New Engines for Ford: Company is revamping its entire engine line-up

Ford is gearing its engine manufacturing facilities to produce high-technology, smaller-displacement Duratec powerplants. The latest iteration of this strategy fits the all-new 2.5-liter, inline four into both the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan that will be hitting dealerships in early 2009. This package is expected to yield a 10-percent improvement in fuel mileage, as are the other engines offered in the two sedans.

A second Duratec option for the Fusion and Milan is an uprated 3.0-liter V6 delivering 19 more horsepower than its predecessor. The Fusion Sport gets the 3.5-liter V6 with high compression (10.3:1) aluminum heads pumping out a peppy 263 horsepower.

Ford's basic strategy is to pare down the number of powertrain architectures. That should yield significant fiscal efficiencies in the areas of manufacturing and supply with a corresponding increase in build quality. The Company's goal is to convert its entire North American production to the new powertrains by end of 2010 with some 20 percent of the gasoline-powered cars and light trucks fitted with the 3.5-liter V6. By 2012, Ford hopes to have its new 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission in virtually its entire line-up.

Some of the new technologies in the pipeline include intake variable cam timing (iVCT) which widens the torque curve on the 2.5-liter Duratec with pressurized oil controlling the cam timing. On the 3.0-liter V6, the iVCT is Cam Torque Actuated (CTA) further reducing internal power drains.

In addition, there's Adaptive Spark Ignition that adjusts engine operation to the quality fuel - important as more and more alternative fuels hit the market. Aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off, electronic throttle control (ETC), dual-mode crankshaft damping and electric power steering are also fuel consumption improvers.