EcoBoost is a series of turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engines produced by Ford and originally co-developed by FEV Inc. (now FEV North America Inc.). EcoBoost engines are designed to deliver power and torque consistent with those of larger-displacement (cylinder volume) naturally aspirated engines, while achieving up to 20% better fuel efficiency and 15% fewer greenhouse emissions, according to Ford. The manufacturer sees the EcoBoost technology as less costly and more versatile than further developing or expanding the use of hybrid and diesel engine technologies. EcoBoost engines are broadly available across the Ford vehicle lineup.
Global production EcoBoost gasoline direct-injection turbocharged engine technology adds 128 patents and patent applications to Ford's 4,618 active and thousands of pending US patents. Some of the costs of US development and production were assisted by the $5.9 billion Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program of the Department of Energy.
The V6 EcoBoost engines are being assembled at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park, Ohio. The 2.0-liter I4 EcoBoost engines were produced at the Ford Valencia Plant in Spain in 2009. The 1.6-liter I4 EcoBoost engines are assembled at the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant in the United Kingdom. The smaller 1000cc-displacement 3 cylinder EcoBoost engine is produced both at Ford Germany in Cologne and at Ford Romania in Craiova.
By 2012, the company planned to produce 750,000 EcoBoost units annually in the US and 1.3 million globally in the world market. Ford expected over 90% of its global vehicle lineup (includes North America) to offer EcoBoost engine technology by 2013. From the engine's beginning to November 2012, 500,000 Ford EcoBoost vehicles have been sold.
During Ford's ownership of Volvo (until 2010), it used the term PTDi (petrol turbocharged direct injection) for the 1.6 L I4 engine when introducing Volvo S60 concept and for the 2.0 L I4 engine when introducing Volvo XC60.
Safety issues Ford has had to refund hundreds of customers worldwide because Ford EcoBoost engines in their vehicles have overheated and, in some cases, caused engine fires. In 2015, a South African man died after becoming trapped in his Ford Kuga after its 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine burst into flames. In 2017, Ford South Africa recalled all Kugas in the country for engine checks.
Engine family list NameFamilyDisplacementYearFeaturesEcoBoost 1.0Fox2012–presentDOHC I3Ti-VCT 1.1Fox2017–presentDOHC I3EcoBoost 1.5Ford Sigma engine2014–presentDOHC I4EcoBoost 1.5Dragon2017–presentDOHC I3EcoBoost 1.6Ford Sigma engine2010–presentDOHC I4EcoBoost 2.0Mazda L engine2010–2014DOHC I4EcoBoost 2.0 twin scrollClean-sheet engine block2015–presentDOHC I4EcoBoost 2.02022–presentDOHC I4EcoBoost 2.3 Mazda L engine 2015–2024DOHC I4EcoBoost 2.3 "MPC"2024-presentDOHC I4EcoBoost 2.7Nano2015–presentDOHC V6EcoBoost 3.0Nano2016–presentDOHC V6EcoBoost 3.5Cyclone2010–presentDOHC V6
Inline three-cylinder
1.0 L Fox Ford produces a 1.0 L turbocharged in-line three-cylinder engine for the EcoBoost family developed at Ford's Dunton Technical Centre in the UK. Production started in April 2012. The 1.0 was built initially in two versions: and .
Both versions deliver a maximum of from 1,400 to 4,500 rpm, whereas higher performing versions can provide up to on overboost for 30 seconds, which makes for a broad torque curve when compared to a naturally aspirated gasoline engine. A version has also been released in the Fiesta Red Edition and Black Edition (some markets), as well as the Focus ST-Line, with of torque. The engine block is cast iron, which offers, in addition to the required strength, up to 50% faster warm-up than aluminum, at the expense of additional weight.
To quell the natural vibrations of a three-cylinder design, unspecified efforts have been made in the flywheel design to ensure satisfactorily smooth running without the use of energy sapping balance shafts. The 1.0L EcoBoost GTDI engine uses an oil-bathed timing belt, commonly known as a "wet belt".
