Ford's new four

The largest engine development program in company history will lead to at least 200 applications, starting with the new Mondeo's Duratec HE and replacement of its existing cast-iron-block four-cylinders with higher aluminum content powerplants.

At the heart of Ford Motor Co.'s updated Mondeo midsize car and Ranger compact pickup is a new family of four-cylinder, inline gasoline engines. The family is designed to support all of Ford's requirements for inline four-cylinder engines displacing greater than 1.7 L. The new line made its debut in the Mondeo in 82- and 93-kW (110-and 125-hp) 1.8-L as well as 108-kW (145-hp) 2.0-L Duratec HE forms. A 2.3-L version of the engine will make its debut in North America early this year in the Ranger. Mondeos equipped with the engines meet European Stage IV emissions regulations due to take effect in 2005. The new engines are said to produce 50% fewer emissions than their predecessors from just five years ago.

Engine components were extensively tested in laboratories and prototype vehicles at Ford's North American and European proving grounds and Mazda's Japan-based facilities to validate performance. Four years of extreme tropical and Arctic climatic trials followed by customer appraisals with high-mileage vehicle fleets ensure the robustness of this globally developed modular lineup, according to Ford.