Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has been voted 2017 International Engine of the Year “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” for the sixth year running (since its launch in 2012).
The compact three-cylinder petrol engine comes in 74-, 92- and 103kW states of tune and debuted in the Ford Focus. It’s currently found in a number of Ford vehicles including the Ford Ecosport SUV.
Judges praised the engine’s combination of performance, fuel-efficiency and technology.
“The baby Ford EcoBoost engine is still the best 1.0-litre, three-cylinder design around, despite newer powertrains arriving on the scene,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 19th International Engine of the Year awards that were held in Stuttgart, Germany, and editor-in-chief of Engine Technology International magazine. “Even more impressive is that it is the first-ever powertrain to secure its class title every year it has been nominated.”
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost has now won 10 International Engine of the Year awards including overall winner a record three times, and “Best Newcomer”.
From early 2018 the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will feature automatic cylinder deactivation technology, stopping one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine.
The technology can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds – 20 times faster than the blink of an eye – with no compromise in performance or refinement.