If Hollywood has its Oscars, the automotive industry have their Engine of the year awards. And this year, Ford pulled a Katherine Hepburn. Here's the rub.
Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is named 2015 International Engine of the Year ‘Best Engine Under 1.0-litre’ for the fourth consecutive year, and the only engine ever to be named overall winner three times in a row.
STUTTGART, Germany, June 17, 2015 – A tiny petrol engine, which drivers across Europe have taken to their hearts for its excellent fuel efficiency and impressive performance, has received an eighth award in four years at the 2015 International Engine of the Year Awards.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost was named “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre.” It was judged the class winner – based on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology – by a panel of 87 automotive journalists, from 35 countries. Last year, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost became the first engine to be named overall International Engine of the Year three times in a row, and was in 2012 named “Best New Engine.”
Ford also is exploring an innovative new approach to cylinder deactivation that could help deliver further enhancements.
Ford is working with engineering partners at the Schaeffler Group to test a new dual mass flywheel that enables cylinder deactivation to take place at a wider range of engine loads and speeds, and help minimise noise, vibration and harshness levels.
On-road tests using a working prototype at the European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany, showed further fuel efficiency improvements of up to 6 per cent.
“Even for an aggressively downsized engine such as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, a significant improvement in vehicle fuel economy could be found by exploiting cylinder deactivation,” said Carsten Weber, advanced powertrain manager, Ford of Europe. “The highest priority in the development of new combustion engines for automotive applications is the ongoing reduction of fuel consumption.”
