Turbo sales on the rise ; FORD's EcoBoost leads the charge

EcoBoost Technology

DEARBORN, Mich., July 30, 2008 -- Honeywell Turbo Technologies, a technology leader in engine boosting and modern turbo technologies, estimates that the global turbocharger segment will grow from 30 percent of the overall automotive market to more than 38 percent by 2013 as automakers look to boost engines to help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions without hampering the fun-to-drive factor.



Ford is at the forefront of this spiking trend with its EcoBoost engine strategy, applying modern turbocharging and direct injection technologies to smaller displacement engines that offer improved fuel economy and fewer emissions, yet deliver performance feel of larger displacement engines.

What separates Ford from the automotive pack using turbo technology today: Ford will apply the technology in significantly higher volumes, featuring turbocharged EcoBoost I-4 and V-6 applications in half a million vehicles annually within the next five years -- across multiple product lines globally.

EcoBoost Turbocharger

Turbos are the secret behind the downsizing, allowing for smaller displacement without performance loss. Unlike a supercharger, today's turbocharger uses the waste energy from the exhaust gas to drive the turbine -- energy that would have otherwise been lost. The result is increased torque and better performance, without increasing engine displacement.

EcoBoost engines will be powered by turbochargers that leverage the latest advances in turbine design and materials. These aren't the turbos of the 1980s that delivered great amounts of torque yet frequently were plagued by short time gaps between stepping on the pedal and feeling the power -- turbo lag. They are smaller, spin faster, offer variable flow solutions and are fully interconnected with the engine management system for peak performance.

EcoBoost debuts on the Lincoln MKS with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. This engine will deliver upwards of 340-plus lb.-ft. of torque across a wide engine range - 2,000 to 5,000 rpm - versus 270 to 310 lb.-ft. of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range.

[Source : FORD]