The engine is packaged in an engine block with a footprint the size of an A4 sheet of paper. With the introduction of the face-lifted 2013 Ford Fiesta, Ford introduced a naturally aspirated version of 1.0 Fox engine. The two versions produce and , and both engines use direct injection and Ti-VCT like the turbocharged versions. Start-stop technology is also available.
The engines are produced in Cologne (Germany), Craiova (Romania) and Chongqing (China). Production is expected to be 700,000–1,500,000 units per year.
The 1.0 L EcoBoost engine was introduced to the American market with the 2014 Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback, although cars with this engine did not sell particularly well. It was announced at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, when the Fiesta was introduced. The 123-hp version debuted in the North American market Focus in the 2015 model year. The engine accounted for less than 5 percent of Fiesta and Focus sales in the U.S., according to a 2017 report. The 1.0 L engine was awarded the International Engine of Year Award 2016, making it the Best Engine Under 1.0 L for the fifth time in a row. After the discontinuation of the Focus and Fiesta in North America, the 1.0 L was only available there in the EcoSport until 2022.
In 2017 Ford was again awarded International Engine of Year (for Engines Under 1.0 L) with a largely reconfigured version of the Ecoboost 1.0. Although thermodynamically similar to the old Ecoboost 1.0, the new engine features cylinder deactivation under low-load conditions. A new dual-mass flywheel and a vibration-damping clutch disc (in manual-transmission vehicles) help neutralise engine oscillations when running on two cylinders. Production started in 2018.
In 2019, Ford launched an mHEV version of the 1.0 EcoBoost engine first fitted to the Puma SUV, which uses a belt-driven integrated starter/generator-motor (BiSG); which is in essence a starter motor, alternator, and propulsion motor in one. Fundamentally, the engine is identical to the 2018–present 1.0 EcoBoost, but features the electric starter/generator and its battery system. The motor itself is not used to propel the vehicle on its own, and is mainly used to increase efficiency by reducing engine load, provide extra power during acceleration, and to reduce the perceived ‘turbo-lag’ at certain engine speeds while accelerating. The starter/generator makes use of a 48-volt battery system in the car, although vehicles fitted with these engines are not plug-in hybrids or full hybrids. Further developments introduced include a more comprehensive ‘start-stop’ functionality, which was previously available but did not cut the engine off until the vehicle was completely stopped. The new engines can turn off while the car decelerates, at a maximum speed of about 15 mph. The new, electrified engines are available in either or outputs.
Engine issues The 1.0L Fox wet timing belt can degrade prematurely. This causes the engine to lose oil pressure or timing which causes severe engine damage. The belt needs to be replaced according to the manufacturers recommended interval or earlier under harsh conditions. The cost is higher than a dry timing belt due to the greater labour needed.
In 2024, Ford announced that the 2016-2018 Focus and 2017-2021 EcoSport models would be recalled due to unreliable oil pump drive belt tensioner arms and/or wet belt degradation. Prior to this recall, 2,099 warranty claims were reportedly filed due to this issue.
In December 2025, the NHTSA opened an Investigation into the version of the 1.0L engine used in the 2015-2018 Ford Focus and 2015-2017 Ford Fiesta. This was due to complaints of an oil warning appearing on the dashboard then followed by a loss or reduction in power.
