Ford To Introduce 3-Cylinder Engine

DEARBORN (WWJ) - Ford Motor Company is bringing out one of the smallest engines to ever go into an American car, and it's all in the name of fuel economy.

"I'm proud to introduce that we'll be adding another EcoBoost engine to our family," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Vice President of Product Development.  "A 1-liter I-3 that will replace larger displacement I-4's."

The goal is improved fuel economy.  While Ford isn't giving specifics, the goal is for the 3-cylinder engine to have power comparable to a 4-cylinder engine, with better fuel economy.

Kuzak said the engine will appear in a vehicle before 2013 and will end up in a lot of cars.

"A plan for such an engine would be a global plan, and it's clearly aimed for small cars."

The move comes both as rising gas prices have created more customer interest in fuel economy, and carmakers are facing new, tougher fuel economy standards.

Ford also unveiling a new 8-speed transmission that will improve fuel economy by 2 to 6 per cent, and a new dedicated hybrid transmissions.  Ford's current transmissions are built by a supplier.

Ford showed an early prototype of the 3-cylinder engine at the Shanghai Auto Show.  It plans to give more details about the plans for the use of the engine at September's Frankfurt Auto Show.

It was previously thought that 4-cylinder engines were the smallest engines that Americans would find acceptable.  But, Kuzak says new technology allows them to downsize engines, while keeping good power.

The only way you keep doing that is by finding new technology and attention to details," he said.  "EcoBoost is a centerpiece of that.  That's smaller displacement and less cylinders.  So, we're probably looking for, 'How far can we take that?"

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