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Ford's 3-Cylinder EcoBoost Engine Off to Fast Start

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#1 ·
Ford's 3-Cylinder EcoBoost Engine Off to Fast Start
Detroit News


In just a few short months, Ford Motor Co.’s 1-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine is beating the automaker’s initial U.S. expectations despite limited offering.

The tiny turbo engine — the first of many three-cylinders that automakers will offer in the U.S. market — is seen by many as a litmus test for future small gasoline engines.

The percentage of Fiesta car buyers who choose the optional 1-liter is 4-8 percent, depending on the month. The 1-liter EcoBoost has only been available since late December, and is an option only with the Fiesta’s SE trim. The engine is currently paired with a manual transmission; stick shifts make up only a small percentage of new car sales here in the U.S.

“It’s always odd with the consumer reception and three-cylinders. But today’s three-cylinder is not your dad’s three-cylinder,” said Jesse Toprak, chief analyst at Cars.com, singling out the dog of an engine in the Geo Metro in the 1990s. “These have new technologies and you can actually get decent performance. There are massive improvements.”

Troy-based market researcher LMC Automotive estimates global three-cylinder engine production will nearly double from the current pace to 9.8 million.

The performance of the latest generation of three-bangers trumps typical four-cylinders of the past. In the U.S., automakers are working to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements, and three-cylinders are part of that plan.

A little more than 1,000 customers have purchased a 1-liter, one-third of them in California.

Wade Jackson, Fiesta marketing manager, says the limited offering of the 1-liter and the frigid winter that has hurt the U.S. subcompact segment means there’s more opportunity to grow sales of three-cylinders as summer approaches and gas prices (presumably) rise.

“We feel it’s very similar to the Fiesta ST (in terms of sales),” said Jackson of the performance Fiesta, which also garners about 4-8 percent of Fiesta sales. “The 1-liter is positioned toward those who are more fuel-centric.

“We can definitely go higher than we are right now.”

One problem facing Ford, which for now is promoting the car-engine combo through only grassroots efforts: 1-liter engines are in short supply. Read more.....
 
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#5 ·
I wonder if Ford plans to offer the 1.0 EcoBoost on non-SFE models?

A Fiesta Titanium with a 1.0 EcoBoost and a Powershift option (like in Asia and Europe) could further broaden the 1.0 EB's market in North America.
Ford stated the Powershift option would come to the states, but wanted to test the acceptance of the 1.0L first. And so far it looks good. I would expect it to show for the 2015 Fiesta that has a production start of June 2, 2014.
 
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