at 6000 rpm, at 1400-3500 rpm 2018–2019 Ford Focus Mk4
at 4500-6000 rpm, at 1400-4000 rpm 2012–present Ford Focus Mk3 2012–2019 Ford C-Max 2012–2017 Ford B-Max 2013–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk6 2013–2022 Ford Ecosport 2014–present Ford Transit Courier
at 6000 rpm, at 1400-4500 rpm 2012–present Ford Focus Mk3 2012–2019 Ford C-Max 2012–2017 Ford B-Max 2013–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk6 2013–2022 Ford EcoSport 2013–2019 Ford Mondeo Mk5 2023–present Ford Tourneo Courier 2024–present Ford Transit Courier
at 6000 rpm, at 1750 rpm Motor: , motor (MHEV) 2019–present Ford Puma 2020–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk7 2020–present Ford Focus Mk4
at 6000 rpm, at 1500-5000 rpm 2014–2020 Ford Fiesta Mk6 2014–2018 Ford Focus Mk3
at 6000 rpm, at 2500 rpm, 10:1 compression ratio Motor: , motor (MHEV) 2019–present Ford Puma 2020–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk7 2020–present Ford Focus Mk4
at 6000 rpm, at 3000 rpm, 10:1 compression ratio Motor: , motor (MHEV) 2019–present Ford Puma ST
Motorsports Ford Fiesta Rally4 Ford Fiesta Rally5
1.1 L Duratec Ti-VCT This is a decontented version of the 1.0L Ecoboost Fox engine intended to provide a more affordable powertrain option. It shares most components with the Fox including the block, oil bathed timing belt, valvetrain, and ECU, but is port injected, lacks cylinder deactivation, and is naturally aspirated; as a result, its compression ratio is raised to 12.0:1. It is built at Ford's Bridgend Engine Plant in the UK.
Applications at 5000-6500 rpm, at 3500 rpm 2017–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk7 at 6300 rpm, at 3500 rpm 2017–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk7
1.5 L Dragon
On 24 February 2017, as part of the unveiling of the seventh generation (Mk8 - UK) derived Fiesta ST, Ford announced an all-new aluminum inline 3-cylinder 1.5 L EcoBoost engine with cylinder deactivation technology. The version of this engine announced for the Fiesta ST produces at 6,000 rpm and delivers of torque from 1,600 to 4,000 rpm.
The engine is based on an expansion of the 1.0 EcoBoost, taking the capacity per cylinder up to 500 cc, which Ford consider is likely to be the maximum for optimum thermal efficiency. The engine is an all-aluminum design with integrated exhaust manifold, low inertia mixed flow turbocharger and combines both port fuel injection and direct fuel injection.
The engine is equipped with cylinder deactivation technology, implemented by stopping fuel delivery and valve operation for one of the engine's cylinders in conditions where full capacity is not needed.
Applications at 6000 rpm, at 1600-5000 rpm 2018–present Ford Focus Mk4 2019–present Ford Kuga Mk3
at 6000 rpm, at 1600-5000 rpm 2018–2023 Ford Focus Mk4 at 6000 rpm, at 3000 rpm 2023–present Ford Escape 2025–present Ford Bronco Sport at 6000 rpm, at 3000 rpm 2020–2022 Ford Escape 2021–2024 Ford Bronco Sport
at 6000 rpm, at 1600-4000 rpm, 9.7:1 compression ratio 2018–2023 Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST 2021–present Ford Puma ST
Motorsports Ford Fiesta Rally3
Inline four-cylinder Four versions of EcoBoost I4 engines are in production. A 1.5 L downsized version of the 1.6 L, the 1.6 L which replaces larger-displacement, naturally aspirated I4 engines in Ford vehicles, a 2.0 L which replaces small-displacement, naturally aspirated V6 engines, and a 2.3 L used in high-performance applications. All four engines are turbocharged and direct injected. The production engine family was officially announced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
1.5 L A 1.5 L version of the EcoBoost engine family was first unveiled in the 2014 Ford Fusion as a downsized version of the 1.6 L EcoBoost engine. The downsized displacement is a result of Chinese vehicle tax regulations which tax vehicles with engine displacements of 1.5 L or less at lower rates. The 1.5 L EcoBoost adds new technology compared to the 1.6 L on which it is based, including an integrated exhaust manifold and a computer-controlled water pump clutch to decrease warm up time. In the 2015 Fusion, the engine produces and .
Applications
2014 - 2020 Ford Fusion 2015 - 2018 Ford Focus Mk3
2017–2019 Ford Escape
2017–2019 Landwind X7
2015 - 2022 Ford Mondeo Mk5