Ford unveils new EcoBlue diesel engine

Pretoria - Ford revealed the first new Ford EcoBlue advanced diesel engine that will offer optimised fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 and NOX emissions.

Building on the firm's EcoBoost petrol engines, Ford's range of EcoBlue diesel engines will power the company's future passenger cars and commercial vehicles with power outputs ranging from 78kW to 180kW.

20% more torque

The four-cylinder 2.0-litre Ford 'EcoBlue' debuts in the new Transit and Transit Custom commercial vehicles, it will replace the 2.2 TDCI engine.

Ford says the new engine will make 20% more torque at 1250 r/min compared with the outgoing equivalent power 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine. In the Transit, Ford claims to have improved emissions by more than 10% with the new engine, as well as improving fuel economy by 13%.

Ford South Africa says its still early days and no confirmation has yet been set for the new unit for SA.

Jim Farley, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, said: "Ford's EcoBoost created a new standard for petrol engines - smaller, more efficient with surprising performance. That same obsession to innovate for the customer is behind our new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine range."

Various power outputs

Ford says the power outputs will start at 78kW, a mid-level spec will have 97kW and the highest-output will be 127kW.

The 'EcoBlue' engine likely to be used in Ford's passenger vehicles (Focus, Fiesta and B-Max) will post power figures of 149kW and even 180kW.