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Ford Freestyle - Taurus X

7481 messages,  Last post on Apr 25, 2013 at 10:28 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Ford Taurus X, SUV

Messages Page 742 of 749

#7405 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [coldcranker] by baggs32

Aug 14, 2008 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 14, 2008 6:45 am)
Does anyone know if the Taurus and TaurusX will survive to see Ecoboost (small direct injected 4-cylinder with twin turbos, maybe 1.9L or so)?
 
I've seen a couple of articles which came out within the past week stating that you will not. Nothing is official yet, but it seems the TX and the Mercury Sable are getting the axe after the 2009 MY.
 
If they do survive another year and do get the EB I4 it would most likely be the 2.5L version (not the 1.9L version if that even exists because I thought it was actually 1.6L) which has been confirmed to make something like 250 HP and 240 ft-lbs. If the FE claims are true it would most likely get the same FE as your 3.0L CVT equipped FS while making a good deal more power.
 
Keep in mind that Ford's claims are that a 2.5L EB motor will get 20% better FE than a comparably powered V6 and not the NA 2.5L I4.

#7406 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [baggs32] by coldcranker

Aug 14, 2008 (9:07 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 14, 2008 5:56 pm)
Remember the current '09 3.0L V6 Duratec gets 240 HP, so the 2.5L Ecoboost has to beat that MPG by 20% (comparable power). They (Ford) are now saying that the 3.0L 240 HP version in the Escape will get better MPG than the old version of the same V6, so Ecoboost will need to pull off a miracle.

#7407 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [coldcranker] by baggs32

Aug 15, 2008 (10:24 am)

Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 14, 2008 9:07 pm)
They (Ford) are now saying that the 3.0L 240 HP version in the Escape will get better MPG than the old version of the same V6, so Ecoboost will need to pull off a miracle.
 
The very small bump in FE for the new 3.0L is completely due to the 6-speed tranny in the '09 Escape. I'm betting that engine has worse FE than the 200 HP version but it was saddled with a 4-speed tranny so we can't really make an apples to apples comparo of the 2 versions of the engine unfortunately.
 
In fact, if you go to fueleconomy.gov they list the 200 HP '08 Escape V6 4WD as doing 17/22 and the '09 240 HP version (with the 6-speed tranny) doing 17/24. So the improvement is only in the highway mileage. Take that 6-speed tranny away from the '09 and I bet you would see numbers more like 15 or 16 city and 21 or 22 highway.
 
So that means an EB I4 would have to bump the FE up to 20/28 or 29. Seeing that the NA 2.5L I4 in the '09 Escape AWD gets 19/25 I don't see that being unreasonable or a "miracle". The DI alone on the EB engines should get it close to 20/28 I would think.

#7408 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [baggs32] by coldcranker

Aug 15, 2008 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 15, 2008 10:24 am)
I agree the 6-speed in the '09 Escape gets the credit for a the MPG boost, as seen in the hiway figure, since the 6-speed gets into higher gears than the old 4-speed.
 
Actually, using the '09 Escape, since they are putting in the 6-speed in both 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder versions for the '09 model year, is a good evaulation vehicle for just how much efficiency we have now and what gains we hope to have in a couple of years.
 
Vehicle A: '09 Escape 4-cylinder, 171 hp, 6-speed, 2wd: 20/28 MPG
Vehicle B: '09 Escape 6-cylinder, 240 hp, 6-speed, 2wd: 18/26 MPG
 
Ecoboost marketing strategy: For success, an Ecoboost 4-cylinder should equal the power of a 6 cylinder with a gain in MPG over the 6.
 
We know that adding a turbo to a non-aspirated (NA) engine lowers MPG, lets say by 2 MPG hiway and 1 MPG city, assuming you have to drop the nominal compression ratio down to accomodate the turbo. Therefore, vehicle A becomes 19/26 MPG, almost the same as the V6 version vehicle B. But we're not done with the full Ecoboost treatment yet. Now add direct injection (ala Ecoboost strategy) and raise city and hiway by 1 MPG, as we have seen happen in the transition between '08 and '09 models of the Acadia as they add direct injection in those GM vehicles, the best example we have. Now, with direct injection and a turbo added to the 4 cylinder vehicle A, it becomes 20/27. Then, lets give Ford a little credit for adding a twin turbo arrangement in some sort of scheme to minimize energy losses in the turbo system, and also some credit for finding a way to run the Ecoboost on regular gas while raising the compression ratio just a bit. Therefore, add 1 MPG to the city and hiway for this "techno credit bag of tricks", and you have vehicle A getting 21/27 MPG. And finally, add another 1 MPG by simply adding variable valve timing to both intake and exhaust valves, another part of the Ecoboost strategy, and you arrive at 22/29, at around 230 HP in an Ecoboost 4-cylinder. Compared to the non-Ecoboost 6-cylinder, the Ecoboost 4-cylinder would then get 22/29 and the 6-cylinder is at (vehicle B above) 18/26 MPG, giving an increase of about 20%. I do think 20% is achievable, based on the incremental gains you can get. Much more and you run into compression ratio / octane trouble real fast, some physics walls more akin to HCCI stuff which Ford is not doing. Note that Ford might end up with closer to 10% gains (rather than the lofty 20%) if they can't raise compression ratio with clever engineering.

