Ford India to debut all new 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine
Words by Ganesh Murthy
Ford is planning to introduce an all-new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Ti-VCT petrol engine in its compact SUV, the Ecosport. Ford says that along with improved performance, the all-new engine will offer a reduction in emissions while increasing efficiency, through reductions in weight and size. The engine downsizes from four cylinders to an in-line triple formation, resulting in decreased weight, lower friction and better packaging. The engine will produce a peak power of 124.7bhp and 150Nm of torque.
The new engine claims to have a seven per cent reduction in CO2 emissions while improving fuel economy by a similar margin. Some interesting applications have found their way in to the engine – the crankshaft off-set from cylinder centre line to improve both performance and fuel efficiency, centred spark plugs which promote more standardised and efficient combustion and coil-on-plug system which deliver better combustion and quicker engine start. This engine option is available in the Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium (AT) variants.
The all-new Ti-VCT engine is fine tuned to deliver lower NVH levels resulting in a quieter, smoother and more relaxing experience for occupants. The engine’s balance shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings and works to eliminate natural first-order vibrations typical in standard three-cylinder engines. A belt-in oil primary drive system contributes to further reductions in both noise and friction. Other NVH improvements include a valve actuation system with hydraulic lash adjusters, roller finger followers which reduce friction and acoustic-isolation system that cuts down on engine noise. The exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head helps to heat up the catalyst faster, decreasing emissions. The variable oil pump can operate at a lower pressure at slower speeds with reduced friction loss, providing higher fuel economy.
“Ford’s promise to give the power of choice to consumers in India today is not just limited to the world-class product portfolio. We are proud to offer some of the most efficient, and advanced powertrains – ranging from 1-litre EcoBoost to 5-litre V8,” said Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director of Ford India.
Ford India’s engine factory at Sanand, Gujarat will be manufacturing this new family of petrol engines, both for domestic production as well as exports across the world. Ford’s engineering team in India has steered the development of the new engine with key insights at every stage – from design, development to production. The engine will also have more than 80 per cent parts sourced from Indian suppliers.
