Ford’s EcoBoost gets engine ‘Oscar’

THE 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine that will power Ford Australia’s first four-cylinder Falcon next year has been named in the annual ‘engine Oscars’ – Ward’s 10 Best Engines.

The 177kW direct-injected turbocharged powerplant was nominated for its application in Ford’s American-built Edge SUV, but it is essentially the same engine that will next year become available in the Falcon, as well as a range of other Ford, Volvo and Land Rover vehicles.

It was one of five four-cylinder engines to make the cut this year. Others include Mazda’s 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G that debuted recently in its Mazda3, BMW’s similar-sized 180kW N20 TwinPower turbocharged engine from its Z4 and 528i, General Motors’ potent 201kW 2.0-litre Ecotec turbo from the Buick Regal GS and Hyundai’s 1.6-litre Gamma, which will make its Australian debut in the Korean maker’s Veloster coupe in early 2012.

Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 Coyote 5.0-litre V8 – the basis of Ford Performance Vehicles’ supercharged V8 in its range of Australian-built, Falcon-based sports sedans – also received another gong, along with Chrysler’s new Pentastar 3.6-litre V6, which was nominated last year after debuting in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Two high-performance German engines – Audi’s 3.0-litre supercharged TFSI V6 from the Audi A6 and BMW’s in-line 3.0-litre N55 turbo from the 335i coupe – remain on the list.

It was the third year in succession that Ward’s judges selected the Audi engine, which now graces a number of other Volkswagen Group models, including the Audi A7, Q7 and Porsche and VW hybrids.

Left: Hyundai's 1.6-litre Gamma engine. Below: Mazda's SkyActiv-G.

The only hybrid powertrain to make the Ward’s list is the Infiniti M35h’s petrol-electric unit, which combines Nissan’s renowned 3.5-litre V6 with a 50kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery.

Reflecting the downsizing prevalent in today’s motor industry, all but three of the top 10 engines feature direct-injection, while five feature forced induction – four with turbochargers and one (Audi V6) with a supercharger.

Ford’s four-cylinder EcoBoost range – including 1.6 and 2.0-litre engines – features direct-injection and turbocharging.

The 2.0-litre version debuted in Ford’s Australian line-up in the mid-sized Mondeo Zetec in a lower state of tune, producing 149kW/300Nm.

The Falcon will get the 177kW/340Nm version as an alternative to the traditional 4.0-litre inline six from April, along with major fuel savings.

Proving that South Korean companies are more than just purveyors of cheap cars, Hyundai made the list for the fourth year in a row, this time with the 103kW/166Nm 1.6-litre Gamma engine that is set to power a range of small cars, starting with the Veloster.

The company’s 287kW Tau V8 engine from the Genesis and Equus luxury sedans was Hyundai’s previous Ward’s winner, earning the accolade three years in succession.