Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, which was designed and engineered in the UK, has been named 2013 International Engine of the Year.
The ultra-efficient turbocharged, direct-injection three-cylinder engine achieved the highest score in the 15-year history of the awards, winning for the second year in a row. Design and development of the 1.0 litre EcoBoost was led by Ford’s research and development centres in Dunton and Dagenham.
A panel of 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world judged the awards on driveability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. Ford was announced the winner at the annual event hosted by Engine Technology International magazine, where it also won “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre”.
“With a technology as mature as the internal combustion engine, it’s very rare to achieve a true breakthrough, but that is exactly what the team accomplished with this engine,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford Vice President, Global Powertrain. “You have to drive it to believe a small three-cylinder engine can deliver such performance and fuel economy.”
Ford has confirmed plans to double production of the engine at its plant in Cologne, Germany, to more that 1,000 engines a day to meet demand. This will triple annual output of vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient EcoBoost petrol engines to 480,000 by 2015, 300,000 of these will be fitted with the 1.0 litre EcoBoost.
Further information on Ford’s EcoBoost engine can be found here.