#7409 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [coldcranker] by baggs32

Aug 15, 2008 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 15, 2008 4:31 pm)
Good analogy. Their actual claim is that the increase will be UP TO 20% increase in FE over a comparably powered engine with 2 more cylinders. I'm guessing they word it that way because some heavier vehicles, like the Flex for example, just are not going to see 20% gains due to simple physics. I'd bet the cars are what will see closer to 20% gains while the SUV/CUV lineup will be closer to 10% like you said. Then again, maybe the smaller the engine the larger the gains. Therefore the 1.6L (or 1.9L whichever it will be) EB might see 20% gains while the 2.5L and 3.5L engines will see 15% and 10% respectively. Just a theory.
 
I still say this is a great strategy they came up with. You don't lose your V6 or V8 power and still get the FE of the smaller engine that everyone else is switching to. Take Toyota for example. They just announced that they will make an I4 available in next year's Highlander. Ford can trump them in a big way by putting an EB engine in their comparable CUVs IMO.

#7410 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [baggs32] by volkov

Aug 15, 2008 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 15, 2008 5:52 pm)
Shame the TX won't survive to see the Ecoboost, that powerplant would probably have pushed it over the top as the perfect choice for our needs.
One might argue that even the mighty Toyota got caught out by the changing gas prices and consumer attitudes. Back in its first generation, the Highlander came with the I4 with the v6 coming on the upper tier models or with the 3rd row. I was very surprised when the new model omitted an I4 option. Maybe the added weight of the new model changed their minds or maybe they had assumed that the public would go for the Rav if they wanted better FE. I'd take a Highlander with an I4. The hybrid had been tempting, but came with a significant price premium although some came back with the gov't rebates available. Our cold weather and driving habits would not have been able to get full advantage of the Hybrid which made us balk. An I4 should be cheaper and get better FE. It would likely be a little slow, but I'd be willing to bet it is still better than our first gen Pathfinder was and fine for our city driving needs.

#7411 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [volkov] by brian_in_md

Aug 16, 2008 (5:25 am)

Replying to: volkov (Aug 15, 2008 8:02 pm)
To volkov: The EB might have been a nice engine option for the TX, indeed. However, our TX is really doing very well in terms of fuel efficiency. We just returned from a 200 mile round trip and averaged 28mpg; the trip computer for a long highway stretch was actually showing 33mpg! With the two adults + two kids, A/C on and cruise set ~68...color me impressed.
 
As far as a four cylinder Highlander...Toyota heard you:
 
PRESS RELEASE:
 
August 14, 2008 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the 2009 Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) will offer an all-new, powerful yet fuel-efficient 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. When it arrives at dealerships in mid-to-late January, the new Highlander powerplant will be among the best mid-size SUVs in the areas of performance, fuel economy and value.
 
The new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will generate an impressive 187 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 186 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 RPM on regular 87 octane fuel. A dual exhaust manifold will help achieve exceptional low-end torque and maximize its power output. In addition to its performance output, the Highlander equipped with the new four-cylinder will be EPA-rated as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEVII) and is expected to be among the leaders in fuel efficiency in the gas mid-size SUV segment. Official EPA fuel efficiency ratings will be announced closer to launch.
 
The rest of the press release is available on autoblog and Toyota's website.

#7412 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [volkov] by baggs32

Aug 16, 2008 (4:22 pm)

Replying to: volkov (Aug 15, 2008 8:02 pm)
What makes you say that? Oh, that's right. The several billion dollar factory they built to assemble gas guzzling pickup trucks that didn't sell to begin with.

#7413 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [baggs32] by volkov

Aug 16, 2008 (5:07 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 16, 2008 4:22 pm)
Oh absolutely! Finally came up with a heavy duty consumer truck just in time for there to be noone interested in buying them. While we're on the topic, how's that new Sequoia working out? Oh...sorry. Of course in Canada where they have a "no haggle on the sticker" policy, it will be interesting to see how they get rid of them.

#7414 of 7481 Re: Ecoboost in Ford's Future and current CX-7 [volkov] by coldcranker

Aug 16, 2008 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: volkov (Aug 16, 2008 5:07 pm)
Toyota will still sell Tundras and Sequoias, just not in very high numbers. Still with a profit. Its easy to make a profit off body-on-frame vehicles.
 
For those saying they think Ecoboost would have been great in the Freestyle/TaurusX, remember you would have to put up with a noisy, thrashy, hot-turbo 4-banger under the hood instead of a smoothe V6. I hope Ford at least uses the advanced denser engine castings for greater durability out of a blown compact high-output 4-cylinder that the Mazda CX-7 (and Mazda3) uses. That would help. It would also be nice if the exhaust valves are sodium-filled like the GM boosted 4-cylinder (Cobalt SS, Sky, Solstice) uses. We'll see what the "wonderfull world of Ecoboost" will do for durability. The crank bearings and turbo bearings on an Ecoboost will go through hell compared to our Freestyle/TaurusX V6, stretching the limits of durability engineering. Ford better mandate the Acura HTO-06 motor oil spec for the new Ecoboost universe. Meeting quality and customer satisfaction goals is going to be tough over the next few years.

Messages Page 742 of 749

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