Hennessey MaxBoost 435 Lincoln MKS

Ford's EcoBoost technology is just beginning to trickle into some of the automaker's models. One of the first to receive the boosted treatment was the Lincoln MKS. The V6 powered Lincoln is pretty stout in stock form, putting out 355hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.

Hennessey Performance is the first to offer an upgraded kit for the EcoBoost V6, the MaxBoost 435. The kit ups the ante to 435hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 comes quick at 4.5 seconds, and the quarter mile happens in 13.08conds at 106 mph.

The parts that make this Lincoln as quick as a BMW M5 include a cold air induction kit, polished intercooler piping, engine management software upgrade, and a cat back exhaust. Hennessey also backs the package with a one year, 12,000 mile warranty. Check out this video above to see it in action.

2010 Ford Taurus SHO spotted without camo!

Thanks to the guys at BringBackTheSHO.com, we now have even more photographic evidence that the SHO will live again. These spy shots show a pair of serious looking Taurus sedans taken along the I-75 corridor in Florida.



They differ from the models shown at the Detroit Auto Show wearing new wheels (at least 19 or 20 inches in diameter), a decklid spoiler, different tail-lights and a new rear bumper that extends lower over a pair of dual tail-pipes. There's also a conspicuous looking badge on the rear end that's covered with camo tape. What could it be?



It is expected that lying underhood is Ford's EcoBoost V6, producing 355 horsepower and 350 lbft of torque. That's what the engine produces in the 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKS, 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKT and 2010 Ford EcoBoost Flex.



Whether or not Ford increases the engine's power for SHO duty (it does stand for Super High Output, after all) remains to be seen, but expect all-wheel drive and a flappy paddle, six-speed gearbox to be standard equipment.



The car is expected to make it's debut at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show, so stay tuned for more.

Detriot close to getting $25 billion in Government loans

Image by Getty Images via Daylife With Detroit automakers getting close to receiving $25 billion dollars in low interest government loans to try and stop some of the bleeding profits, there has been a lot of speculation on just what those dollars will be used for.



The government will only support investment in vehicles that improve fuel economy by at least 25 percent compared to their respective segments. In other words, don’t look for any federally funded V-8 muscle cars. The key to benefiting from these loans will lie in how far along automakers are in developing green cars.



For GM and Ford, the loans will turn out near immediate results. Both automakers already have advanced fuel-saving technologies, and can use the loans to implement them on a larger scale.



GM can offset costs for its Chevrolet Volt. It may also spread its Two Mode hybrid system (left) to other models. Right now, the system is only on its expensive full-size SUVs, but GM could use some of the loans to implement it on everything from the Buick Enclave to the Chevrolet Malibu.



GM could also produce more diesel engines and speed along development of its homogeneous charge compression engines. The engines supposedly combine the best attributes of gasoline and diesel, and are currently due around 2015.



Ford, meanwhile, can use the money for its upcoming Escape (top) and Mercury Mariner plug-in hybrids and its efficient EcoBoost engines, the first of which will appear in the Lincoln MKS. It could also consider bringing over more diesel engines along with its European small cars.



Chrysler, on the other hand, could find itself in a bit of a quandary. It certainly needs cash, but does not seem to have many programs for which the loans can apply. Chrysler could, like GM, spread the Two Mode hybrid system from its trucks to cars like the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. It may also apply the loans for its next generation of Cummins diesel truck engines, due out in 2010.



Import brands that build cars here are technically eligible for the loans, but will have difficulty meeting the requirements. In particular, the loans will give preference to automakers retooling plants more than 20 years old.



It will be your money backing these loans (estimated cost to taxpayers: $7.5 billion). There has been some backlash regarding the loans. Some compare this move to one that likens the U.S. to China, who regularly fund Chinese owned businesses.



I look at it this way. American automakers are in trouble, as a result of their attempts to satisfy the public desire for large and powerful vehicles. No speculation could have seen the current gas crisis coming. I would much rather the government attempt to help these companies than see them defect overseas, which is the other alternative.

Ford hits 1 million miles on EcoBoost test engines

Word has recently come out of Dearborn that Ford has racked up over a million test miles on it's soon to be released EcoBoost engines, in combined real world driving and in lab testing.



So far, a group of EcoBoost engines have logged over 12,000 hours on the dyno which represents 500,000 miles of consumer driving, according to Ford. The engines have gone through 20 different tests at maximum loads and speeds to test the reliability during simulated real-world conditions. The engines endured a thousand cold starts and many wide open throttle runs to test their durability, and Ford believes they performed exceptionally well



"EcoBoost is undergoing the durability and reliability tests that we put all Ford engines through, and the performance we are seeing shows that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is a high-quality, top-performing engine that meets or exceeds all our reliability targets and is deserving of Ford's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty," said Ford's Advanced Engine Design and Development manager Brett Hinds.



Ford engineers have spent a great deal of time using computer models to simulate wear and tear on the engines and components, as well as model the exact operations of the twin turbos and direct injection to maximize efficiency.



"Because the 3.5L EcoBoost employs the latest in injection and turbocharger thermal management technologies, our tests have shown that we have effectively eliminated the legacy concerns sometimes associated with these systems, including high-mileage combustion deposits on the injectors and turbo bearing coking," said Hinds.



Out on the roads of the real world, Ford has been running a fleet of EcoBoosted Flexs and Lincoln MKS' at their Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan, performing on-road tests including towing tests to determine the new power plant's actual in-car performance.



Ford has also run them around at high altitude in Denver, through the Arizona deserts and in the deep south to test the engine's performance in extreme conditions. The test fleet racked up another 500,000 miles of driving, bringing the tests to over one million combined miles.



"With the extensive dynamometer and vehicle-level durability testing we are subjecting this engine to, we are confident that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is going to further strengthen Ford Motor Company's reputation for delivering reliable, high-quality engines," said Hinds.



It's comforting to hear that Ford is doing it's homework and ensuring that the EcoBoosted engines will not only be powerful and efficient, but reliable as well.



Now let's take one for a test drive already!

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.