Production officially begins on the all-new twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines for North America at Cleveland Engine Plant in Ohio, marking the first time Ford has built these engines in the U.S.- Twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is available in all-new Ford Edge; 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is available for Ford Explorer, Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKC
- New Edge and Explorer launching this year when utility sales are growing at three times the rate of the global vehicle industry
CLEVELAND, March 6, 2015 – Ford today announced the official production start of the all-new twin-scroll 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines for North America at its Cleveland Engine Plant in Ohio. The announcement marks the first time these engines are being produced in the U.S.
The twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is available in the all-new Ford Edge, launching in first quarter of 2015. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is available in the all-new Ford Mustang, Explorer and Lincoln MKC.
“With more than 4 million Eco Boost-powered vehicles on the road today, Cleveland Engine has been at the forefront of our plan to provide our customers with fuel-efficient, affordable engines,” said Bruce Hettle, Ford vice president of North America Manufacturing. “The hardworking team at Cleveland Engine is proud to build two of the most technologically advanced engines on the market today.”
In 2013, Ford invested nearly $200 million and added 450 new jobs to support production and rising consumer demand for the EcoBoost engine. The company made the move to assemble engines regionally to help optimize production capabilities around the world.
Production of the twin-scroll 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines for North America were previously based in Valencia, Spain. The investment in Cleveland shifted North American production to Ohio, leaving Ford’s Valencia Engine Plant as the exclusive production location of 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine for Ford of Europe-built vehicles. Valencia will continue to machine and ship components for both engines to North America,
Cleveland Engine Plant also builds the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and 3.7-liter V6 rear-wheel drive application. The Ohio facility employs more than 1,300 people and has produced more than 1 million Eco Boost engines since 2009 that have been used to support Ford operations in North America, Mexico, Europe and Asia Pacific.
EcoBoost leadership
As the cornerstone of Ford’s global engine strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, EcoBoost, introduced in 2009, can deliver significantly better fuel economy than larger-displacement engines. EcoBoost uses smaller overall engine size combined with turbocharging, gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing for the power customers want and the fuel economy they need.
EcoBoost is now available on 100 percent of the 2015 light-duty Ford lineup in North America, and Ford produced more than 1.6 million EcoBoost engines globally in 2014, up more than 30 percent from 2013. More than 190,000 EcoBoost engines now are produced every month, up 90 percent from 2013. In 2014, annual global EcoBoost engine capacity reached approximately 2.3 million units.
Global Utilities Sales Growth; Edge and Explorer Launching in 2015
Utility vehicles are the fastest-growing segment globally – up 135 percent since 2009. Utilities account for roughly 20 percent of overall market globally. By 2020, utility vehicle sales are expected to reach 23 percent of the global industry.
“With the new 2,0 and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines featured in the all-new Edge and Explorer, Ford is well-positioned to benefit from the rapidly growing utility vehicle segment,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Utility sales are growing at three times the rate of the global vehicle industry.”
Ford has been the No. 1 brand of utility vehicles in the U.S. for four straight years. In 2014, the company sold more than 1.4 million utility vehicles around the world, up 11 percent compared with the previous year.
Edge is a technology showcase featuring including adaptive steering, enhanced active park assist, side parking sensors and a front 180-degree camera. It is offered with the 2.0-liter or a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine.
The new Explorer is a significant update to the SUV icon that defined the segment when it launched in 1990. Along with a new look and the new engine 2.3-liter I-4 EcoBoost, Explorer new features include: front and rear 180-degree wide angle cameras with washers; enhanced active park assist with perpendicular park, parking side sensors; smart-charging front-and-rear USB ports; and a hands-free kick-activated lift gate.