Ford Motor Company sees the EcoBoost four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines-which will be unveiled at this month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit-as a key part of its strategy to improve fuel economy, AP reports.Ford says EcoBoost can deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and a 15 percent improvement in emissions. Ford said customers can recoup their initial investment in EcoBoost through fuel savings in two and half years. The 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan, out later this year, will be the first Ford vehicle with the option. EcoBoost is also ethanol compatible.
According to Casey Selecman of CSM Worldwide, other manufacturers, such as Audi and GM, have had similar technology on the U.S. roads for several years, but Ford is aiming for higher volumes, as many as 500,000 vehicles annually by 2013.
Ford will also debut a more fuel-efficient direction for its Explorer sport utility vehicle. The ‘Explorer America’ improves fuel economy by 20 to 30 percent compared with today’s V-6 Ford Explorer, depending on the engine.
