Ford has gradually rolled out its EcoBoost engine line over the past decade, and all of them have been instrumental in bringing the company to where it is now.
Not so long ago, Ford came under heavy criticism for its lack of innovation, especially in engine development, relying heavily on its then-partner Mazda for its 4-way gasoline and diesel engines. small displacement cylinders. For a while, this served its purpose, with both brands entering markets they might not otherwise have, and the two brands learning from each other in many ways. Since the end of this partnership, it is Ford that has continued to grow stronger, once again producing desirable cars with innovative and efficient engines. One of those engines is the performance-driven 2.3-liter EcoBoost.
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swimmer
This particular 2.3-liter variant has been technically in production since 2015, but its origins can be traced back to 2010 and even further if you look at the development timeline.
Basically, it’s a 2.0-liter EcoBoost, reinforced and stretched to create the largest displacement. This is achieved by using a forged 94mm crankshaft as opposed to the regular 83mm crank.
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Running costs
In large part due to economies of scale, Ford is able to keep the price of spare parts for these rather advanced engines low, especially in the United States and Europe where they are produced.
The maintenance costs increase a bit as you move up the performance ladder, the Ranger, for example, only produces around 280 horsepower and the engine remains under strain. In the Focus RS, the same engine produces 350 very tight horsepower, so expect there to be more wear and tear in these high-performance engines.
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Versatility
One of the key aspects of successful engine development is making it modular.
The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is just that, capable of fitting into the engine bay of a wide variety of vehicles and being able to be mounted both transversely and longitudinally, which only a handful of engines can handle.
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Power per liter
At 350 horsepower, the super-tight Focus RS produces more horsepower per liter than almost any other mass-produced car, which is interesting considering its engine finds its place in the Mustang as well.
In the Mustang, power is slightly limited, making 310 horsepower, possibly due to a different exhaust system and their desire to emphasize the power jump to the V8. In fact, a few aftermarket modifications could bring the EcoBoost Mustang closer to the V8 for more comfort.
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Performance oriented
While one of the most popular apps for the EcoBoost in North America is the Ranger, it certainly wasn’t developed with that in mind. It was developed for the Focus RS and the Mustang, two of Ford’s best-selling performance cars.
The Mustang is the base powertrain but obviously can’t leave the car lacking in performance, and the RS is the first hot hatch in its class. The Ranger turned into a happy accident, as it was one of the few gasoline engines that could be easily adapted to the pickup, which was initially not developed for the North American market.
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Couple delivery
What made the EcoBoost such an attractive option for the Ranger was simply the fact that it could deliver reliable and smooth torque, comparable to the diesel engines that are usually found under the hood elsewhere.
It has the added benefit of being relatively affordable to produce and use, and the advantage of unintentional tuning for those who wish to modify one of the most modified vehicles in the world.
The torque delivery is largely due to the turbo design. The dual-scroll design means there is much less lag, reducing the maximum torque rev range.
The maximum torque in most turbos will arrive at a higher point in the rev range, as the engine increases the boost pressure, for the EcoBoost this is not the case, because optimal boost and torque are already obtained from about 1500 rpm already.
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Emissions
Arguably the biggest gain from this particular EcoBoost engine is the emissions production relative to the horsepower produced.
Few engines are able to match this “golden loop” engine in this department, there are a few that have more horsepower per liter but suffer in the emissions department. There are also several that have superior emissions results but don’t even come close to the performance numbers that this incredible engine can achieve.
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