuel both companies bring new cars to market quickly and lower costs, the two are discussing a possible collaboration to share engine and powertrain technology. Both automakers already have some new products in the pipeline to combat high fuel costs.

Ford will introduce the first in a line of EcoBoost engines next year, beginning with the new Lincoln MKS. GM will also be rolling out the Chevy Volt by the end of 2010 in a limited supply.

Collaborating on future powertrains and sharing current technology could lower costs for both companies substantially. According to reports GM actually approached Ford about joining forces months ago, and after Dearborn's board of directors voted to authorize further discussions there were three meetings between the two automakers regarding powertrain development. And while a formal agreement has yet to be reached, things are said to be progressing smoothly and covering a wide range of possible collaborations. Neither company will confirm or deny these reports.

This wouldn't be the first time the two automakers joined forces. Recently they both joined forces to develop a six speed automatic transmission that has been used successfully in several vehicles across many product lines today.

While this all seems like blasphemy to the die hard contingency of loyal Chevy and Ford fans, it really is a good idea. I for one have nothing against foreign automakers but I have grown tired of seeing them take over the market. What's wrong with Americans teaming up to make the country stronger, and helping to protect some of our blue collar work force?

Honeywell to provide turbo power for Ford's EcoBoost

With Ford's plans to provide more European offerings in it's lineups in the coming years, it is quickly moving to implement it's EcoBoost offerings in it's models.

EcoBoost relies on direct injection and turbocharging to develop similar power to a larger displacement engine with much improved fuel economy. The concept is actually an old one, and quite refreshing and cost effective compared to the other alternatives.

Ford has now announced that the turbos will be provided by Honeywell, the world's largest manufacturer of turbos. Offered as a premium engine option, the first EcoBoost will be a 3.5 liter direct injected twin turbo V-6. The engine will offer around 340 lb ft of torque, a minimum 30 lb ft increase over the current 4.6 liter V-8. It also represents a full 90 lb ft increase over the current 3.5.

The technology will debut in the new Lincoln MKS, which is a beautiful but underpowered entry level luxury car. Ford is proclaiming the MKS to be one of the most powerful and fuel efficient luxury cars on the market.

Ford's committment to EcoBoost will spread quickly, showing up in the Flex CUV in 2009 and the F-150 18 months later. It will eventually be spread across 23 nameplates by 2012.

Ford will continue to offer V-8 engines, and the EcoBoost offerings will fall in price below the V-8 and above standard V-6 offferings.