Ford blasts into 2012 with EcoBoost

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2012 Ford Explorer with EcoBoost

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Updated: December 14, 2011 10:12AM

The 2012 model year is now in full swing and Ford is inserting its “wonder engines” in a variety of vehicles to achieve a balance between power and fuel efficiency.

Ford isn’t shy about putting the EcoBoost technology to use. The 365-horsepower EcoBoost engine (V-6) with 420 pound-feet of torque has been warmly (somewhat surprisingly) welcomed by Ford F-150 buyers and even outpaced V-8s in May.

Building on this success Ford is offering a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine in Edge and Explorer SUVs; Ford also has indicated that by 2013 90 percent of all Ford vehicles will offer EcoBoost engines.

Ford said that the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine marks the next chapter in the company’s strategy to downsize engines and use turbocharging and direct injection to deliver power and fuel economy. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder delivers 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque in both Edge and Explorer, which is comparable to V-6-equipped competitive vehicles.

The lighter Edge had the more lively acceleration, but the Explorer was no slouch and it performed well in simulated passing exercises and graduated incline blasts. I did detect only the slightest turbo lag, but I never felt that the engine was overly taxed or underpowered in both SUVs.

Fuel economy and power mix well here, registering an Environmental Protection Agency-rated 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway for the five-passenger six-speed automatic Edge. Those fuel economy numbers also are achieved using aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff (ADSFO), twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) and active grille shutters to improve aerodynamics.

The bigger Explorer offers three-row seating with an EPA-rated 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, which Ford said is tops in the category. These new numbers for Explorer represent a 30 percent highway fuel-efficiency increase over 2010. Explorer also features ADSFO and Ti-VCT along with a smooth six-speed automatic.

If you want more power, Ford offers naturally aspirated V-6 power plants like the 3.5-liter engine with up to 290 horsepower (Explorer) or the 3.7-liter (Edge Sport) with 305 horsepower.

Both vehicles have attractive styling and are tech heavy with MyKey, MyFord Touch, Ford SYNC, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, blind-spot information system and cross traffic alert technology.

The 2012 Ford Focus takes a sporty slant (signature introverted trapezoid lower grille) for exterior styling. Not too fast with the 160 horsepower 2.0-liter four, but just enough, and the option of a manual allows you to wring out every horse. Ford offers the goods in terms of technology and to my surprise there is room for 6-foot-tall passengers.

One of the real blasts of the preview was testing the limited-production Ford Mustang Boss 302 with its brawny 5.0-liter V-8 packing up to 444 horses. Ford indicates it’s a “factory-built race car” and is the quickest, best-handling, straight-production Mustang ever offered. While the Shelby Mustang is considered the ultimate Mustang, the $43,000 (approximate base) Boss 302 features subtle styling/graphic changes, a host of performance modifications to the drivetrain, suspension, braking and steering along with launch control. These performance upgrades make this pony car unbelievably fast, fun and exciting to drive on the street. If you tried to add these upgrades to a Mustang GT you couldn’t do it for anything near the price.

While Ford is prioritizing more economical vehicle choices, it also has powerful vehicles coming to market. Ford interior designs and materials have improved, but the technology infusion can border on overload in some vehicles.