Turbocharged motors and 5-liter V8s.  Sound's familiar, doesn't it?
Like the mid 80s?  As we know Ford is hot with these new EcoBoost
motors and with gas nearly bucks a gallon, you gotta wonder is a new
"SVO Mustang" isn't in the future.  And then there's the new V8 being
talked about.  Will the next decade be another offer both options
(turbo power and V8) and see what the market decides?

Your thoughts...?

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04-16-08: The fruits of Ford’s monumental turnaround effort which we
have been watching and talking about for the last two years are
finally starting to bloom. All the talk is starting to turn to walk as
rollout of new products and technology from every corner of Ford is
reaching a fever pitch.

While the all new cars and trucks have been stealing the headlines and
will continue to do so, one of the biggest stories in Ford’s recent
history will be under the hood of all these new cars. As everyone
knows, gas prices and new government regulations will be changing the
automotive landscape before we know it. Ford has been hard at work
developing the next generation of high tech engines long before gas
prices rose to $3.50 a gallon and well before the new CAFÉ legislation
was hatched. They saw it coming.

We recently had the opportunity to see Ford’s new EcoBoost engine
technology up close, touch it with our hands, and chat with Ford
engineers about how it works and where it will be used. EcoBoost,
which mates advanced direct injection technology and turbocharging
with a gasoline engine, can deliver up to 20 percent better fuel
economy, 15 percent lower CO2 emissions and superior driving
performance versus larger displacement engines. The technology will be
spread across Ford’s lineup from small cars to large pickups.

“The challenges of CO2 and fuel economy are complex, global issues,”
says Andreas R. Schamel, Ford’s chief engineer for Research and
Advanced Engineering. “There is no single, universal answer around the
world. That’s why we’re pursuing technology such as EcoBoost that’s
scale-able to large-volume production now in the short term. Programs
like EcoBoost.”

The EcoBoost family of 4- and 6-cylinder engines builds on today’s
affordable gasoline engines allowing the technology to be applied
across a wide range of engines and vehicles types. In the next five
years, EcoBoost will be available on a half a million Ford, Lincoln
and Mercury vehicles annually in North America, far exceeding current
hybrid vehicle production capacity. That means a significant impact on
fuel consumption, Schamel says.

“EcoBoost will provide a real-world fuel efficiency benefits in the
near term with a shorter payback time than other advanced
technologies. We believe hybrids, diesels and technologies such as
plug-ins and fuel cells have a role, but we believe that having the
right mix of fuel-saving technologies over time is the best approach.”

In 2009, Ford will first introduce EcoBoost on the Lincoln MKS
featuring a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that will produce the
power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6.
With an estimated 340 horsepower and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque,
the Lincoln MKS will be the most powerful and fuel-efficient all-wheel-
drive luxury sedan in the market – while saving customers about $340 a
year in fuel costs compared with a standard V-8 model luxury sedan.

Direct injection coupled with turbocharging allows for the downsizing
of engines that deliver improved torque and performance. A 4-cylinder
EcoBoost engine has the capability of producing more torque than a
larger 6-cylinder engine – nearly an entire liter larger in
displacement – with up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency.

EcoBoost – combined with six-speed transmissions, advanced electric
power steering, weight reductions and aerodynamic improvements – is a
key part of Ford Motor Company’s near term strategy to deliver
affordable, sustainable, quality vehicles that customers want and
value .

In discussions with engineers we are told that the power potential for
the EcoBoost 3.5 V6 can easily approach 400hp for rear wheel drive
applications. In the aforementioned FWD and AWD cars, power output is
only limited by the ability of available transmissions to handle the
power reliably.

The big question for many Ford enthusiasts is whether or not the 3.5
EcoBoost twin-turbo engine headed for the Mustang. Many leading
publications like Motor Trend have speculated as such. The people at
Ford we have spoken to say it is under consideration, but not
officially a "go" at this time.

We suspect that we will indeed see EcoBoost at some point in the
future to compliment the Mustang V8 engine options. It may not be as
soon as the 2010 model year, but rising gas prices and tightening
government rules will make it very attractive from all angles. This is
a good thing. When you consider a lighter powerplant offering better
handling with more efficiency and the same or higher power than a V8,
it can be a win win for both the Mustang image as well as driving
pleasure.

-- And this:

04-16-08: The news never comes directly from the source. But again
this week, a side glance from another foreign Ford source has
confirmed that a 5.0 liter V8 will once again be under the hood of the
next Mustang.

In a story published on Stuff.co.nz which talks of Ford considering to
drop the 5.4 BOSS V8 from the Falcon models Down Under, the news that
Ford is indeed readying production of a 5.0 liter V8 here in the
States is again confirmed.

Ford Australia’s recently appointed president Bill Osborne confirmed a
new 5.0-litre V8 to be developed and built in North America for the
Ford Mustang was being examined for possible use in Ford's new Falcon
as they consider whether or not to continue with the Aussie built 5.4
BOSS engine.

“We have taken a look at that V8 and it looks like it will be a pretty
competitive engine, particularly if we decide to boost (turbocharge or
supercharge) it as well,” said Osborne. Of course, he is talking about
boosting the engine for the Australian market. While Ford is moving
head-long to roll out new “Eco-Boost” turbocharged I4 and V6 engines
in our market, Ford officials here have denied any interest in
applying turbo charging to a V8 for the States.

No information has been released as to the horsepower specifications
for the new 5.0 liter V8 or whether the engine will have a 3-valve or
4-valve configuration. But horsepower has been rumored to be in the
350-375hp territory.

We reported late last year that Canadian Union boss Buzz Hargrove also
mentioned that Ford was to build the new 5.0 liter V8 when speaking of
the re-opening of the Windsor engine plant.

Patrick