Ford's EcoBoost engine win International Engine of the year, for the third year running.

• Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is 2014 International Engine of the Year; an unprecedented third consecutive victory
• Fuel-efficient and powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost – which powers Fiesta and nine other vehicles in the Ford UK range – also “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” for the third year in a row
• Judges praise the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine as “one of the finest examples of powertrain engineering” as it finishes ahead of entries from premium and supercar brands
• New 140PS Fiesta Red Edition and Fiesta Black Edition models are the most powerful ever 1.0-litre road cars
• Turbocharger spins at almost twice the rpm of the turbines used on F1 race car engines –more than 4,000 times per second

A small petrol engine that powers Ford cars including the new Fiesta has fought off competition from premium brands and supercars to win the ‘Oscars’ of the engine world for an unprecedented third time in a row.

Ford Motor Company’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – which lowers fuel consumption without sacrificing power – today was named 2014 International Engine of the Year for its drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology.

A panel of 82 automotive journalists from 35 countries also named the 1.0-litre EcoBoost the “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” for the third year in a row at the Engine Expo 2014, in Stuttgart.

“To deliver the complete package of eye-popping fuel economy, surprising performance, quietness and refinement we knew this little 1.0-litre engine would have to be a game changer,” said Bob Fascetti, vice president, Ford Powertrain Engineering. “Through our One Ford approach to development, EcoBoost continues to set the benchmark for power combined with fuel efficiency from a small petrol engine.”

The engine has now won 13 major awards. In addition to collecting seven International Engine of the Year awards in three years – including Best New Engine in 2012 – the 1.0-litre EcoBoost also has been awarded the International Paul Pietsch Award 2013for technological innovation in Germany; the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in Great Britain; and in the U.S., the Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine. Ford also is the first automaker to win a Ward’s 10 Best Engines trophy for a three-cylinder engine.

“This year’s competition was the fiercest yet, but the 1.0-litre EcoBoost continues to stand out for all the right reasons – great refinement, surprising flexibility and excellent efficiency,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 16^th International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine. “The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is one of the finest examples of powertrain engineering.”

March of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost

Launched in Europe in 2012 with the Ford Focus, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost is now available in the UK in a further nine vehicles: Fiesta, B-MAX, EcoSport, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Tourneo Connect, Grand Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect and Transit Courier.

The all-new Mondeo will continue the roll-out of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine when it launches later this year; the smallest engine to be specified in such a large family car.

Already available with 100PS and 125PS, Ford recently debuted a new 140PS version of the engine in the new Fiesta Red Edition and Fiesta Black Edition models; the most powerful volume production 1.0-litre road cars ever, achieving 0-62 mph in 9 seconds, a top speed of 125mph and delivering 62.8 mpg and 104 g/km CO₂*.

“Three years have gone and many new three-cylinder engines have appeared, but the Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost is still the best,” said Massimo Nascimbene, juror and writer, Italy.

Global power

Ford vehicles equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine are now available in 72 countries worldwide. Customers in the U.S. will later this year be able to buy the new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost, with the Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost in dealerships now.

Ford recently began production of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost in Chongqing, China, supporting demand in Asia Pacific. For the first quarter of 2014 more than a third of new Fiesta buyers in Vietnam chose the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

“The success of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has simply snowballed. Since launch we have now extended availability through the range of Ford vehicles and through markets worldwide to set a new global benchmark in powertrain engineering that delivers a direct benefit to customers – both in terms of fuel efficiency and performance,” said Barb Samardzich, chief operating officer, Ford of Europe.

Innovative engineering

The engine’s compact, low-inertia turbocharger spins at up to 248,000rpm – more than 4,000 times per second and almost twice the maximum rpm of the turbochargers boosting 2014 F1 race car engines.

The 140PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s turbocharger delivers 1.6 bar (24psi) of boost pressure. Peak firing pressure of 124 bar (1,800psi) equates to a five-tonne African elephant standing on the piston.

With a cast iron engine block small enough to fit in the overhead luggage compartment of an aeroplane, the engine also features an aluminium cylinder head with an integrated exhaust manifold that lowers exhaust temperatures for optimised the fuel-to-air ratio. An innovative flywheel and front pulley design delivers improved refinement compared with traditional three-cylinder engine designs.

Engine friction is reduced by specially coated pistons, low tension piston rings, low friction crank seals and a cam-belt-in-oil design. A variable displacement oil pump tailors lubrication to demand and optimises oil pressure, for improved fuel efficiency.

“The 1.0-litre EcoBoost was created as a radical smaller-displacement engine to meet the biggest automotive challenge in the world – no compromise refinement, performance and great fuel economy,” said Andrew Fraser, manager, Gasoline Calibration, Ford of Europe. “The secret to EcoBoost success is a range of innovative technologies that deliver big car benefits from a small engine.”